Goddess Mahalaxmi is regarded as the mother of all the people of Kolhapur. It was build in the 7th Century. In this temple Mahalaxmi, Mahakali, MahaSaraswatiis present in the idol form. Two times in the year, the sunrays glow on Goddess up to 450 feet. People of Kolhapur live in peace because of Mahalaxmi’s blessing.

Shree Mahalaxmi Temple is one of the Shakti Peethas listed in various Puranas of Hinduism. The Shakti Peeth means a place associated with Shakti, the Goddess of Power. The temple belongs architecturally to the Chalukya Empire and may have been first build in circa 700 AD.

The idol of Mahalaxmi carved in black st..

Rankala Lake is located at a distance of half a kilometer from the famous Mahalaxmi temple. This serene, expansive lake is so called because at its center is the temple of ‘Rankabhairav’. According to a fable, a golden temple lies submerged under the lake of ‘Rankala’. It is an important place in Kolhapur with historical and cultural signification. Rankala is the resting place of Kolhapur people.

Rankala choupati is very famous and attractive to citizens and tourists. In the pleasant evening atmosphere, this choupati gets crowded with tourists and citizens. Tourists enjoy boating, Children Park, horse riding and stalls of eatables.

Rankala Lake has radius of abou..

This temple is at the corner of Mahadwar Road. The temple consists of two parts, the inner temple and the mandap in front. Student of architecture will enjoy this is unique temple which does not have any pillar hence the temple is called Binkhambi (or without pillars).

ChambuKhadi Hills located at west of Kolhapur. It is a very calm and silent place of Siddha Batukeshwar Ganesh Temple. Hundreds of devotees came there every Monday, Sankashti’s and Chaturthi’s for pay their worship. We can see picturesque almost whole Kolhapur city form its top.

This temple is near Varuntirth. It is like the Ambabai temple in construction but the spire or tower is missing. The temple is also half buried under the ground and presents a desolate appearance. It has a small original mandap in front and a big recent mandap of corrugated sheets. Inside the shrine, a linga below the level of the ground and on the mandap, there is a Nandi.

Shalini Palace standing on the west bank of picturesque Rankala Lake built on 1932-44. It named after Princess Shrimant Shalini Raje of Kolhapur. Towering palm trees, lush greenery and lovely gardens surround it. The palace built of intricately carved black stone and Italian marble. Rich decorative wooden doorways fitted with etched Belgium glass panels bearing the crest of the Maharaja of the Kolhapur add to the regal grandeur. The majestic black stone arches forming the verandah and the porch are breathtaking beautiful. In 1987, it was converted into a hotel, it is being the only heritage of Maharashtra.

The New Palace is on the north side of Dasara Chowk (crossroad). Chh. Shahu Maharaja constructed this majestic palace from 1877 to 1884. This royal palace was converted into an impressive museum on 30 June 1974 for remembrance of Chh. Shahu Maharaja’s Birth Century. The New palace has lush green parks, a zoo and a picturesque lake to delight the visitors. There is a small pond, ducks, peacock, deer’s, and swans, which attract tourists. The museum houses have rare paintings and artifacts used by the royal family.

There are historic materials, artifacts of Chh. Shahu Maharaja’s period. Valuable photographs and painting of Chhatrapati, the rifles and other arms used by him in hunting and the hunted an..

Sathmari or the arena for elephant fights is in the southern eastern parts of the old city. It is a part plot of about acre with small stone castles built at different points where the persons provoking the elephants to fight could get shelter. The whole plot is fenced round with a wall on the top of which there is a place for spectators. Elephant fights were popular during the rule of Chh. ShahuMaharaj. Now the place used as a playground and is only remainder of the sport.

Old Palace is the old historical heritage of Kolhapur. It was built in the year 1788. In the Palace, we find Nagarkhana, Darbar Hall, Horse stable and Famous Bhavani Temple.

The old palace is located behind the temple of Mahalaxmi. The magnificent structure has an impressive marquee with filigree work in stone. In 1813, the Muslim King Sadalla Khan invaded the palace and a part of it had burnt. It had a fine construction with 14 squares but after the repairs were, did only seven squares survived.

Kolhapur is well known for Wrestlers. Chh. Shahu Maharaja, social reformer of Kolhapur, built this ground only for the purpose of practice and matches of wrestling. He generously helped wrestlers and promoted their art in wrestling. Maidan (ground) can accommodate 40 to 50 thousand viewers at a time to watch the Wrestling.

There are slanted seating arrangements so that everybody can enjoy the games. Due to this, the ground looks like a circular concave bowl. There are entrances on the east and west sides of the ground. There is a stage for invited and honorable persons and is covered by pavilion. Surrounding the ground there are raised steel bases, which keep the spectators at appropriate distance and prevent fromen..

This art gallery is set up at the residence of famous Marathi actor and painter Chandrakant Mandhare.

