Kolhapur
About Kolhapur
Kolhapur is located in the south western part of Maharashtra state. Kolhapur, as we know it is famous for Kolhapuri chappals. Despite that, Kolhapur is also famous for Wrestling and has one of the largest wrestling stadiums called Khasbaug wrestling stadium. Kolhapur has a pleasant climate with not much of rains and not much of humidity. There are many large scale mechanical industries in Kolhapur. The main languages spoken is Marathi. Kolhapur is well connected to other major cities through bus, rail, airways. It is at a distance of 3 km from Chattrapati Shahu Maharaj Terminus and 8 km from Kolhapur Airport near Ujlaiwadi. A city in the western state of Maharashtra, lying in the Panchganga River Basin, Kolhapur is the headquarters of Kolhapur district. It is located in the Sahyadri Mountains of the Western Ghats, and is located at a distance of 380 kilometres from Mumbai. |
Kolhapur is connected to some of Indias major cities through the Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Terminus, which provides express services to Pune, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and New Delhi. The city enjoys a strategic position on NH-4 and NH-204. It also hosts three state transport bus stands. It has a football stadium, Rajarshi Shahu Stadium, besides Khasbag Wrestling Stadium. The Maharashtra government is making efforts to promote Kolhapur as a Tier-III information technology hub.
A major attraction of the city is a 85-foot idol of Lord Ganesha at the Chinmaya mission, the Tara Rani equestrian statue, and a bronze statue of Babasaheb Ambedkar at Bindu Chowk. The city hosts educational institutions for engineering, medicine, and agriculture. Besides Shivaji University, Kolhapur also houses a number of international schools and pre-IAS training centres. Colleges offering courses related to pharmacy, law, and polytechnic are also found here. A few years earlier, the Maharashtra chief minister had announced setting up of a new Film City in Kolhapur. There also are a number of shopping malls in the city that have improved the lifestyle of people here.
Demographics
As per the reports of 2011 Census of India, population of Kolhapur city is 549,236 and population of ‘Kolhapur Municipal and Regional Development Authority’ is 561,837.[16]
Religion
- Hindu – 460,774 (83.89%)
- Muslims – 59,760 (10.88%)
- Jain – 18,420 (3.35%)
- Christian – 5,251 (0.96%)
- Buddhist – 2,929 (0.53%)
- Not Stated – 1,289 (0.23%)
- Sikh – 581 (0.11%)
- Others – 232 (0.04%)
According to 2011 India census, Hinduism is majority religion in Kolhapur city with 83.89% followers. Islam is second most popular religion in city of Kolhapur with approximately 10.88% following it. In Kolhapur city, Jainism by 3.35%, Christianity is followed by 0.96%, Buddhism by 0.53%, and Sikhism by 0.11%. Around 0.04% stated ‘Other Religion’, approximately 0.23% stated ‘No Particular Religion’.[17]
Economy[edit]
DYP City Mall, Kolhapur
Reliance Mega mall at Kolhapur
Manufacturing industry[edit]
The city particularly known for the Kolhapuri chappal, a hand-crafted buffalo leather slipper that is locally tanned using vegetable dyes. Kolhapuri slippers are sold on Mahadwar road.[18][19][20] Other handicrafts include: hand block printing of textiles; silver, bead and paste jewellery crafting; pottery; wood carving and lacquerware; brass sheet work and oxidised silver artwork;and lace and embroidery making.[21]
Kolhapur is also an industrial city with approximately 300 foundries producing exports with a value of 15 billion rupees per year.[22] A manufacturing plant of Kirloskar Oil Engines [KOEL] is set up in 5 star MIDC at Kagal near Kolhapur, besides this Raymond clothes plant is also located in the same industrial area. Kolhapur has two more industrial areas wiz. Gokul-Shirgaon MIDC, Shiroli MIDC & Udyamnagar is an industrial area in the city.
Tourism
Tourism is another source of revenue with about three million visitors to the city per year.[23] Kolhapur’s attractions include: New Palace, world’s first statue of Babasaheb Ambedkar at Bindu chowk, inaugurated on 7 December 1950, Rankala lake, the Tara Rani equestrian statue which stands on two of the horse’s legs an 85 feet (26 m) idol of the Lord Ganesh at the Chinmaya mission (Top-Sambhapur). At the annual Dusshera procession, the Kolhapur Maybach car of the chhatrapatis of Kolhapur is displayed to the public. The rankala lake is place to visit in kolhapur.
Film industry[edit]
A Memorial to Baburao Painter in Kolhapur
On 1 December 1917, the Maharashtra Film Company was established in Kolhapur by Baburao Painter. The city has become the primary centre for the Marathi film industry. Kolhapur plays host to many film festivals, including the Kolhapur International Film Festival. Kolhapur has film city which is spread over 75-acre in Morewadi and was set up in 1984 by the state government. The objective of setting up film city was to provide infrastructural set-up to the Marathi film industry and provide all facilities, from shooting to post production, under one roof. The work of renovation and new locations of Kolhapur film city is going on. [24]
Malls[edit]
In Kolhapur, four malls are present which are DYP city shopping mall located near Kawala Naka and Reliance mall in Laxmipuri.Shoppers stop and Star Bazar is also available .
