Kolhapur, in Maharashtra, is a land of temples and regal palaces. The most revered of them is the Mahalaxmi Temple, which has a simple yet fascinating structure. Other tourist places in Kolhapur are Temlabai temple, Jyotiba temple and the Bimkhambi Ganesh temple. The Shri Chhatrapati Shahu Museum, which was once the residence of the first Maharaja of the Maratha Empire, is a vivid display of artefacts representing the ancient history of the city. Take a walk through history at the Panhala Fort, which is an imposing fortification believed to have housed Chhatrapati Shivaji himself. Kolhapur is known for its spicy array of Maharashtrian food. Best restaurants in Kolhapur where you can try some of the local delicacies are Padma Guest House, Waman Guest House and Parakh. Being a bustling tourist destination, Kolhapur has a lot to offer when it comes to lodging for all types of budget travellers. Don't forget to take back the local Kolhapuri Chappals, that make for lovely traditional footwear.
Apart from its cultural and historical aspect, Kolhapur is considerably industrialised. The place is famous for Kolhapuri Chappals and Kolhapuri necklaces, central to the region’s economy, as they are manufactured exclusively in the area and sold worldwide. The art of Kolhapuri sandals involves handmade leather slippers that are dyed locally with vegetable dyes. Whereas, the Kolhapuri necklace, also called the Kolhapuri Saaj is a traditionally handcrafted necklace made of 21 pendants resembling leaves. The design motifs are rich, with idols, holy plants, good luck charms, and icons carrying some spiritual significance. Some of the places to visit in Kolhapur that briefly cover in this blog are Mahalaxmi Temple, Panhala Fort, Maharaja’s Palace and many more. Trust us Kolhapur have lots more to explore.
During your stay, do not miss out on tasting the local cuisine and flavours of Kolhapur. The place is famous for its rare spices and many mouth-watering mutton delicacies.