Kolhapur

Kolhapur with its rich, colourful historical and mythical past stands out among the various cities in Maharastra State. The city is situated on the banks of river Panchaganga and is nestled among the Sahyadri ranges and surrounded by beautiful fortresses and hillocks. The name Kolhapur originates around Dravidian times when it is said that the aborgines of the region worshipped a powerful mother goddess named 'kolla'. Some say that the name originates around the temple of goddess Mahalaxmi. She, after the great deluge, salvaged the city by using her mace(kur) and hence the name 'Karveer'.

Going by the puranas, some suggest that the city is spiritually vibrant. They say that Lord Vishnu dwells in the form of rocks, Lord Mahadeva in the form of water, goddesses in the form of trees and seers in the form of sand.

Kolhapur has lived through the regimes of various rulers from the ancient past to the modern age. The Hindu era(upto 1347 A.D.), the Muslim period (1347 A.D. to 1700 A.D.) and the maratha reign(1700 A.D. to 1849 A.D.). In 1849 the British took over and Chhattrapati Shahu Maharaj was installed as the ruler of Kolhapur. the Maharaja reign lent a progressive spirit to the city and the king extended his patronage to Arts, Theatre, Film making, Music, Painting, Sculpture, Wrestling and crafts like tanning and jewellery making.

At present the city is supposedly the fourth largest city in Maharastra and boasts a booming commercial centre, flourishing Dairy and Sugar industry. Infact the Sugar Industry is amongst the Richest Belt in India.

Culture

Kolhapur is a very ancient city, famous for its food, headwear, footwear, jewellery, wrestling and religious connections. According to legend it was settled by Kolhasur, a demon who was later killed by Mahalakshmi to relieve the local populace. However, honouring the demon's dying wish, the city was named after him.

During 940-1212 CE, it was the capital of the Shilahara dynasty of Kolhapur. An inscription at Teradal mentions that king Gonka was healed from snakebite by a Jain monk and Gonk had built a temple of Lord Neminath. Many Jain temples in that region build in the next couple of century are called Gonka-Jinalya after him. During the reign of Bhoja I, a dynamic Acharya Maghanandi helped establish an institute at Rupanarayana-Basadi. Several of the kings and nobles of the dynasty were disciples of Maghanandi. Maghanandi is often called Siddhanta-chakravarti ie the great master of the scriptures, Gandaraditya I was his disciple. He is sometimes called "Kolapuriya" to distinguish him from many other Acharyas with the name Maghanandi.

Majority of the city dwellers are Marathas along with relatively smaller communities of Gujaratis, Marwadis, Maharashtrian Jains, Lingayats and Sindhis. Kolhapur has the distinction of having two Bhattaraka seats, that of Lakshmisena Swami and of Jinasena Swami which has shifted from Nandni to Kolhapura

Kolhapur has one of the highest per-capita income for a city in India. Trade is mostly dependent on farming of cash crops like sugarcane, the metal industry with important inputs from textiles and mining. The prosperity and the resulting spending prowess of the Kolhapuri people was famously reported in a list of cities with the highest number of Mercedes cars in the state of Maharashtra, where Kolhapur came second only to Mumbai^[1]. Similarly, Kolhapur also attracts lots of shoppers from around the region. The main shopping hub of the city is Mahadwar Road, near Mahalaxmi Temple inside the old city walls. New and modern stores have also popped up in the historically residential area, Rajarampuri.

Another field that Kolhapur prides itself of is films. In certain circles, Kolhapur was and is still considered the capital of the Marathi film industry. Legendary personalities like Bhalaji Pendharkar, Baburao Painter and V. Shantaram started their careers from Kolhapur. It has been credited as the place where Raja Harishchandra, the first feature film ever produced in India was conceptualised. Kolhapur still plays host to many film festivals and provides location for shooting. Kolhapur is also a strong political center. Nationalist Congress Party along with Congress are the current political powerhouses in the region.

Kolhapur as a Princely State

During the British Raj, Kolhapur was a Princely State of British India, under the Deccan division of the Bombay Presidency, and later the Deccan States Agency. It was considered the fourth most important Mahratta principalities, the other three being Baroda, Gwalior and Indore. Its rulers, of the Bhonsle dynasty, were entitled to a 19-gun salute - thus Kolhapur was also known as a 19-gun State. The state flag was a swallow-tailed orange pennant.

Kolhapur state, together with its jagirs or feudatories, covered an area of 3,165 square miles (8,200 km²). According to the 1901 census, the state population was 910,011, of which 54,373 resided in Kolhapur Town. In 1901, the state enjoyed an estimated revenue of £300,000.

