Created Date: 28 December 2015

Best of Kolhapur Recommended by Indian travellers

Great experience!
Really a nice and awesome
place. Everyone should go there
Krishna for at least one time. Everyone
should go there and enjoy the
beauty of nature. Overall...

74 travel stories about Kolhapur by Indian travellers

Guide includes:About destination | Top things to do | Best accommodations | Travelling tips | Best time to visit
Page 1/11

About Kolhapur
Kolhapur is a city located in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It lies to the south of Pune, about
228 km away. Traditionally, the place is famous for its footwear and jewellery. Kolhapuri sandals
are a trademark and have originated from this city of India.
Kolhapur is said to have derived its name from a mythological account. Kolhasur was a demon
and he was killed by Goddess Mahalakshmi in order to bring relief to people of the region.
However, the demons dying wish was that the city should be named after him and his wish was
granted.
The city also finds a mention in Srimad Bhagwadgita, where it is referred to as an important
religious centre. Legend has it that Amoghavarsha, who was a Rasthrakuta king and ruled the
city in the 9th century, offered his fingers sacrifice to Goddess Lakshmi to bring relief to the
people from a local calamity. Historically speaking, it was Shilahara dynastys capital during the
10th century.
Kolhapur lies at an altitude of 569 metres above sea level. This altitude gives it a cooler climate
as compared to other cities in Maharashtra. However, the temperature remains the same
throughout the year with no major fluctuations. The average day temperature here is between
25-30 Celsius while the average night temperature ranges from 18-20 Celsius.
The city is home to a number of temples, forts and historical places of significance. Some of the
major places of tourist interest in Kolhapur are the Mahalakshmi Temple, Katyani Temple,
Vishalgad Fort, the Wax Museum and the New Palace among others.
Kolhapur is also known for its Kolhapuri cuisine, which is characterised by the use of many
spices. The red meat preparations of the cuisine are especially well known. Tourists visiting
Kolhapur should try local delicacies like misal pav, batata vada and of course its mutton curries.
Although majority population of Kolhapur comprises of the Marathas, there are other
communities present as well in sizeable proportion. Some of these are the Gujaratis, the
Brahmins, the Marwadis and Muslims, which has influenced its cuisine to a large extent.
Getting around Kolhapur should not be a concern for travellers. Taxis and rickshaws can be
used to explore the city. For shopping, tourists ought to buy the famous Kolhapuri chappals,
antique jewellery and of course, sarees that are distinct to this region.
The economy of Kolhapur largely depends on the farming sector while textiles and mining
industries come in next. Kolhapur is reputed to be one of the Indian cities with the highest per
capita income. It even made it to a list of most number of Mercedes cars in a Maharashtrian
city, and was placed just below Mumbai. Kolhapur also has a thriving film industry, with a
majority of Marathi films being made here each year.
Kolhapur is well connected to other cities in Maharashtra and neighbouring states by road, rail
Page 2/11

and air. The city has an airport which has regular flights from cities like Mumbai and Pune. But
the best way to reach Kolhapur is by boarding a train or bus from Mumbai or Pune, which takes
close to 10 hours and three hours respectively.
The best time to visit Kolhapur is anytime during the year except during summers and therefore,
tourists should avoid visiting the city in April and May.

Information
State:
Maharashtra
Famous for/as: Heritage
Altitude:
569 M
Pincode:
416001
District:
Kolhapur
Language:
Hindi,Marathi
STD code:
0231
Weather:
Summer 22 To 40C, Winter 12 To 30C

Featured review about Kolhapur

Best city , Mahalaxmi Temple
"The temple is one of the Shakti Peetha. So it has a very important role in History & Hinduism. If
you are visited Kolhapur, then visiting this temple is a must. Location: The temple is in the heart
of the city. It is known to all locals & autos are easily available.
Exterior: The temple has 4 main entrances on each side i.e East, West, North, South gates.
Shoe rack is available for safekeeping on East gate. Pooja Thali, Sweets for offering to the
Goddess is available on North & West gates.
Interior:There are 2 internal entry gates. Entry near north gate is for entry to the main Temple &
worshippers can get near to the Goddess Mahalaxmi. Whereas entry near south gate is for
worshipping from a distance. If you want to visit the whole temple & also enjoy the beauty then
go from the entry near north gate. The temple is carved of stones. It has many beautiful
structures.
Festivals: There is no direct sunlight inside the main temple. Kiranotsav is an important festival
here during which Sunrays reach the Goddesses Mahalaxmi. Full moon nights are also
important here. Overall: The temples is a must for all Hindu devotees. It is believed that if you
visit the temple, You get salvation from your desires or you can fulfill them" - Jitesh , Delhi, 2
months ago

