Kolhapur is a blend of ancient tradition and modern influences.
It is a beautiful city,
situated in the south west corner of Maharashtra, India.
The city is on the banks of River Panchganga and reflects a rich heritage along
with a growing industrial sector. In 1945, excavations on the Brahmagiri hill in
Kolhapur revealed the existence of an ancient town dating back to the Roman era.
One of the most important cities of Maharashtra, Kolhapur had different
dynasties ruling it in the past, but it was under the rule of the Marathas that
it became a cultural hub with an active drama, music, painting and craft scene.
The city is also dotted with temples built by the Satavahna kings. Of late,
Kolhapur has become a prominent centre for the Marathi film industry.
Sight-seeing Highlights:
The most noteworthy attraction of Kolhapur is the
New Palace
or
Chhatrapati Museum
surrounded by a large park. The museum was designed by Charles Mant in 1881 in
Indo-Saracenic style and has an impressive marquee with filigree work in stone.
It houses rare paintings and artefacts owned by the royal family. Other displays
are weapons, swords and guns, including a sword belonging to Aurangzeb.
The
Mahalaxmi Temple
is the most visited temple in the city and is close to the
Old Palace.
Built in 7th century AD by Chalukya kings, the ancient temple has
beautiful carvings and sculptures. It also hosts classical music concerts and
festivals. Town Hall Museum features antiquities found during the
excavations at Brahmagiri, including sculptures, filigree work in sandal wood
and ivory, old coins and paintings. Binkhambi Ganesh Mandir is another
famous temple of the city. It gets its name from the fact that it does not have
any pillars.
Around
Kolhapur:
Panhala, 18 km away from the city is a hill station with an interesting
hill fort built by Raja Bhoj II in 1192.
Rankala Lake
offers nice picnic spots. The city is also a base to visit the Dajipur Bison
Sanctuary near the backwaters of the Radhanagari Dam.
Other Activities:
Kolhapur is famous for its leather chappals or Kolhapuris as they are
often referred to. Silver jewellery is another specialty of this city, made at
the close by town of Hupri. The city is also famous for wrestling and large
numbers of people come here to see wrestling matches at the akhadas.
There is also a
national stadium for a form of wrestling known as Khasbag.
Kolhapuri cuisine is rich and spicy and the delicious Kolhapuri mutton is a
must-try at the local eateries. It gets its taste from a famous produce of the
region - the Kolhapuri chilli, which could also be an item in your shopping
list.
