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Nestled amidst the beautiful Sahyadri mountains, Kolhapur in Maharashtra is a yesteryear princely state that continues to retain its cultural charm and heritage to the present day. Bounded by the river Panchganga and situated against a backdrop of scenic hills, the city has much to offer travellers. It functions as one of the key religious destinations in the state with many beautiful temples, attracting Hindu devotees from the world over.
Kolhapur also has many monuments and forts of historical importance and the exciting stories attached to every structure can leave travellers amazed and hungry for more. The city is popular among tourists as a place where the past comes alive in every experience; from the heritage stays to the authentic Kolhapuri cuisine. A visit to this beautiful place should not be missed. Here are some of the top places to visit in and around Kolhapur.
The New Palace
A must-visit place in Kolhapur is the lovely New Palace that was built in the year 1877. The architectural finesse of the palace attracts tourists to scour its vast grounds and admire its many structures. Built with polished black stone, the palace consists of a clock tower, picturesque gardens, fountains and even a wrestling ground. A noteworthy feature is the painted glass adorning the structure depicting stories from Emperor Shivaji's life. The palace now functions in part as the Shahaji Chhatrapati Museum and is a must for all history buffs. You will see many interesting photos of the royal family including the stories of their hunting adventures at the museum.
Photo Courtesy: Ankur P
Bhavani Mandap
Among the places to visit in Kolhapur is the Bhavani Mandap, a yesteryear royal residence and present-day temple. The royal family built the temple in worship of the Goddess Tulija Bhavani, believed to be Goddess Mahalaxmi's elder sister. You can also observe a statue of Shahu Maharaj here and stuffed animals that he hunted himself. Make sure to visit this historic landmark on your visit to the city of Kolhapur.
Photo Courtesy: Ankur P
Panchganga River
Flowing along the borders of the city of Kolhapur is the Panchganga River, which translates to mean 'the five rivers' and is formed by the confluence of four streams, namely; the Kasari, Kumbhi, Tulsi, Bhogawati and as per local legends even a fifth underground stream called Saraswati. The scenic destination that is also rich in surrounding vegetation attracts travellers to come and relax here. There are two bridges that cross the river also providing scenic views of the river and surrounding greenery.
Photo Courtesy: KoolKrazy
Sri Mahalaxmi Temple
An important place to visit in Kolhapur is its most prominent symbol, the Sri Mahalaxmi Temple. Considered to be one of the Shaktipeeths, the temple is dedicated to the worship of Sri Mahalaxmi or Ambabai. The temple attracts devotees from across the world. People come here to seek blessings for a healthy and prosperous life. In fact, it is considered mandatory to visit the temple of Mahalaxmi before proceeding to visit the Balaji Temple at Tirumala. The idol is beautifully decorated and is by itself a mesmerising sight, especially during festive occasions. The vast temple also boasts of interesting architecture and some noteworthy features are the unique deepmalas or lamps at the temple.
Photo Courtesy: Tanmaykelkar
Rankala Lake
Among the key attractions of Kolhapur is the Rankala lake that gets its name from the temple dedicated to Rankabhairav located at the lake. Built during the Maratha rule, it is situated on the western side of the Sri Mahalaxmi Temple. Presently, it is a popular destination for both tourists and families residing in the city. The lake also is popular for the large statue of Nandi. Many interesting legends are connected to the temple and the lake, such as the belief that a golden temple lies submerged below the present structure of the Rankabhairav Temple.
Photo Courtesy: Vineet Timble
Panhala Fort
An important tourist place near Kolhapur is the Panhala Fort, located at a distance of 20 km from the city. This historic fort has stood witness to many sieges and was changed hands between rulers from the Maratha, Mughal, Yadav and other dynasties. Located strategically in the Sahyadri mountains, most of the fort is still intact, speaking volumes about its heavy fortifications. Among the largest such forts in the Deccan it is primarily built in the Bijapuri style. The fort is an interesting place to visit for history lovers. A curious feature of the fort are the many hidden underground tunnels.
Photo Courtesy: Prasad Nigade
Jyotiba Temple
One of the unique attractions in Kolhapur is the temple of Jyotiba, which is said to be the incarnation of three gods; Shiva, Vishnu and Bramha. Apparently appointed as a guardian of the surrounding areas by Goddess Mahalaxmi herself, the main deity of Jyotiba is worshipped and celebrated for the defeat of a demon in the region. Many festivals take place at the temple including a large mela organised on the full moon days of the Hindu calendar months of Vaishakh and Chaitra.
Photo Courtesy: Ankur P
Bahubali
A lesser known attraction near Kolhapur is the Bahubali temple, a pilgrimage centre for the Jains. The beautiful temple structure has the main idol of Bahubali located atop 50 stairs and stands tall at a height of 28 ft. Located in the village of Kumbhoj, the temple at the foothills can be seen even from a great distance. The beautifully constructed temple, artistic sculptures and well-laid gardens are a must-visit attraction on a trip to Kolhapur.
Photo Courtesy: Ashok Prabhakaran
Kalamba Lake
A popular sightseeing place in Kolhapur is the Kalamba Lake that is situated at a distance of 6.6 km from the city. It was built in 1873 to provide clean drinking water to the city of Kolhapur. Today, it is a popular among travellers for its scenic views, and among nature lovers for the large population of migratory birds that visit the lake. The lake continues to support people with drinking water, fishing opportunities and tourism activities.
Photo Courtesy: Sujit Jadhav
Masai Pathar
An interesting sightseeing place in Kolhapur is the Masai Pathar or Masai Plateau, located close to the Panhala Fort. Among the largest plateaus in india, the Masai Pathar is known to be beautiful with many wildflowers growing here. It is also a prime location for trekking activities in the region. Some other places of interest here include the temple of Masai Devi and the Pandav or Buddha Leni.
Photo Courtesy: nilesh1foru
Food, Stay and Shopping
Kolhapur is a haven for foodies. Non-vegetarians can have a great time enjoying the many dishes that are made in the famed Kolhapuri style. The city is noted for their preparation of Mutton delicacies such as the pandhara rassa. You can also try items such as Kolhapuri misal, and Kholapuri thali.
Explore the best hotel deals in Kolhapur here.
The city is popular for exquisite and traditional lifestyle products ranging from the beautiful Kolhapuri sarees to intricate jewellery and the famous Kolhapuri leather sandals. The Mahadwar and Shivaji roads are popular for shopping.
Photo Courtesy: sstrieu
How to Reach Kolhapur
By Road: Kolhapur is well-connected by roads. It is easy to reach the city by road from major destinations in Maharashtra. Both state and private buses are available to the city. The NH-4 connects Kolhapur to major cities.
By Rail: The Chhtrapati Shahu Maharaj Junction at Kolhapur has many trains to major cities in the region such as Mumbai, Pune, Tirupati, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Hyderabad, etc.
By Air: The Ujalaiwadi Airport located at a distance of 10 km from the city has regular flights to Mumbai and Pune but is not functional at present. Travellers can take a flight from the nearest airport at Belgaum, located 119 km from Kolhapur or Goa Airport (233 km) and Pune Airport (243 km) depending on the availability of flights to specific destinations in the country and outside.
Photo Courtesy: jimanish