Awesome place for having good times

"A very nice place with beautiful sceneries, mountains, heritage place of the great Shivaji. The
people are also very nice, kind and very helping in nature. If one wants to get relaxed from his
busy schedules and wants to leave their noisy cities, just have a break and visit Pannahala. A
Page 3/11

very good, quiet and calm place with very good views, temples and parks. Its a must visit for all
those who wants a break from their busy lives." - Dushyant Kumar, , 2 months ago

Wild life, adventure and devotional all in one trip

"Kolhapur, Panhala and Dajipur Forest Reserve. It was a wonderful weekend trip, which started
with our visit to Kolhapur Mahalaxmi Temple. It is really divine and one of the very old temples
with all its rustic charm. The devotion with which people throng this place is really amazing. The
Kirontsav which happens twice in a year is worth a mention when the sun's rays fall on the feet
of the Goddess.
From Kolhapur we proceeded to Panhala where we put up in a bungalow with my office
colleagues. The food ordered from a local household consisting of the famous Kolhapuri
"Tambda","Pandhra" rasa with mutton which was succulent. The chapattis were soft and tasty.
The hospitality of the locals is worth a mention. The Kolhapurs are large hearted people.
We had an early morning walk around the Panhala fortress the fresh air and breath-taking view
from atop the fortress will linger in our hearts for a long long time. In the short time we had, we
could not take up the wonderful trek from Panhala to Vishalgad. The heroics of Baji Prabhu who
battled the enemy and waited for the signal of Maharaj Chattrapati Shivaji reaching the fort
before giving up his life cannot be put here in limited words. The true patriotism and valour
shown by the people then is hard to find in the present day world. Shall definitely take time to go
for the trek. Can't believe that the army of Shivaji Maharaj did it in the dark night, crossing the
Pavan Khind in treacherous conditions. Even with the modern day facilities we find it tough to
undertake such treks.
After the walk and siteseeing on the fort we proceeded down back to Kolhapur enrooted to
Dajipur Forest Reserve. We had the famous Phadtare Misal which was mouth-watering and
nutritious with the sprouted pulses and bread. After the hearty breakfast we proceeded to
Dajipur Forest Reserve.
On the way we halted at a very beautiful and scenic spot on the backwaters of the Radhanagri
Dam. My colleague from Kolhapur had organized wonderful picnic bench with tables, umbrella,
barbecue which was cooked from the stags and wood collected from the shrubs around. The
meal cooked was just wonderful and melted in our mouths what with the use of natural wood.
We swam to our hearts content and were famished even after having had a hearty breakfast.
We devoured all the barbecue fish, chicken, sheek kababs, panner tikkis, and veg patties. The
rumali rotis, biryani, mutton curry all were devoured in no time. However the quantity of food got
by my friend was quite a lot and sufficed till dinner.
After the heavy meal and small power nap we proceeded to Dajipur Resort where our friend
had booked tents for us. The tents are well-equipped and accommodate four people. We had a
camp fire in the evening with rounds of "Antakshari" and music. The dinner again went well with
Amarkhand as a dessert and accompaniment with rumali rotis.
The next day we left in very early at 5.30AM in two jeeps by the locals deep in the forest for
Page 4/11

about 17 km till the watering point. On the way we got to see the Bison. The best time for
sighting animals is in summer. Thought we reached the watering point quite early we were not
lucky to see any more animals. However we saw different species of birds. On our way back we
visited the Gagangiri Ashram. Where they are constructing a temple and have plenty of
cows/calves. It seems Gagangiri Maharaj a saint had attained siddhi on meditating at a place
nearby. They make and sell hair oils, shampoos, medicines for stomach ailments all from the
herbs grown by them or from the fauna around.
We left back home after a meal cooked by the caretakers at the place. We had a very
refreshing and enjoyable stay and a wonderful weekend. Our group of 12 colleagues all enjoyed
immensely each others company. We sincerely wish we should have more such outings." Kishore Betrabet, , Dec 1, 2014
Read 74 Kolhapur reviews on HolidayIQ.com