The Maharajas of Kolhapur have a common ancestry with the Bhonsle dynasties of Tanjore and Satara, claiming descent from the Maratha royal clan Bhonslà. The states of Satara and Kolhapur came into being in 1707, because of the succession dispute over the Maratha kingship. Shahu Sambhaji, Heir Apparent to the Maratha kingdom, captured by the Mughals at the age of nine, remained their prisoner at the death of his father Sambhaji, the elder son of Shivaji Maharaj the founder of the Maratha Empire in 1700. The Dowager Maharani Tara Bai proclaimed his cousin Rajaram, as Chhatrapati Maharaj under her regency. The Mughals released Shahu under certain conditions in 1707, and he returned to claim his inheritance. He defeated the regent at the Battle of Khed and established himself at Satara, forcing her to retire with her son to Kolhapur. By 1710 two separate principalities had become an established fact, eventually confirmed by the Treaty of Warna in 1731.

The British sent expeditions against Kolhapur in 1765 and 1792; Kolhapur entered into treaty relations with the British, after the collapse of the Maratha confederacy in 1812. In the early years of the 19th century the British invaded again, and appointed a political officer to temporarily manage the state.

The last ruler of Kolhapur was HH Maharaja Chhatrapati Shahaji II Puar. After India's independence in 1947, the Maharaja of Kolhapur acceded to the Dominion of India on 14 August 1947 and merged with Bombay state on 1 March 1949. In 1960 Bombay state was divided into the linguistic states of Maharashtra and Gujarat. The boundaries of former Kolhapur state correspond very closely with those of modern-day Kolhapur district

Transportation

Local transportation includes auto rickshaws and buses run by KMT (Kolhapur Municipal Transport).

Train

Kolhapur Railway Station is named Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj Terminus (Station code: KOP). It was moved from the South Central to Central Railways in 2003^[2]. It has daily trains to Mumbai, Pune, Tirupati, Bangalore, Nagpur and Hyderabad. It also runs an inter-city shuttle service between Kolhapur and Miraj. The weekly Nizammuddin Express is a direct train to Delhi. Interestingly, this station does not appear on the website of Indian Railways. It is misnamed as "C Shahumharaj T", which is very difficult to find. Because station is named after Shahu Maharaj it is entered so in Railway website.

 

Bus

Bus is a more preferred mode of transport due to its wider network and speed. Buses run by private companies are generally considered more comfortable and reliable, with most offering sleeper and air conditioned coaches. Kolhapur has multiple state transport bus stands like central bus stand & sambhajinagar bus stand spread around the city. These provide services connecting to most of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa and some places in Andhra Pradesh and Tamilnadu. The private companies generally serve the more popular routes, to and from big cities, like Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Panjim, Nashik, Belgaon, Solapur, Hyderabad, Ratnagiri, Shirdi and Tirupati.

Climate

Kolhapur's climate is a blend of coastal and inland climate of Maharashtra. The temperature has a relatively narrow range between 12°C to 35°C. Summer in Kolhapur is comparatively cooler, but much more humid, compared to neighbouring inland cities. Maximum temperatures rarely exceed 38°C and typically range between 33 to 35°C. Lows during this season are around 24°C to 26°C. Though temperatures are rarely as high as in inland Maharashtra, high humidity often makes the weather muggy and unpleasant. The city receives abundant rainfall from June to September due to its proximity to the Western Ghats. The heavy rains often lead to severe flooding in these months. Temperatures are relatively low in the rainy season and range between 23°C to 30°C. Kolhapur experiences winter from November to February. The winter temperatures are significantly higher compared to other cities in Maharashtra such as Pune and Nasik. Lows range from 12°C to 16°C while highs are in the range of 29°C to 32°C. Humidity is low in this season making weather much more pleasant. In 2006 there was excessive rainfall in Kolhapur resulting in floods.

Karveer Nivasini Ambabai Also Known As Mahalaxmi

The goddess of wealth and power, Devi Ambabai's temple is located at the heart of the city. this temple is famous for its well-known South-Indian Architecture, built by Chalukya king Karndev in 634 AD

MAHALAXMI TEMPLE

This is one of the most respected and worshipped three temples of Maharashtra. This Mahalaxmi is popularly known as Ambabai. The grand temple of Mahalaxmi is constructed facing to the west. Its contains many pillars with art work on them. In the premises of this temple there are 35 temples of other Gods and Goddesses. The adjoining Pandal is known as Garud Mandap. The festival of Navratri is celebrated here in the month of Ashwin. This time thousands of devotees come here to take Darshana. At the dawn a Kakad Arti is performed at 9.00 a.m. Mahapuja is performed. At 11.30 a.m. various other Pujas are performed at the end of which Mahaprasad is offered to the Goddess Mahalaxmi. In this manner various types of religious rites are performed in the service of the deity. There is big size bell to announce the begining of last Puja of the day.

A special type of festival is celebrated known as 'Kirnostav' i.e. the festival of rays. This is celebrated because on certain days the rays of the sun directly  fall on the idol of the Goddess mahalxmi. These days are 9th November to the 11th of November and 32st January to the 2nd of February.

