Kolhapur: The Home of Mahalaxmi
Best places to visit in Kolhapur, sightseeing & tourist attractions in Kolhapur
‘Kolhapur? But what does it have to offer visitors other than its sugar cooperatives and Kolhapuri slippers?’ people ask. The response to the query is: ‘Lots.’ The city which is literally ringed by lush green fields of sugarcane boasts of a rich legacy that manifests itself in spectacular palaces, intriguing museums and ancient temples and is also the famous custodian of the ancient martial art of Mardani and competitive kusti or wrestling.
Map of Kolhapur:
What’s Famous Here: Top Tourism Places Kolhapur
Legend of Kolhapur: A long time ago, the story goes, the entire region was ruled by a fearful and wicked rakshesh or demon named Kolhasur who, amongst other vile things, needed to devour a mortal every day to satisfy his hunger. Things eventually reached such a point that the people of the region pleaded with Mahalaxmi to rid them of their tormenter. The Goddess, moved by their sorry plight, came to their rescue and killed the demon after an epic battle.
But the story doe not end here, for Kolhasur’s son the equally evil demon Karveer engaged Mahalaxmi in mortal combat only to end up, like his father, at the wrong end of the exchange. However, before he died, Karveer pleaded with the Goddess to do something about the fact that since he had no heirs, the family lineage would end with him and be forgotten forever. Moved by his plight Mahalaxmi granted that the town be named after both the father and the son. In fact, till recently, the city was known as both Kolhapur and Karveer; both names being interchangeable.
Dassera in Kolhapur: Dassera in Kolhapur is special. ‘After Mysore, we have the most spectacular Dassera,’ says Yuvraj Sambhaji S Chhatrapati, the crown prince of the Kolhapur royal family which traces its root back to Chhatrapati Shivaji. The celebrations still revolve around the former Maharaja and his family who on this day dress up in full ceremonial attire and drive in an open antique car through the city’s streets packed with their cheering ‘subjects.’
The procession starts at the New Palace and ends at the Old Palace where a mountain of sacred leaves dominates an open compound. The maharaja dips his hand in this pile and collects a handful. What follows is a free-for-all melee as the hordes that have gathered around, converge on the mound desperately trying to grab a few leaves for themselves. However, it is not auspicious to keep what been hard won and so after the battle is over, everyone goes around exchanging leaves with each other.
Shopping in Kolhapur : Boating, lakeside walks, bustling marketplaces that sell everything from leather slippers to traditional gold and silver jeweler that is both delicate in design yet chunky in feel and a not-as-spicy-as-is-made-out-to-be culinary heritage; Kolhapur is in sync with the demands of the contemporary traveler. It is also serves as a hub for tourist attractions in the region.
What to See: Places You Should Not Miss in Kolhapur
Mahalaxmi temple: Each day the entire town of Kolhapur, or so it would seem, converges upon the Mahalaxmi temple whose roofs surged above the bustling melee of devotees and pujaris towards the heavens. This colorful stream of believers surge through the temple grounds, often forming small pools of devotion in front of the many little vermilion dusted shrines that dotted the compound.
Enshrined in the main temple is the statue of Goddess Mahalaxmi who is intimately entwined with the legend of Kolhapur.
New Palace: New Palace that mushrooms like an Arabian Nights dream castle in the middle of sprawling lawns and an adjoining deer park on the outskirts of the city. A large section of the ground floor of this Indo-Saracenic creation of turrets, domes, spires and filigreed archways has been converted into a museum where the ghosts of the past still reside. Royal chambers brim over with the legacy of the fairy tale lifestyle of the Maharajas and the Raj.
Travel to Kolhapur: Tour package of Kolhapur sightseeing spots
Local Languages: Hindi, Marathi and English
Best Time to Visit: November to February
How to Reach
AIR:
The closest is near Ujlaiwadi, 13 km from city center. But Pune airport is a much more convenient airport.
RAIL:
Kolhapur is where the Mumbai-Pune-Miraj-Kolhapur railway line terminates. The station is in the centre of the city.
ROAD:
Frequent buses are for Kolhapur available from Panhala, Sangli; Belgaum, Karnataka; Satara; Ratnagari, Pune and Mumbai.
Excursions from Kolhapur:
Panhala: an charming hill station which is an important site of the Maratha Empire. located at an altitude of 977.2m Panhala houses numerous ancient forts and buildings that are testament of Maratha empire
Vishalgad: Is home to several tourist attractions including Vishalgad fort, Amriteshwar Temple, Takmak Tok, Sati Vrindavan and the dargah of Hazrat Malikdhyan Baba.
Dajipur Bison Sanctuary: Located at 1200 metres above the sea level, is a must visit place for nature enthusiasts. The place is home to several species such as bison, wild deer, chital, gawa and many more spectacular wild animals and birds.
Hotels in Kolhapur: In addition to properties of Maharashtra Tourism, temple town has a number of hotels. There are a number of private hotels and lodges that cater to all budgets.
Kolhapur Travel Packages:
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Flights to Kolhapur:
You can take flights to Kolhapur, the closest is near Ujlaiwadi, 13 km from city center. But Pune airport is a much more convenient airport.
Trains to Kolhapur:
Kolhapur is where the Mumbai-Pune-Miraj-Kolhapur railway line terminates. The station is in the centre of the city.
Buses to Kolhapur:
Frequent buses are for Kolhapur available from Panhala, Sangli; Belgaum, Karnataka; Satara; Ratnagari, Pune and Mumbai.
Car Hire in Kolhapur: To experience Kolhapur at your own pace you can take a care hire. Hire a cab and get enchanted by the captivating locations of Kolhapur. You can also hire a cab for excursions from Kolhapur