Top attractions in Kolhapur recommended by HolidayIQ.com travellers

1

Mahalaxmi Temple

Type:
Temple
Entry: Free
Ranked: 1 Of 23
Ratings: 6.17/7 (27 Reviews)
Timings: Monday - Friday - 04:30 To 22:00 , Saturday - 04:30 To 22:00 , Sunday - 04:30 To
22:00 , Public Holidays - 04:30 To 22:00
"A short drive from a number of nearby hotels or a quick auto ride takes you to Mahalakshmi
temple. Google maps is spot on. The Darshan on a Friday morning took me just 15 mins in a
normal queue that moved briskly. Get there before 7 and it will be..." - Mahesh
subramanian , , 5 days ago
Shahuji Chhatrapati Museum
Type:
Museum
Entry: Paid
Ranked: 2 Of 23
Ratings: 5.70/7 (4 Reviews)
Timings: Monday - Friday - 09:30 To 18:00 , Saturday - 09:30 To 18:00 , Sunday - 09:30 To
18:00 , Public Holidays - 09:30 To 18:00
"The museum is equipped with weapons, cloths, utensils used by Chhatrapati and his warriors.
Animals hunted by Chhatrapati are also there on display. But the museam is not properly
maintained even though they collect entry fee of Rs.25 per person...." - Mithilesh Juvle,
Panvel, 3 weeks ago
2

Jyotiba temple

Type:
Temple
Entry: Free
Ranked:
Page 5/11

Ranked: 3 Of 23
Ratings: 5.00/7 (3 Reviews)
Timings: Monday - Friday - 05:00 To 21:30 , Saturday - 05:00 To 21:30 , Sunday - 05:00 To
21:30 , Public Holidays - 05:00 To 21:30
"Its a little far off from city. But temple was a me morable sight to see. Its made of black rock
with deep pink color 'Abeer' smeared all around. The feelings and chants by local crowd was
very touching and showed extreme belief of people in the..." - Monika , Agra, Jul 25, 2014
4

Rankala Lake

Type:
Lake
Entry: Free
Ranked: 4 Of 23
Ratings: 5.60/7 (2 Reviews)
"The Rankala lake is a biggish lake in Kolhapur with clean water. Boating facilities are
available.There is a park and walkways around the lake. Very good place to spend some
morning/evening time for the Kolhapur visitor/resident." - Suresh Ramaswamy, Mumbai, Jul
26, 2015
5

The Kopeshwar Temple

Type:
Temple
Entry: Free
Ranked: 5 Of 23
Ratings: 6.25/7 (1 Reviews)
Timings: Monday - Friday - 05:00 To 21:00 , Saturday - 05:00 To 21:00 , Sunday - 05:00 To
21:00 , Public Holidays - 05:00 To 21:00
"Must see. Very ancient temple - well maintained. Thankfully, not yet commercially exploited like
many other temples. Beautiful / tranquil. Location on the banks of Krishna river is added plus." Anand Doshi, Pune, Jun 10, 2014
Gaganbavada
Type:
Hill
Entry: Free
Ranked: 6 Of 23
Ratings: 5.75/7 (1 Reviews)
"Hold your breath for i am having loss of words to describe this lovely scenic place . You too will
be mesmerized by nature. come and be blessed to see this." - Vinay Rattan, Mumbai, 1
month ago
6

Binkhambi Ganesh Mandir

Type:
Temple
Entry: Free
Ranked: 7 Of 23
Ratings: 6.63/7 (1 Reviews)
Timings:

Page 6/11

Timings: Monday - Friday - 06:00 To 21:00 , Saturday - 06:00 To 21:00 , Sunday - 06:00 To
21:00 , Public Holidays - 06:00 To 21:00
"The word binkhambi means this temple has been built without any column in its structure.
Tough its a small temple, everyone who visits Mahalakshmi temple will visit this temple" Satish Salokhe, Bangalore, 3 weeks ago
Bhavani Mandap
Type:
Religious Place
Entry: Free
Ranked: 8 Of 23
Ratings: 5.33/7 (1 Reviews)
"Bhavani Mandap at Kolhapur The old place of Chatrapathi Shau Maharaja is named as
Bhavani Mandap. The entrance look very elegant and is of Black granite structure. In the centre
of the palace houses the idol of Dulja Bhavani and a temple and..." - S sankaranarayanan
Sundaram, Chennai, Sep 9, 2015
8

