Situated on the banks of River Panchganga, the traditional city of Kolhapur, in Maharashtra, is peppered with a number of grand monuments and old temples. Home to at least one of the most important forts within the Deccan region, Panhala, where Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji is claimed to possess spent tons of your time , the town may be a mine of Maratha legends. Kolhapur also hosts one among the 51 shaktipeethas (devotional shrines where the body parts of Goddess Sati fell) and draws an outsized number of pilgrims per annum.

Such is Kolhapur’s spiritual significance that it’s colloquially called Dakshin Kashi (Southern Kashi), since it’s located within the southernmost a part of the state.Lying within the lap of the Sahyadri range, Kolhapur also boasts a number of wildlife sanctuaries that are teeming with flora and fauna. Enjoy a jungle safari and knowledge nature at close quarters, as you’ll get to ascertain a tiger ambling by your jeep or an elusive leopard peeping from behind a tree.The city’s heritage sites are worth exploring and its bustling bazaars are a delight for shoppers. the most attraction is that the Kolhapuri saaj, an opulent necklace renowned everywhere the country. Shoppers also can refill on the famous Kolhapuri chappals (leather sandals) that are available multiple styles, colours and embellishments.Once a princely state in pre-independent India, the town is mentioned within the holy Puranas. Founded by Chhatrapati Tarabai, Kolhapur flourished under the rule of the Chhatrapati clan of Kolhapur (1710–1949).