Aashad ekadashi at Pandharpur

Aashad ekadashi at Pandharpur

India is the country of festivals and religious celebration. On 14th July 2008 a grand celebration was held at Pandharpur - famous religious city of Maharashtra to mark Aashad Ekadashi.

From Maharashtra and all parts of world over 8 Lakh devotee were present to give a shape of human ocean to narrow street of the city and take Darshan of Vithal [Lord Krishna] and Rukama.

Kolhapur – Next I. T. and Industrial Hub of Maharashtra

Kolhapur – Next I. T. and Industrial Hub of Maharashtra

Since last decade or so Kolhapur city and district is looked up as the potential of being the next I. T. and industrial hub of Maharashtra state. The only hurdle was a little bit lack of infrastructural facilities here and there. Electric supply for the industry was one among the prominent infrastructural short coming, which is now being addressed with the “Power Grid Station” of one thousand Mega watts capacity, to be erected on the land expanded into 250 Acres of area at the Kalmbe Turf Thane near the city. Surely this is going to prove the much awaited boost for the enrichment of industrial growth in the area.

In the past also Kolhapur was considered for the “Sub Station” by the Power Grid Corporation but at that time political pressures shifted the project to Solapur. Now according to official sources as reported in local news papers, land for the project already has been acquired and plant erection work will start from January 2008. It will involve investment of Rs. 700 carores and will take almost three years to make the plant functional.

The project will not only solve the problem of industrial electricity supply but will effect in multiple ways. It will result in enrichment of industrial atmosphere of district in the direct dimensions; while in the indirect way will increase chances of regular air travel facility, though at present there is Air port at Kolhapur but without regular flights. It will also attract a boost for real estate sector, especially in the area near the plant. The proposed plant will distribute, electricity generated at atomic plants in Karanataka, through out the Maharashtra state.

Kolhapur : City of Mahalaxmi

Kolhapur : City of Mahalaxmi

In our country, there are numerous cities and places with fame and religious importance. When we talk about this the first place and crowing status is occupied by the city named Kashi, Banaras or Varanasi situated on the banks of most scared river "Ganga" in the Uttarpreadesh . A very few other cities are matching with this fame and importance and among these one most prominent city is the Kolhapur which in the history pages also mentioned as "Kashi of South India". In fact the city is the genuine mixture of old heritage, rich civilization and modern technical advancement though in the field of technology and industries many mile stones are still to be created by the city. Kolhapur is probably the first city from Maharshtra India for which you can have city info by using your mobile phone. Just type http://m.kolhapurworld.com in your mobile browser and get all the information about the city.

Kolhapur district is the southernmost district of Maharashtra. District headquarter is Kolhapur City which is an ancient city. The city is situated on the banks of river Panchganga and is known as 'Dakshin Kashi'. Kolhapur is seat of Goddess Mahalaxmi and is one of the Shaktipeeths mentioned in Indian mythology. Kolhapur, was ruled by Silaharas, Yadavas, Rashtrakutas and Chalukyas in the medieval times.

The growth of district in modern times is fascinating. Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaja is an architect and founder of modern Kolhapur. The district is abundant in 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. It is fast becoming an industrialized district as well and already a front runner in agro-based industries. Kolhapur District is one of the shining examples in the Co-operative Movement of India. No doubt, the district has the highest per capita income in the Maharashtra State and one of the highest in the country.

Kolhapur has a distinct culture developed as a result of rich history and its quality of people who have been front-runners in various fields. Kolhapur is famous in the country and in the oversees lands for production of Jaggery, Kolhapur Chappals, silver jewelry, and Indian Wrestling.

The physical setting of the Kolhapur district is divided into three main parts namely Eastern ranges, Central ranges and Southern ranges. Eastern and Central ranges have black soil formed from 'lava' and at some places it has large tracks of fertile land. The western ranges are mostly hilly and have red soil. The majority area in the west is under thick forest coverage.

