Kolapur is a district in the state of Maharashtra. The district headquarters are located at the city of Kolapur. Marathi is the prime language, though Kannad is also spoken by some people. Kolhapur also serves as the headquarters of the Kolhapur district. Kolhapur is situated on the banks of the river Panchganga and is the location of the Temple of Mahalakshmi, a Hindu goddess.
 
Art, education, industry, sports, food, headwear, footwear, jewellery and religious connections are famous in Kolapur. The wrestling here is called as Kusti and the wrestlers Malla. This wrestling match is played in the square clay ground which is known as "Akhada". The city derives its name from a demon named Kolhasur who was killed by Goddess Mahalakshmi it relieve the local people. The Eastern ranges, the Central ranges and Southern ranges. Eastern and Central ranges have black soil formed from 'lava' and at some places it has large tracks of fertile land. The western ranges are mostly hilly and have red soil. Most of the area is covered with forests. The main rivers that flow towards east through Western Ghats are Panchaganga, Warana, Dudhaganga, Vedganga, Bhogavati, Hiranyakeshi and Ghataprabha. Kasari, Kumbi, Tulsi and Bhogavati are the tributaries of Panchaganga. Krishna River flows in the east on eastern border of the district, similarly Tillari river flows on western border to west.

Kolapur  History

The famous King Amoghavarsha Nrupathunga I of the Rashtrakuta dynasty deeply cared for his subjects. Legend has it that, he once offered his finger as a sacrifice to Goddess Mahalakshmi in order to save his people from a calamity. An institute was established at Rupanarayanana-Basadi by Acharya Maghanandi. Several kings and nobles of the dynasty were his disciples. Maghanandi is often called Siddhanta - chakravarti i.e. the great master of the scriptures. To distinguish him from other Acharyas named Maghanandi, it is sometimes referred to as "Kolapuriya" or Walyaa. Shilahara King Gandaraditya, Vijayaditya and Bhoj-II built the Kopeshwar Temple, located in the district, between 1109 and 1178 AD. Kolapur is believed to have influential connections with the prevalent kingdoms of Greece/Rome. This is proved by the fact that bust of Poseidon, the Greek god of sea was at one of the excavation sites.

Kolapur  Climate

The plains experience a temperate kind of climate and the Western Ghats have a cool climate. Dry weather is prevalent in the Eastern region accompanied by hot winds during April and May. The sea breezes make the nights cool in the entire district. Southwest Monsoons cause the major portion of the rainfall. Some rainfall also takes place during April and May by thunderstorms. The months from June to October are the rainfall months. The Western Ghats receives the heavy rainfall and Gaganbavada which receives 5000 mm average rainfall is known as the Cherapunji of the Maharashtra. Shirol and Hatkanangle talukas record poor rainfall around 500 mm

Kolapur Culture

Major portion of population is occupied by the Marathas though small numbers of Gujaratis, Brahmins, Buddhists, Marwadis, Maharashtrian Jains, Kannadigas mainly Lingayats and Sindhis and Muslims are also present. Two Bhattaraka seats are present in the district- Lakshmisena Swami and Jinasena Swami. The latter has shifted from Nandni to Kolhapura. Many people are from koli-mahadev tribal community, in village Kamewadi & Chinchane in chandgad taluka and Basarge, Nul & Mutnal in Gadhinglaj taluka.

Kolapur Tourism

Tourist places in Kolapur
Temples
1. Mahalaxmi Temple
2. Holy Jotiba Hill
3. Goddess Trymbuli
4. Narasinhawadi
5. Holy-places Bahubali
6. Katyani Devi
7. Kashi Vishveshawar
8. Holy Khidrapur
9. Kaneri cloister
10. Shankaracharya's cloister

Historical Places
1. New Palace
2. Shalini Palace
3. Bhavani Mandap
4. Town Hall
5. Shivaji Vidyapeeth

Hill Stations
1. Panhala Fort & Hill Station
2. Vishalgad Fort
3. Dajipur Abhayaranya

Lakes
1. Rankala Lake
2. Kotiteertha