To the north-west of the city, there is an extensive ghat on the Panchaganga River. There are numerous temples here including some in the river itself. The ghat consists of long stone flights of steps reaching down to the river and use for bathing and washing. One gets a very picturesque view from the ghat. To the north overlook this bridge, the ghat and the river is in Brahampuri Hill, the site of the ancient city.

Katyayani Hills lies five miles south of Kolhapur. Its chief interest is the temple of Goddess Katyayani, prettily placed on a hill. The temple is an old stone building 40' x 20' x 12' high. The Goddess Katyayani held in great honor by the Hindus and mentioned in the Karveer Purans as the great helper of Goddess Mahalaxmi. The Katyayani stream, which rises in this hill, is the main feeder of the Kolhapur water works. The importance of the shrine and the beauty of the temple site make it is a favorite picnic place for the people of Kolhapur.

Kalamba Lake is located at 3 miles, on the outskirts of the Kolhapur city, but it has special importance for the city. This lake was built in 1873 to provide clean water to Kolhapur City. Total area covers 63.13 Hectors and total spending of money was Rs. 186000/- during the period. This lake makes from stream which comes from Katyayani Hill, the ancient temple of Goddess katyayani.

Kalamba Lake attracts many migratory birds during the winter season so this area is known for bird sighting place. This lake has potential to sustain the great biodiversity. This lake fulfills the demands of drinking water of large area of city and its using for as a fishing spot. Some people collect lotus from here and sale it in market..

Town hall constructed in 1876 in Gothic architectural style. This Beautiful building stands in the extensive and beautiful garden. It is one of the oldest gardens in the city. Varieties of indigenous and exotic plants founds in this garden. Many trees and plants in the garden have medicinal, ornamental and research value. It is a rich botanical laboratory for researchers. It is a nesting as well as roosting site for many birds, animals, butterflies, insects, etc. Town hall is one of the largest roosting sites of bats in the city.

The building is two spires and steep roof. It consists of a large central hall and gallery with two rooms on either side joined to the main hall by a spacious verandah in the front. There is fine porch with a terrace over it, j..

Kholkhandoba Temple is located at north-west side on Kolhapur city. Beside the many myths, it is said that Shri Manajirao Jagtap of Kolhapur was profound devotee of deity Lord Khandoba, and he was visiting to Jejuri, the night of new moon every month without any conveyance, trudging and trudging for worshiping of Khandoba. As the day passed and his old age, trudging to Jejuri was not possible to him. His devotion was so profound that Lord Khandoba of Jejuri actually in sighted and dreamt by to Manojirao Jagtap and showed the holy place for his existence.

After actual spectacle of Lord Khandoba Shri Manojirao was, drawn in supreme happiness and he suggested place for excavating and ‘Shivlinga’ (a particul..

To the east of the city near the shau Mill (Shau Chatrapati Spinning and Weaving Mill), there is a big tank or lake with a temple of Mahadeva. This is a picturesque spot in Kolhapur. On the city side, there is an earthen bund. There are some babul trees on this side. The temple of Mahadeva is slightly inside the lake with a small strip of land joining it to the bund. The temple is small and simple and has no ornate carvings or decorations. The image of Ganapati carved on the lintel of the temple. There is a small mandap of recent construction before the temple. Inside the temple, there is a Pindi or ling of Mahadev. On the southern side, there is a sort of mangrove and a building. One Narayandas Maharaj, who came here in 1894 and built this rest house like building with count..

The Panchganga River is a lifeline of Kolhapur people. It starts from Prayag Sangam (Village: Chikhali, Taluka: Karveer, Dist: Kolhapur). The Panchganga formed, as has been noted already, by four streams, the river Kasari, the Kumbhi, the Tulsi and the Bhogawati. Local tradition believes in an underground stream Saraswati that together with the other four streams make the Panchganga.

The Prayag Sangam confluence marks the beginning of the Panchganga River proper, which after receiving the waters of the four tributaries continues, in a larger pattern with the flow of waters received from the rivers. From North of Kolhapur it has a wide alluvial plain. After developing this plain, the river resumes its course eastwards.

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The temple of the Tryamboli Devi is located on a lofty hillock to the east of Kolhapur. According to the Karveer Puranas Temblai, Tryamboli, or Trymbuli the younger sister of Mahalaxmi in conquest of a quarrel with Mahalaxmi left Kolhapur and retired to the hill. The reason for quarrel being she neglected in the celebration of victory in war with demon Kola by gods. Therefore, she got annoyed, went, and sat on Trymbuli hill. When her absence was noticed Mahalaxmi, She sent some Gods to fetch her. However, she would not come. Finally, Mahalaxmi herself went there with a Kohala or pumpkin to remind her of an incident in fight with Kola, the demon, but the Tryamboli not moved. The incident occurred on the 5thAshwin. Even today, Mahalaxmi is said to pay her sister one visit in honor of Goddess Tryamboli. An image of Mahalaxmi p..