Panchaganga, Warana, Dudhaganga, Vedganga, Bhogavati, Hiranyakeshi and Ghataprabha are main rivers which flows towards east through western Ghats. The river Panchaganga is formed by the tributaries namely the Kasari, the Kumbi, the Tulsi and the Bhogavati. Krishna river flows in the east on easten border of the district, similarly Tillari River flows on western border to west.

How to reach here

Though the Air travel facility for Kolhapur is still not fully functional and nearest air port is Belgaum just about 100 km from the city, but by road city is connected to various metros through NH4. Kolhapur is the last railway station on the Pune - Kolhapur rail lines. City is at the distance of almost 400 km in south from the Mumbai and about 220 km from Pune, the IT city of Maharashtra.

District Statistics

* The total population of the district is 3515,413.

* The geographical area of the district is 7685 Sq.Kms.

* The population density of the district is 457 persons per square kilometers. The urban density is 1804 and the rural density is 327.

* 29.65 percent population of the district lives in urban areas. There is an increase of 3.32 percent compared to 1991 urban population.

* 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.

* The sex ratio of Kolhapur district is 949. Urban sex ratio is 918 and rural sex ratio is 962.

* The average literacy in Kolhapur district is 77.23 percent. Urban literacy is 86.13 percent and rural literacy is 73.41 percent.

* The female literacy in the district is 66.38 percent and this increase is 13.3 percent compared to the last decade.

* There is 10.29 percent increase in average literacy of the district over last decade.

* 12.49 percent population of the district is in the age-group of 0-6.

* The SC population of the district is 12.75 percent and ST population is only 0.49 percent.


Two most important things that are related with fame of the city are Karveer Niwasini Shri Amba Devi [Temple of Goddess Mahalaxmi] beside the religious importance temple is famous for unique and super natural phenomenon "Kiranoutsav". Hand made "Kolhapuri Chappals" footwear are the another reason for the world fame of the city.

Weekend travel in the lap of Nature

Weekend travel in the lap of Nature

It was saturday night, when during our dinner we decided to take this sunday off from all of our works and spent whole day in the company of the nature beside our family members. It was not new for us as it is a set trend of our family that after a whole day of our regular works we all come together for dinner and not only exchange notes about our work but also disscuss our future plans. As it was decided we left the Kolhapur city before the clock corsses 7am. We were heading towards the Amba Ghat, a hilly destination at about 65km from our residence. It took almost over than one hour to reach there and feast of looking at natural beauty was infort of us with the breakfast. It was a marvellous exprience to have tea sips being coverd with clouds. Stairing to valley with green top from a high altitude Ghat road was not only refreshing for eyes but also was adding calm to minds. The magical effect of the place will reflect from the fact that it took almost one hour for our walk on spirial ghat roads to cover a distence of about 3km, before we decided to go through the rest of about 10km of Ghat by vehicles. Now we are heading towards the Ganpatipule, Swambhoo Temple of Lord Ganesha at sea shore. Almost a two hours driving in the lap of nature was sufficient to take us at one of the most famous temple of Maharashtra. After having Darshan it was time for the sea bath, though it is dangrous to go to sea at Ganpatipule but as usual no visitor comes over the temptation of going in. We all were there under the speeding white, though not far away from the shore but being with family members it was a pleasent play and memorable exprience for all of us, specially when the waves are going high with our shouts "Flood came! Flood Came". After a refreshing bath it was turn of delicious lunch, prepared in Malvani [Kokani] style, minimum use of spices with high coconut contents. "Sole curry" and "Malvani Chicken" were realy mouth watering and tasty. As it was just over 3:00 pm when we finished our lunch so instead of returning back to Kolhapur, We decided to go Jaygad Fort, a seventeenth century monument,constructed by King Shivaji , situated at about 30km from the Ganpatipule. It was a never forget exprience to drive on the sea side road and stairing at natural beauty, the whole one hour that we drive and stoped here and there the hot topic of our discussion was, if goverenment give a slight attention towards the Kokan tourism developement, these beautiful and unexplored sea shore will leave Goa sea shores miles and miles behind. As we reached Jaygad fort it was just as of dropping water on the burning coals, the situation of this reserved monument was a real pity, though it is situated just opposit to Jaygad police station but there was no one to look after the fort which is almost in the ruin status. The view of sea from top of the fort was one to go in and remains in the memmory for a longer time, with heavy hearts we turned to the Jaygad port just one Km from the fort. The narrow bay has not only filled our hearts with its scenic beauty but also assured the bright future of our country, we are heading towards.After having tea and snacks it was all the way journey back but it was once again the late evening beauty of Amba Ghat delayed our reaching back kolhapur by almost one hour.