Ajara
Type:
Offbeat Attraction
Entry: Free
Ranked: 9 Of 23
Ratings: 6.25/7 (1 Reviews)
"place is like heaven on earth in rain time . from ajara to amboli is the best road with full of
greenery and best small road ever I seen before this." - Anil Madbhagat, Mumbai, 2 months
ago
9

10 Ichalkaranji

Type:
Offbeat Attraction
Entry: Free
Ranked: 10 Of 23
Ratings: 5.00/7 (0 Reviews)

Popular hotels in Kolhapur recommended by HolidayIQ.com travellers

1

Ayodhya Hotel
Price:
Rs. 1,650 - 2,300
Ranked: 1 Of 127
Ratings: 5.42/7 (56 Reviews)
Address: 198, \\\'E\\\' Tararani Chowk
Kawalanaka,Kolhapur
Phone: 231-2652293
Website: Www.hotelayodhya.com
"If you are expecting a lavish hotel with pool,front view, gym, play area then this
is not for you. But if you want friendly atmosphere, Feel home kind of place and

Page 7/11

prime location then just Go for it. very helpful staff and nice food. All rooms
are..." - Pranav chati , , 1 month ago
Read 56 hotel reviews on HolidayIQ.com
2

Panchshil Hotel
Price:
Rs. 2,150 - 3,650
Ranked: 2 Of 127
Ratings: 5.45/7 (31 Reviews)
Address: 517, A/2, Shivaji Park
Kolhapur
Phone: 231-2537517
Website: Www.hotelpanchshilkolhapur.com
"This is one of my family's favorite hotel. Almost every year we all (family
members) visit kolhapur for 2-3 days stay mainly for two reasons 1. Maha-Laxmi
2. Hotel Panchashil (just to relax). We continued it from last 14-15 years. I think
it's..." - Umesh , Pune, 5 days ago
Read 31 hotel reviews on HolidayIQ.com

Heritage Resort
Price:
Rs. 3,000 - 7,000
Ranked: 3 Of 127
Ratings: 6.28/7 (8 Reviews)
Address: Mattivade Village Road,
Karnur,
Kagal,
Phone: 2325-280525
Website: Www.heritageresort.in
"Heritage Resort is an agro-resort located amidst farmlands. It is located 20 km
from Kolhapur city on the Kolhapur-Belgaum Highway. It was in May, 2015 when
were travelling to Goa from Mumbai that we decided to stay in this resort. It was
my first..." - Ekansh Nayal, Mumbai, 2 months ago
Read 8 hotel reviews on HolidayIQ.com

Woodland Hotel
Price:
Rs. 3,000 - 3,200
Ranked: 4 Of 127
Ratings: 5.39/7 (32 Reviews)
Address: 204, B-E Ward
Kolhapur
Phone: 231-2650941
Website: Www.www.hotelwoodland.net

Page 8/11

"We stayed at this place while coming back to Mumbai from Goa. We were
there adults with one toddler. The room was good, spacious and clean. Food
was also good. Since we booked at the last minute, there were some issues with
confirmation, which the..." - Jagveer brar , , 1 month ago
Read 32 hotel reviews on HolidayIQ.com
5

Maratha Regency
Price:
Rs. 1,700 - 4,500
Ranked: 5 Of 127
Ratings: 5.47/7 (55 Reviews)
Address: Tarabai Garden Road
New Shahupuri
Kolhapur
Phone: 231-2652666
Website: Www.hotelmaratharegency.com
"hotel is very nice for family with good location .neat and clean hotel. but try to
make online booking to get max discount :) overall its really nice to stay with
good restaurant.nothing is there as like negative .if u r trying to stay in good..." Gaurav Mahamuni, Mumbai, 5 days ago
Read 55 hotel reviews on HolidayIQ.com

Raysons Regency Hotel

Price:
Rs. 2,500 - 3,000
Ranked: 6 Of 127
Ratings: 5.53/7 (30 Reviews)
Address: 204-E, New Shahupur
Kolhapur
Phone: 231-6681333
Website: Www.raysonsregency.com
"Overall fine & good. Hotel is centrally located & easily accessible , however the
much required Wifi services can be more simplified & accessible even in the
rooms. Hotel can have auto hotspots activation for the staying guests.
Morning..." - Krishnamurthy rajesh , , 3 days ago
Read 30 hotel reviews on HolidayIQ.com

