The district of Kolhapur is one of the most ancient cities of Maharashtra located on the banks of river Panchganga and is also called as ‘Dakshin Kashi’. Kolhapur is also considered as the seat of Goddess Mahalaxmi. Unlike other regions of Maharashtra the entire region of Kolhapur had also been under the dominance of rulers of various dynasties namely Silaharas, Yadavas, Rashtrakutas and Chalukyas in the Medieval times.
The initiative of designing the present Kolhapur goes to Chhattrapatti Shahu Maharaja who was an architect and founder of modern Kolhapur. The district is blessed with abundant supply of natural resources water, soil, natural vegetation, animal wealth and minerals. As a result, Kolhapur is one of the most agriculturally advanced districts of not only Maharashtra but also India. The par capita income of the district is not only the highest in the state of Maharashtra but of in whole India.
Historical Events of Kolhapur
Description
|
|
1. 1000 to 1020 Establishment of Shilahara dynasty at Kolhapur.
|
|
2. Before 1024 Conquest of Kolhapur by Chalukya.
|
|
3. 1093-1142 Installation of Mahalakshmi, Mahakali, Kolla and Konkala at Kolhapur by Jaysinha Siddharaja.
|
|
4. 1178-1209 Panhala made capital by Shilaara Bhojraja.
|
|
5. 1210 Shilahara Bhoja defeated by Singhana at Umalvad.
|
|
6. 1470 Camp of Mahmud Gawan at Kolhapur.
|
|
7. 1470 Rangna captured by Bahamanis.
|
|
8. 1486 Kolhapur occupied by Bahadur Gilani.
|
|
9. 1636 Kolhapur captured by Khan Zaman.
|
|
10. 1659 Kolhapur captured by Shivaji.
|
|
11. 1673 Panhala captured by Shivaji.
|
|
12. 1680 Sambhaji confined at Panhala.
|
|
13. 1700 Kolhapur Gadi established.
|
|
14. 1701 Sir William Norris, the English Ambassador visited Aurangzeb at Panhala.
|
|
15. 1722 Image of Ambabai installed.
|
|
16. 1731 Treaty of Warana between Shahu and Sambhaji.
|
|
17. 1776 Kolhapur besieged by Konherarav.
|
|
18. 1778 Kolhapur attacked by Mahadji Shinde.
|
|
19. 1799 Parshurambhau killed at Pathankudi.
|
|
20. 1821 Shambhu or Abasaheb murdered in Kolhapur.
|
|
21. 1827 English march against Kolhapur.
|
|
22. 1844 Garrisons of Samangad and Bhudargad revolt.
|
|
23. 1857 Meeting of native infantry at Kolhapur.
|
|
24. 1884 Chhatrapati Shahu ascended the throne.
|
|
25. 1891-92 Kolhapur Railway Station founded.
|
|
26. 1947 Merger of Kolhapur in the Indian Union.
|
District at a Glance
- 1. The total population of the district is 3515,413.
|
- 2. The geographical area of the district is 7685 Sq.Kms.
|
- 3. The population density of the district is 457 persons per square kilometers. The urban density is 1804 and the rural density is 327.
|
- 4. 29.65 percent population of the district lives in urban areas. There is an increase of 3.32 percent compared to 1991 urban population.
|
- 5. The annual population growth rate in last decade (1991-2001) is 1.76 The urban annual growth rate is 3.24 and for rural it is 1.23.
|
- 6. The sex ratio of Kolhapur district is 949. Urban sex ratio is 918 and rural sex ratio is 962.
|
- 7. The average literacy in Kolhapur district is 77.23 percent. Urban literacy is 86.13 percent and rural literacy is 73.41 percent.
|
- 8. The female literacy in the district is 66.38 percent and this increase is 13.3 percent compared to the last decade.
|
- 9. There is 10.29 percent increase in average literacy of the district over last decade.
|
- 10. 12.49 percent population of the district is in the age group of 0-6.
|
- 11. The SC population of the district is 12.75 percent and ST population is only 0.49 percent.
|
- 12. 65 percent population of the district is engaged in primary sector, 17 percent in secondary and 18 percent in service sector. Occupational Distribution of Population.
|
Connectivity: Kolhapur is 395 kms South of Mumbai and 240 kms from Pune. It is well connected by air, rail and road.
Air: - Nearest airport is at Belgaum, 105 kms away from Kolhapur.
Rail: - It is a railway station on the Pune - Miraj - Kolhapur section of the South-Central Railway. Important trains connect the city with all the important cities in India.
Road: - Kolhapur is situated on the Pune - Bangalore National Highway No. 4. There are State Transport buses run regularly from Kolhapur to Mumbai, Panaji, Miraj, Sangli, Pune, Satara, Sawantwadi, Solapur and several other places. The Kolhapur Municipal Transport service operates in the city, suburbs and nearby villages. Taxis and rickshaws are also available round the clock.
For more information about Kolhapur click here