My Related Writtings
Maharashtra Tourism
Kokan Tourism

Nag Panchami A day with venomous cobras

Nag Panchami A day with venomous cobras

India a land of miracles and faith in worship, an aspirant to the students of spirituality and religious rituals. Here you may find that every sunrise comes with a festival, a specific reason to celebrate the day, hence the phrase “Land of Festivals” is correctly used with the context of India. India is only country where you can find a worship celebration related not only to God and Goddess but also to plants and rivers.

The fifth day of bright fortnight of Shravan month [July-August] is celebrated as “Nag Panchami” through out the India, though celebration in south are at high notes in comparison of north India. The Indus Valley civilisation of 3000 B.C. gives ample proof of the popularity of snake-worship amongst the Nagas, whose culture was fairly wide-spread in India, according to Puranas some of the famous Naga Kings are Anant, Vasuki, Shesh, Padma, Kanwal, Karkotak, Kalia, Aswatar, Takshak, Sankhpal, Dhritarashtra and Pingal. Sheshnag is the couch of the Lord Vishnu during the interim times of destroying of the universe and creating a new one. India is country of farmers and snakes are the friends of the farmer, as by eating rats, snakes are helpful in saving the food grains cultivated by the farmer. This is yet another evidence of wisdom of Hindu masters that this festival “Nag Panchami” celebration related with worship of snakes, is celebrated during the rainy season, when need of protection for snakes is at its top. Some of famous places for the celebration of this day are

Adiesha Temple in Andhra Pradesh

Nagaraja Temple in Kerala

Nagathamman Temple in Chennai

Hardevja Temple in Jaipur.

Nagdwar Temple Pachmadi, Madhyapradesh

I am going to share with you here about a place which is not so famous but where you can spends this day in the company of venomous cobras without any fear, you can find here numerous number of snakes moving freely in the courtyard of Gorakhnath temple without showing any intension of biting the human beings present there. This place, village “Battis-Shirala” is just about 50 km away from us, in the Sangli District of Maharashtra , nearly 400 km from the Mumbai. According to old aged, the roots of this celebration lie in, once Guru Gorakhnath was passing through this village, he saw that a woman was worshiping a clay snake idol, with the spiritual powers Guru Gorakhnath brought life to that cobra idol and ask woman to worship. Guru Gorakhnath told not to fear of the snakes; no human will die on this day due to snake bite. In the recent times people not only from the Sangli, Kolhapur, Pune and other districts of Maharashtra but a few foreign tourists are also visiting the place on this day to be witness of thousands of snakes moving freely. Some time back officials from the Chennai snake park visited and confirm that poison containing fangs of snakes are not removed even than it is amazing thing no one die due to snake bite.

The villagers start collecting the snakes about 8-10 days in advance and keep them in earthen pots and feed rats to snakes. The celebrations starts with early morning bath by the woman, who wear “Nav wari” , The traditional nine yard Maharashtarian Saree, and ornaments before the start of worship and offering of “Haldi coonkoon and Flowers”. All the earthen pots are taken to temple in procession, where after the religious rituals snakes are feeded with milk and honey. This is only place in world, where you can have a self photo, with the look of Lard Shiva, venomous cobra around your neck, without fear on this day.

