KOLHAPUR TRIP

Kolhapur Kolhapur is a spiritual retreat and is one of the oldest cities in the country located K on the bank of Panchaganga river. The charm of the historic place is enhanced by the towering forts and palaces around it, which stand testament to the glorious past of Kolhapur. Flanked by the towering Sahyadris on one side and the meandering river on the other, the beauty of the little city is one to behold. PANHALA FORT Panhala Fort is the largest Fort in the Deccan region, located in the vicinity of Kolhapur city. It connects Maharashtra to the Arabian Sea through Bijapur. It is also called as the 'Fort of Snakes' as it is zigzagged in shape. The Fort showcases variants of motifs, bastions, and various other relics of different dynasties with Indo-Islamic architecture acting as a visual treat to the eyes. It gives us a glimpse of the glorious past of the Maratha Empire and also provides a 360-degree view from the hilltop. RANKALA LAKE The Rankala Lake is a famous tourist attraction of Kolhapur. Marked by the natural beauty and peaceful environment it provides, it sure does find its name in the traveler's bucket list. Apart from the inherent natural beauty and the regal beauty of the Shalini Palace and the Padma Raje Gardens, the Lake also offers a host of activities to keep the tourists entertained like horseriding and boating. The banks of the lake are well-maintained with seating arrangements and picturesque gardens. KOPESHWAR TEMPLE - KHIDRAPUR Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Kopeshwar Temple is more than 100 years old and is situated on the banks of the river Krishna and sets a fine example of ancient sculptural technique. The unique feature of this temple is that the visitors first get a glimpse of Lord Vishnu in ling form instead of the Shivaling which is usually the case in Shiva temples. Another notable feature is that there is no Nandi at the entrance which is the norm for all Shiva Temples, RADHANAGARI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY Popularly known as the 'Bison Sanctuary' it is the first sanctuary declared as 'wildlife sanctuary' in Maharashtra.
 
Though it is named as 'Bison Sanctuary', this tropical evergreen forests is home to various birds, small mammals, reptiles and wild animals such as the Indian bison, deer, monkeys, wild boars, bears and chitals. The sanctuary also has a watchtower near the Manora watering hole offering an exciting glimpse of the wild animals visiting the place during sunrise and sunset. NEW PALACE One of the top tourist attractions in Kolhapur city is the New Palace. Its construction is done in black polished stones and it took 7 years to complete, from 1877 to 1884. The whole building is eight-angled and has a tower in the middle. The New Palace is situated in a wide area and consists of garden, zoo, museum, lake and wrestling ground. The ground floor of the New Palace accommodates the museum and displays a vast collection of trophies, guns and garments of the ace ruler Chhatrapati Shahaji Maharaja. सञ्जर्षि छत्रपती शाहू खासबाग कुस्त्यांचे मैदान KHASBAG MAIDAN The Khasbag Stadium (Maidan) is India's largest wrestling stadium. A heritage monument, it is approximately a century old, built under the reign of Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj. The structure that surrounds the wrestling ring, also known as 'Houd', seats around 30,000 people. Members of the Kolhapur royal family are granted exclusive seating on the east side of the wrestling ring. The '46th Hind Kesari Wrestling Championship' was held here in 2012 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Khasbag wrestling arena. CUISINE Dominated by Maharashtrian style of cooking, the cuisine here is popular everywhere as 'Kolhapuri Cuisine'. Especially famous for its non-vegetarian food - Tambada rassa (red curry) and Pandhara rassa (white curry) are the epitome of Kolhapur curries. Misal a spicy gravy of potatoes, peas and other sprouts, finds its origin here. HOW TO REACH Kolhapur Airport • By Air Pune Airport • By Train Kolhapur Railway station • By Road/Self Drive National Highway 4 ACCOMMODATIONS Kolhapur being a famous tourist location is dotted with a number of hotels ranging from five star luxurious hotels to a more economical and affordable stay. One can easily find wel maintained hotels with spacious rooms to suit both family and friends. BEST TIME TO VISIT The best time to visit Kolhapur is the winter season from November to February.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS • Dajipur Wildlife Sanctuary Shri Chatrapati Shahu Museum Gaganbawada Sagareshwar Deer Sanctuary Ramtirth Waterfall Vishalgad Narsinhwadi Datta Mandir Siddhagiri Museum Chinmaya Ganadhish Shalini Palace Sajja Kothi and many more