Kolhapur is situated on the banks of the Panchganga River in the state of Maharashtra. It is an important pilgrim destination drawing in thousands of people who come to visit the Mahalaxmi Temple of the city. Kolhapur is famous for being the capital of the Maratha film industry and is also renowned as the place where the first Indian feature film - Raja Harishchandra was conceptualized. The city is blessed with amazing archaeological sites, glorious temples, forts, monuments, gardens, lakes, and a rich cultural heritage. Famous for its food and footwear, the Kolhapuri Chappal, jewels and tobacco of Kolhapur are exported to cities all over India and the world. Within the city, there are several places of interest like the New Palace, Rankala Lake, Shivaji University and Temlabai Mandir. Nearby attractions include Panhalgad, Bahubali Jain Temple, Chhatrapati Shahu Museum, etc. Shopping in Kolhapur is a wonderful experience. Apart from the chappals and jewelry, one can pick up textiles, jaggery, artifacts and gift items. Also known as 'Dakshin Kashi,' Kolhapur is one of the most flourishing cities in the Western Ghats of Southern Maharashtra.

Best Time to Visit Kolhapur

The winter season is the best time to visit Kolhapur. From November to February the weather becomes extremely enjoyable with temperatures that range from 14 to 30°C. The summers are quite humid with May being the hottest month. From June to September is the monsoon season with abundant rainfall due to its proximity to the Western Ghats. During the winters, the humidity is low, and the weather is pleasant, making it an ideal time for sightseeing and shopping.

Weather Of Kolhapur

The climate of Kolhapur has a mix of coastal and inland features like the rest of Maharashtra. The temperature varies within a narrow range of 10°C to 35°C. Summers (March to May) are cooler than the neighbouring cities with the maximum temperature rarely exceeding 38°C. The monsoons (June to September) sees abundant rainfall because of the Western Ghats. Temperatures are low during this time and usually stay between 19°C and 30°C. Winters (November to February) are cooler with lower humidity. The temperature ranges from as low as 10°C to 32°C.

How to Reach Kolhapur?

By Air : The closest airport is situated at Ujlaiwadi, 9km South-East from Kolhapur city. The closest functional airports are the Belgaum airport (122km) and Goa International Airport (286km), which has international and domestic flights.

By Rail : Kolhapur is on the Pune-Miraj-Kolhapur section of the Central Railway. The Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Terminus is well connected to all important cities in India. It links Kolhapur via rail to Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Delhi. A daily train connects Kolhapur with the main rail hub of Miraj.

By Road : Kolhapur is located on National Highway 4 (connecting Mumbai to Bangalore) which is in great condition, almost like the Pune-Mumbai express highway. It takes about 8hrs to get to Mumbai from Kolhapur and Pune to Kolhapur takes around 4 hours. The MSRTC has buses that run every half an hour connecting Pune and Kolhapur. There are buses regular buses from Mumbai as well. These are deluxe, AC and Non-AC buses. Private buses and shared taxis are also available from these cities. From the south side, there are direct buses (private and state-owned) from cities in Karnataka like Bengaluru, Mangalore, Hubli, etc.