A small ruler township at Kaneri, just 15 minutes of traveling from major tourist points, has set-up an astonishing museum under the guidance of revered AdrushyaKadSiddheshwarSwamiji, which exhibits cultural decadency of our society in the form of statues. India’s ruler culture is the soul of this museum. Ancient Indian economy, scattered through the village, used to run independently and efficiently through barter system. Each village run used to run by the people called ‘Bara Balutedars’. Balutedar means head of the profession. Main was Sutar, Lohar, Mahar, Mang, Kumbhar, Chambhar, Parit, Nhavi, Bhat, Sonar, Gurav, and Koli.

Siddhigiri museum exhibits through statues how the society was running and how the residents of the village fulf..

In Laxmipuri, near the Padma Talkies there is a temple of Munisuvrat, the 20th Tirthankar of the Jain’s. Although the temple had built in 1947, it is a fine example of an attempt to build in the old Indian style of architecture. The temple is modeled on the lines of the old Jain templesand reminds one of the Jain templeat Abu. There are beautiful carvings both inside and outside the temple. The image of Munisuvrat installed in the inner temple. There are also images of other Tirthankar’s in marble, in the temple. Next to the inner temple, there is a mandap.

The Babujamal Dargah (mosque) is behind Saraswati Cinema theatre within a short distance of the Mahalaxmi Temple. This Dargah appears to have built when the Muslims first conquered Kolhapur.

There is a big gate leading into the Dargah grounds. The top of the gate has, however, been removed. This gate built in 1909 according to a tablet fixed there. The Dargah has an extensive area with a garden and subsidiary building. The main Dargah stands in the middle of the ground. It is a typical Muslim structure with a big dome and four small domes at the four corners. The Dargah seems to have built with stones of Hindu temples because the image of Ganesha appears on the lintel of the door. This Dargah is the most important Muslim sh..

This math is in Sukravar Peth a short distance from the Sukravar Dharmasala. The math is very old. The ninth merter high idol of Bhagwan Adinath situated in this temple. It is said that last chapter of ‘Shatkhadagam’ was written on this temple. The main gate or Nagarkhana is very beautiful and is similar to the nagarkhana of the old Palace. A number of four-pillared towers surmount it. The main arched gateway is very beautiful. This nagarkhana or gate built in 80 years ago by Mathadhipati Laxmisen Maharaja at a cost of Rs. 61,000. It was build of black stone and is 65 ft. in height.

At present there is only an open space beyond the gate, except for a small ..

This math is in Shukravar Peth on the way to the Panchaganga Ghat. It is an old two-stored structure without any embellishments or architectural points. It is, however, very old. Shankaracharya of Sankeshwar occupies the building. Although formerly it was a part of the Sankeshwar Math, the link was broken about 50 years ago and now the Kolhapur math also known as Karveer Pitha.

This temple is close to Khasbaug Maidan, where a marvelous Lord Shiva’s paintings by the famous artist G. Kamble. This temple has maintained in spick & span condition to this day.

This ancient village situated at 14 km distance from Kolhapur city is on the bank of river Tulsi. Village houses 13th century temple of God Bideshwar. Even though Bid is a very tiny village today, once upon a time there was a local dynasty whose boundaries extended up to Kolhapur and Panhala. One can witness innumerable ruins of the temples. According to mythological belief, Bid was the ‘YuddhaKshetra’ the place where Goddess Mahalaxmi fought with the demon Kolhasur. Gold coins of the ancient time found until date. There is also a temple of Goddess Ambabai. Idol of Goddess Ambabai of this temple resembles idolof Kolhapur temple.

Temple Jotiba located 20 km from Kolhapur at western part. The Idol of Jotiba established by Saint Gagangiri Maharaj. Every year on ‘Chiatra Ekadashi’, the Hindus Calendar 11th day of the first month, thousands of devotees has gather on Jotiba Temple. It is a hill temple so it is very calm and silent place. Temple management is good and managed by local devotee Mr.Kashinath Ganpati Teli (Gurav).

The temple of Vithoba, which probably built about the same time as Mahalaxmi temple, lies southeast near the Subhash Chowk. A large space encloses five temples with a rest house large enough for several hundred travelers. The chief temple of Vithoba to the right is build of stone and is similar in style to the great temple of Mahalaxmi. In front of this temple, there is a double-stored wooden mandap, which is of recent construction. Another old temple to the left dedicated to Vishveshwar is similar in style to Vithoba temple. The entrance is grand and has spacious rooms on the top. On the bright elevenths of Hindu month Ashadh (near June-July and Kartika (October-November) fairs are held in honor of the God Vithoba when flowers and leaves of the bel (three leaf) and the tulsi (basil p..