Kolhapur City Attractions & Famous Destinations
The glory of Kolhapur is owed by its rich chivalrous past. Ruled by the Hindu kings till the year 1323, this city was taken over by the Mughal emperors. From the year 1323 to 1700 AD, Mughal rulers ruled over the city. During the same time Maratha rulers started spreading their influence and Kolhapur again came under the patronage of Hindu empire. Later in the year 1849, British took over and it was handed over to Maharaj Chhatrapati Sahu. Under the reign of this king, the city lent a progressive spirit and the development work was extended to the greater stretches of the city. Music, Arts, Culture theaters and infrastructural development by the king made Kolhapur amongst the well known cities in India. in 1945, the archaeological excavation along the banks of Panchganga, made revelations about the emergence of the city since the Roman times. The travelers can still trace the ruins at the bank of Panch Ganga river in Kolhapur. Today, visitors can see the amalgam of vibrant present combing with its glorious past. The attractions in Kolhapur are as follows:
Mahalaxmi Temple: The beautifully carved temple draws millions of people from India as well as different parts of the world. The Mahalaxmi temple is constructed in such a way that it houses the temples of other deities like Kashi Vishweshwar, Kartikaswami, Sheshashayi, Siddhivinayak, Mahaswaraswati, Mahakali, Shree Dutta and Shree Ram. The Chaulkya ruler initiated the construction of the temple in the year 9th century AD and further its beautification work was carried by Yadvas. The temple has naturally formed structure of idol which is 40 kgs in weight and is embedded with uncut diamonds. The best part of this idol is that it was not beautified by any human. Besides this, the Palkhi ritual is carried during the Chaitra Pournima and Navratri. The temple remains open from 4:00 pm to 11:00 pm. There is also a Dharamshala near by the temple which charges a nominal fee.
The New Palace (Chattrapati Sahu Museum): The Chatapati Sahu Museum was once the royal palace which later was converted into a museum. This museum houses the remains of the centuries old royal palace. The weapons, accessories, painting showing the court proceedings, antiques and master pieces can be viewed by the travelers. The ambiance of this museum would remind the travel enthusiasts about the life style of the rich past. The area outside the museum has lush green parks, a zoo and a picturesque lake for the people who feel tired after exploring the whole museum.
The Town Hall Museum: The town hall museum houses the antiques found during the excavations oh Brahmagiri. Old sculptures, coins, sandal wood and ivory items, paintings and many more alike are displayed here.
The Old Palace: Located behind the temple of Mahalaxmi, this magnificent structure has an impressive structure with filigree work in stone. It also houses a temple of goddess Bhawani.
The Bhimkhamki Ganesh Mandir: The students of architecture will enjoy visiting this place as this unique temple does not have any pillars.
