KOLHAPUR

Kolhapur

नमस्कार Rotaractors! We, the team ‘Mahabloggers’ from Rotaract district 3131, Pune, India, welcome you aboard on this virtual tour, ‘ महाराष्ट्राची चंदेरी दुनिया’ around our glorious and magnificent state of Maharastra with 36 spectacular and eminent districts, each rich with its distinct culture, heritage, and history, yet rooted to the illustrious spirit of valor of this state, which is the जन्मभूमी of innumerous brave and historically significant personalities. So, fasten your seat belts as we take you around the resplendent districts of Maharashtra. Our first destination for this tour is Kolhapur.

Introduction of Kolhapur:-

Kolhapur is an inland city located in south-west Maharashtra, and the state of Kolhapur was established by Tarabai Bhonsale (a regent of the Maratha empire) in 1707 because of the succession dispute over the Maratha kingship. The Maratha throne was then governed by descendants of Tarabai.

According to the legend, Kolhapur gets its name from a demon called Kolhasur who was slain by a goddess there. The demon wanted the place he died in to be named after him and hence the city got its name. Kolhapur is famous in Maharashtra, holding signs in the religious context. The town has also been mentioned in scriptures like Devi-Gita where Kolhapur is noted as a place of Kollamma worship.

Cultures and Traditions of Kolhapur:-

Life in Kolhapur is very peaceful and the city draws a lot of pilgrimages every year. There are two special festivals that are celebrated in Kolhapur; Rathotsav, and Deepotsav. Rathotsav is celebrated in April and a silver idol of Goddess Mahalaxmi is boarded on a chariot in the evening and is taken out on a great procession, the temples are naturally very crowded this time of the year. Kolhapuri people celebrate Deepotsav, a festival of lights at midnight after ‘Tulsi Vivah’ at Panchganga Ghat. During this time, Kolhapur is worth visiting to witness the lightened abode with thousands of lamps and rangolis with social messages.

It is also worth noting that since the time of the Maharajas, wrestling has been a prominent sport in Kolhapur. Best wrestlers come from this city due to the cool climate, clean waters, and soil rich in iron and other minerals. As a result, a lot of young men in Kolhapur aspire to be wrestlers. Kolhapur has a renowned wrestling stadium, Khasbaug. The stadium is more than a hundred-year-old built in the time of Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj.

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Tourism of Kolhapur:-

Kolhapur is about 387 km from Mumbai, the financial capital of India, and is famous for the Indian handcrafted leather slippers, the Kolhapuri chappals, and its unique local jewelry, a special type of necklace called Kolhapuri Saaj. It is, however, primarily known for its historical forts, palaces, and temples. Here are some of them:

1. The Mahalakshmi temple: It was built in the 7th century by Chalukya rulers and is one of the six abodes of ‘Shakti’. According to the popular belief goddess, Mahalakshmi started residing in Kolhapur following a quarrel with her husband Lord Vishnu.

2.Dajipur Wildlife Sanctuary: What used to be the hunting grounds for the Maharaja is now a wildlife sanctuary since 1985. Also known as Bison Sanctuary, the place is popular for Indian Bison or Gaurs. Besides, one can also spot leopards, tigers, sloth bears etc. Set amidst verdant forests, the sanctuary makes for a perfect getaway from the city.

3.Shri Chatrapati Shahu Museum: Located on the Bhavani Mandap-Kasaba Bavda Road, this palace was built around 1877–1884 and was the home to Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj. The ground floor of the palace is converted into a museum that houses artifacts belonging to those times when the king ruled and his own possessions.

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Food of Kolhapur:-

As for food, Tambda and Pandhar Rassa, and Kolhapuri Mutton along with Missal Pav and Chicken 65 are some of the most famous dishes of Kolhapur. While they are all really spicy they are equal parts flavourful and mouth-watering.

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This was all about the beautiful district of Kolhapur from our side. If you hail from Kolhapur and found this blog great, then please do let us know in our comment section below and share this with your other Kolhapurkars. Also let us know if we have missed out on any amazing spot from Kolhapur. Like, share and do comment on our blogs so that they reach maximum rotaractors who wish to travel and know more about our Maharashtra.

Follow our amazing district’s ERYLA page for regular updates of ERYLA and do participate in our 3 days long ERYLA for 2020, full of enthralling and engaging activities with a great and insightful speaker line-up to make it like never before. Stay tuned to this space to take a virtual trip to the next amazing district of Maharashtra.