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Kolhapur

Pop: 480,000 Area Code 0231

Kolhapur was once the capital of an important Maratha state. Shivaji’s youngest son ruled from here. It is a nice city with interesting sites.

The MTDC Tourist Office (659-435), Station Rd, a five-minute walk from the railway station, operates a guided tour of Kolhapur and Panhala (Rs 60).

Maharaja’s Palace
British architect Charles Mant designed the New Palace in 1881 in the Indo-Saracenic style. It has a large clocktower.

Inside the palace is the Shahaji Chhatrapati Museum, containing an unusual and interesting collection of the former Maharaja’s possessions. There is an large, excellent weapons collection, including a gold-plated, double-barreled shotgun, some swords, and other guns. One of Aurangzeb’s swords is in the collection.
The palace is about 2km north of the center of town (Rs 15 by auto-rickshaw). Admission Rs 5.

Panhala Fort
Panhala is a hill station at 975m (3220 ft), 19km from Kolhapur. There is a hilltop fort here, originally built by Raja Bhoj II in 1192. Shivaji stayed here for some time. It was taken by the Mughals and then the Marathas, and eventually fell into British hands in 1844. The fort’s walls are 7km long. The fort was built in a triangular shape with three gates, and has 9m (30 ft) high walls.
MTDC Cottages (02328 35048) has rooms for Rs 300/400.

There are regular buses to here from Kolhapur.
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Other Places
The Old Palace (Rajwada) is open 10 am to 6 pm. Some members of the Maharaja’s family still live in the palace. It is possible to view the entrance hall. There is a temple here dedicated to Bhavana, the family deity.

The 18th century Maha Lakshmi Temple has an interesting carved ceiling. The four-armed deity of Maha Lakshmi (goddess of fortune and consort of Lord Vishnu) is flanked by Mahakali and Saraswati. On the upper floor there is a Siva-linga and a sacred yantra. On Friday the deity of Maha Lakshmi is taken out on a procession around the temple grounds.

There are interesting ghats along the holy Panch-ganga River.

The Town Hall (1876) is now a museum containing archaeological finds from the nearby Brahmapur Hill, such as bronze and pottery.

Where to Stay and Eat
Most of the hotels are located near the bus station.

There are Retiring Rooms at the railway station.
Maharaja (650-829), 514 Station Rd, opposite the bus stand, has basic, clean rooms with common bath for Rs 100/175 and Rs 200/300 with bath. It is one of the better cheap places.
City Lodge, on the west side of the square, has clean rooms with bath and hot water for Rs 175/225. 24-hour checkout.
Hotel Chalukya (652-996) has decent rooms with hot water in the morning for Rs 275.
Hotel Girish (651-236) has clean rooms with TV for Rs 225/350. It has a restaurant.
MTDC Panhala (435-048), at the Panhala Fort, is a mid-range choice.
Hotel International (652-442; fax 652-445), Station Rd, a ten-minute walk east of the bus station, has rooms with bath and TV for Rs 400/450 and Rs 600 with A/C. It has a good vegetarian restaurant. Ask for a room in the back, because Station Road can be noisy.
Woodlands (650-941; fax 633-378), 204E Tarabai Park, has quiet, mid-range rooms with TV. It has a garden and is a good value. Best to book in advance.
Hilltop Hotel (435-048), Panhala Fort, has clean, comfortable rooms for Rs 600/700.
Nearby, Hotel Panchsil (650-517), Station Rd, has comfortable rooms for Rs 600/650 and Rs 850/900 with A/C.
Hotel Shalini Palace, near Lake Rankala, 5km from the railway station, is the old summer palace of the maharaja. It has rooms for Rs 500/600, Rs 1100/1250 with A/C, and suites for up to Rs 2600. Some of the rooms are designed for royalty.
Pearl (650-451; fax 659-987), New Sahupuri, is a good place with a pool and a garden.

Travel
The railway station is close to the town center, ten minutes from the bus station. There are trains to Pune (9 hr) and Mumbai (13 hr).

There are buses to Mahabaleswara, Pune, Bijapur, and Belgaum. Private companies operate buses to Goa and Mumbai.

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