Kolhapur Sightseeing

This exquisitely carved temple draws millions of pilgrims from all over the India. Over the eyars, members of several royal families have sought the blessings of goddess - Mahalaxmi temle. The temple complex has artistically sculpted and houses the temples of other deities such as Kashi Vishweshwar, MahaSaraswati, Mahakali, Shree Dutta, and Shree Ram.
 

    ### The Temple is open from 4 pm to 11pm  

The maharaja's 'new' palace, completed in 1881, houses the Shahaji Chhatrapati Museum, one of the most bizarre collections of memorabilia in India. The building was designed by 'Mad' Charles Mant, the British architect who fashioned the Indo-saracenic style of colonial architecture and is a cross between a Victorian railway station and the Addams Family mansion.
          The palace contains a weird and wonderful array of the old maharaja's possessions including his clothes, old hunt photos, silver peocock-shaped elephant saddles and the memorial silver spade he used to 'turn the first sod of the Kolhapur State Railway' in 1888. But dominating every room in the palace are reminders of the maharaja's passion: killing wild animals to decorate his palace.
          Skins cover floors and furniture, trophy heads stare blankly from the walls, ashtrays, and coffee tables are made from tiger and elephant feet, lamp stands from ostrich legs and zebra hoofs. The variety of stuffed animals includes a black bear, rhino, pangolin, panther and an entire pride of lions in a forest diorama! There is even a painting of the Maharani entitled 'The world's Greatest Woman Pig Sticker'. The gun and sword collection could easily outfit a small army: dozens of swords, axes, pistols, punt guns, and instruments, of torture fill the armaments room. The most unusual piece is a gold-plated, double barrelled shotgun. The palace is a few km north of the center.

Wrestling ground which resembles an enormous sandpit. Kolhapur has produced several Indian national wrestling champions, and you can see them training most days.

Brahmapuri Hill, including a small bronze of the Greek God Poseidon holding his Siva-like trident.

Museum, housing pottery and bronze artifacts found during archaeological excavations on nearby Brahmapuri Hill

Shalini palace, built in 1932-34 at a cost of Rs. 8 lakhs, was named after Princess Shrimant Shalini Raje of Kolhapur. The palace stands on the west bank of the picturesque Rankala lake and is surrounded by towering palm trees, lush greenery and lovely gardens. The palace is built of intricately carved black stone and Italian marble. Rich decorative wooden doorways fitted with etched Belgium glass bearing the crest of the Maharaja of Kolhapur add to the regal grandeur. The majestic black stone arches forming the verandah and the porch are breathtakingly beautiful. In 1987 the palace was converted into a hotel. This is the only palace hotel in Maharashtra.

Rankala Lake is located at distance of half a kilometer from the famous Mahalakshmi temple in Kolhapur with a circumference of 2.5 miles. This was an extensive mine of black stone that has witnessed many historical events. The earthquakes during 800-900 AD transformed the mine into big holes where the underground water is collected.

Being the biggest and the oldest building, it is the glory of the city and has historical importance. This palace was built in the reign of Shivaji Maharaj II (1785-1800 AD) when Kolhapur became a self-governed state. It boasts of fine and sound construction, which has 14 squares. In 1813 the Muslim King Sadatkhan invaded the palace and a part of it was burnt. After repairs only 7 squares have survived.