Kolhapur is situated in
Kolhapur District of
Maharashtra, 240 km north of
Pune on the banks of Panchganga River. This city is noted for its historical, religious and commercial importance.
This place is famous for ‘Kusti’ or wrestling, apart from art, education, industry and sports. Kolhapur is rich in the production of milk and milk products. Sugarcane, Kolhapuri tobacco and Kolhapuri Chappals are the other famous products of the city. Kolhapuri Saaj, a special type of necklace is unique of its kind.
Marathi film industry converges here. Panhalgad Hill Station is a nearby attraction.
The Mahalaxmi Temple at Kolhapur gives it the name ‘Dakshin kashi’. Other attractions are Ambabai Temple built by the Chalukya King Karnadeve (634 AD), Irwin Agricultural Museum and Bahubali-Jain pilgrim centre.
Ratnagiri (125 km), Sindhudurg (152 km) and Belgaum (107 km) are easily assessable from Kolhapur. The city rests on the Bangalore-Pune highway.