Hornbill Deluxe Hill Resort

Price:
Rs. Upto 3,400
Ranked: 7 Of 127
Ratings: 4.95/7 (5 Reviews)
Address: Amba Village,
Malkapur,
Phone:

Page 9/11

Phone: 2329-264758
Website: Www.hornbillresortamba.com
"I heard about this place from someone, wondered what's so special about
jungle safaris rather call it a jungle trek. The trip was organised by the hotel
incharge (the owner) . Man with tons of cultural respect , engg but will seem like
some..." - Gaurav Bhondve, Pune, 1 month ago
Read 5 hotel reviews on HolidayIQ.com
8

Hotel Atria
Price:
Rs. 1,600 - 2,600
Ranked: 8 Of 127
Ratings: 5.48/7 (25 Reviews)
Address: 204, E-Ward
Station Road, Kolhapur
Phone: 231-2650383
Website: Www.hotelatria.com
"Nice hotel excellent facilities breakfast also. Parking to front side reception way
is so far. overall good stay in kolhapur ok..." - Vijay satam , , Yesterday
Read 25 hotel reviews on HolidayIQ.com

Pearl Hotel
Price:
Rs. 2,500 - 5,000
Ranked: 9 Of 127
Ratings: 5.55/7 (39 Reviews)
Address: New Shahupuri
Kolhapur
Phone: 231-2650451
Website: Www.hotelpearl.biz
"The locality of the hotel is closer to rly station and we can easily reach there by
paying Rs. 30/-. The front office staff and the other staffembers are very
cooperative and the privileges to all their by the staff is also remarkable. i
enjoyed..." - G b v satyanarayana , , 6 days ago
Read 39 hotel reviews on HolidayIQ.com

10 Skylark

Page 10/11

Hotel
Price:
Rs. 3,000 - 4,500
Ranked: 10 Of 127
Ratings: 5.47/7 (8 Reviews)
Address: R.S. No. 204 KH/10 B, E Ward
New Shahupuri
Near Dr. Kiran Doshi Orthopedic Hospital
Phone:

Phone: 231-2662444
Website: Www.hotelskylark.com
"Need to work on their toilets .. Though their staff was very nice. The food we
had for our dinner and breakfast was excellent. The only issue was their toilets
which was leaking from washbasin taps, flush and the jet spray had no holder.
The staff..." - Anurag arora , , 2 days ago
Read 8 hotel reviews on HolidayIQ.com
View all Kolhapur hotels

Kolhapur weather
Best Season / Best Time to Visit Kolhapur
JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

Best Time to Visit Kolhapur

Kolhapur is a place one can visit during any time of the year, except for the peak summer
months of April and May. This city is located in the south-western part of Maharashtra and is
one of the fastest growing cities in the state. Also, this region's per capita income is among the
highest ones in the country.
Summers in Kolhapur
The hot summers of Kolhapur continue from March to early June with May being the hottest
month of year. Temperatures remain between 24 C and 35 C during this time.
Monsoon in Kolhapur
The monsoon season of Kolhapur carries on from June through September. The region
experiences temperatures anywhere between 23 C and 30 C and sees medium rainfall.
Winters in Kolhapur
Kolhapur experiences a very pleasant winter season from November to February, during which
temperatures range from 14 C and 30 C.
Things to Do During Summer & Winter
This is a place history enthusiasts will totally love exploring. Some sites history lovers should
visit are Bhavani Mandap, the oldest and biggest structure built sometime around 1785-1800
AD and Maharaja's Palace which was designed by the British architect Charles Mant in 1881.
Rankala Lake with its beautiful backdrop and Radhanagari Dam, a century old dam constructed
by Shahu Maharaj are other popular places tourists should consider visiting. If one has ample
time in hand, visiting the nearby hill station of Gaganbavada and its lush green woods will be a
pleasant experience.

About HolidayIQ.com
HolidayIQ.com is a premier holiday information portal powered by India's first & biggest travel
community; enabling travellers to first discover numerous vacation choices, then plan holiday
trips in full detail

Page 11/11