NEW PALACE

New palace built with blackstone was constructed in 1877-1884.It is a classic example of architectural beauty and majesty. The royal family of Kolhapur currently lives there. This wonderful palace also has one of the most important museums in the state.This museum was started in 1974 commemorating the 100 years of the birth of Chh.Shahu Maharaj.Here one can find stuffed animals killed during royal hunts and also ancient weapons used during that period.Priceless and precious items make this museum an important place of interest to visitors.

Amongst the surrounding areas of the palace, there lies lovely gardens, a beautiful lake which has many different kinds of animals.It also has a wrestling mat or ground where wrestling matches took place .The palace has a tower which in turn has a very big clock. This clock was put in place in 1877. Small domes and the glasswork on it depict the scenes of the life of Chh.Shivaji Maharaj in this palace. Visitors can visit this wonderful museum and palace during 9.30-11.30 A.M and 2.30-5.30 P.M (all days except Monday).

SHALINI PALACE

Shalini Palace is located very close to the famous Rankala lake.It was built in 1931-1934 and cost approx 8.00 lacs to build. Surrounded by tall palm trees and lush green lawns this palace offers visitors a magnificient place of interest in kolhapur which at the same time provides a wonderful backdrop to the lake. The palace was constructed with italian marble and black stone. The main door has Belgium glass and the inscription work on it reflects the majesty of the Royal family of kolhapur. The columns made of black stone as well as the entrance porch is a architectural masterpiece. In 1987 this palace was converted into the only palace hotel in the state. You can enjoy the reflection of the palace on a moonlit night on the Rankala lake,as well as its serene beauty during sunset.

DAJIPUR

Dajipur situated about 82 kms. From kolhapur has one of the regions thickest forests. It borders on Kolhapur and Sindhudurg districts. Having a vast composition of flaura and fauna, it is also home to many animals, especially wild beasts. Previously it was famous for the abundant quantities of Wild Boars which resulted in hunting. It also has Bears, Antelopes and different types of snakes too. Fortunately hunting is now banned in the state, but nevertheless this lovely picturesque area, which is actually in Radhanagari Taluka, is a must see especially during the monsoon season. M.T.D.C has provisions for a rest house and tents can also be availed here to stay.

Amoboli

Amboli: Amboli is situated approx. 135 km from kolhapur. Nestled amongst the beautiful sahyadri ranges, it is about 630 mts above sea level and is considered one of the prime hill stations in Maharashtra. It is surrounded by thick forests and ravines and tall cliffs. Considering its location and lovely climate it is a perfect picnic spot as well as a 'Retreat' from the crowded cities and towns. There are numerous waterfalls, a sunset point and a holy site close to 'Amboli'. Maharashtra tourism has a resort built for visitors who would like to stay at 'Amboli'.
Important Phone numbers of Hotels/Resorts.
1)Hotel Green Palace- 02363-76241/76302
2)Hotel JRD international-02363-76222/76225

RANKALA

The Rankala Lake is situated about half a kilometre from the famous Mahalaxmi Temple.Much before this lake was formed, there used to be a blackstone Quarry. In the 7th century or the 8th century there was a big earthquake which resulted in the formation of this lake. In the year 1877, The then Maharaj decided to upgrade the lake premises to make this area serene and lovely. To prevent the overflow of the water coming out, he built the surrounding wall due to which water never comes out.This construction took nearly 6 years and cost about Rs. 2.50 lacs. In 1877-1888 the erection of the Rankala tower took place which has increased the beauty of the lake. So also it serves the purpose of regulating the water flow in the lake. Behind the lake there is a Temple of Rank-Bhairav, which incidently is supposed to be the protector of the Goddess Mahalaxmi. Thus the name Rankala came into existence. In the year 1931-34 "Shalini Palace" was built and this is right next to the lake.The palace has added the majesty and beauty of the area.

Old Palace / Bhavani Mandap

This palace is behind Mahalaxmi Mandir. This palace was built around 200 years ago and it was the royal residence. in the year 1813 it was partly destroyed in a fire. later on it was  reconstructed. This palace has old fashioned architecture and it is huge in size and strong in construction.

Shri Chhatrapati got this Bhavani temple built for members of his family. This temple and its surrounding area is proof  of the royal wealth. Shri Chhatrapati used to conduct his Dasera Court in this temple. A beautiful idol of Goddess Bhavani can be seen in Bhavani chowk.

Khasbaug Wrestling Stadium

One  more attraction the city of Kolhapur can offer the tourists. many great wrestlers of India have shown their wrestling skills in this stadium. The art of wrestling developed during the life time Shri Shahu Maharaj as he used to love this art very much. He converted this Khasbaug maidaninto proper stadium. This stadium has capacity to accommodate 20,000 people.