Hindu, Temples - II

Kailash Temple,Ellora Caves

Among the prime tourist attraction of Maharashtra tourism one is Ellora caves. The nearest Air port is Aurangabad , vigrously growing city of the Maharashtra state. There are about 34 caves and the most famous one is kown as the Kailash Temple.It is believed that it was constructed under the guidance of King Krishna around 750 and about 200,000 tones of rock were used for the two story construction. This is probably the world's largest monolithic structure. Representing Shiva's Himalayan home, the temple is exquisitely sculpted and is considered as one of the most astonishing 'buildings' in the history of architecture. A crowning glory of the art, Kailash temple at Ellora is indeed unique. Instead of carving down into the face of a cliff and creating underground halls which had been the practice, the sculptors/architects set aside all convention and created a full temple, identical in every detail to a structural, 'built-up' example, by carving vertically down into the living rock. Along with Ajantha caves [situated near Jalgaon, the work place of present President of India, Pritibha Tai Patil and upcoming Metro of the state], Ellora caves were included in the UNESCO World Heritage list in the year 1983. Though the human interference is forcing deshaping of stone craved statues and clours but still the caves are worth to visit for a look in the history. Ellora caves are also part of Buddhism travel of India.

Jwalamukhi Temple

In India there is ample space for religious tourism. It is common faith that Hindus have 33 Karores of Devi and Devtasa.This huge number of Deities has added numerously in the number of temples in India. Among one of the 51 Shaktipeeths of India, the Jwalamukhi Devi Temple, tended by the followers of Goraknath, is set against a cliff. The picturesque temple, built in the Indo-Sikh style, is a modern building whose dome is of gilt, gold and pinnacles and possesses a beautiful folding door of silver plates, presented by the Sikh Raja Kharak Singh.
Dedicated to the "Goddess of Light", the Jwalamukhi temple is one of the most popular Hindu temples in Northern India. The temple located on a small spur on the Dharamshala-Shimla road at a distance of about 20-kms from the Jwalamukhi Road Railway Station attracts lakhs of pilgrims every year. In this temple there is a copper pipe through which natural gas comes out.
After Daksha Yoga Bhagna, Lord Shiva placed the burnt dead body of Sati on his shoulders and started wandering about in a state of madness. To save the world from the destructive wrath of Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu started cutting the limbs of the dead Goddess Parvati one by one. The places where they fell became sacred centers for the worship of Shakti. The tongue of Sati fell at the place where the temple of Jwalamukhi is situated. The flames that come out of the openings in the earth?s surface are regarded as the manifestations of the fallen tongue of Sati and are worshipped as "Jwalamukhi Devi" (Goddess, who emits flames from her mouth).

This place is also famous for the natural beauty of mountains. Dharamshala is in the Kangada district of the Himachal Pradesh and have many attractions for the buddhists .Presence of oak and and conifer trees in the bacground of snow capped mountains give the feeling of Haven to tourist.

Hindu Temples

Ganpatiphule

Ganapatiphule is an important pligrimage centre. The temple of the 'Swayambhu Ganapati' is known for its unique idol of Lord Ganapati and its magnificient temple ('Swayambhu' or self originated, not manmade, 'Ganapati' or the lord of 'ganas' or army. 'Pule' or sand dune. That's how the name Ganapatiphule). The temple is 400 years old and is at the foot of a hillock. [Ratnagiri District Maharashtra State]

Guruvayoor Temple
Located 29 km north-west of Thrissur District in God's Own Kerala, Guruvayur is one of the most important pilgrimage centers of South India. Guruvayur is also called the Bhoolokavaikunta - the heaven on Earth! The square Sreekovil is the sacred sanctum Sanctorum of the temple, housing the main deity of Lord Krishna, an incarnation of Lord MahaVishnu.

Maharshtra Tourism

Lush green hilly planes, calm clean and scenic sea shores, historical monuments,Wild life and reserve forests, Stone caved window to history these are the few words that can replace the word "Maharashtra Tourism" .

About the State

Word "Marathi", used for the natives and basis for the nomenclature of the state as Maharashtra, has historical roots, In the seventh century many of native of this land were associated with the profession of Chariot drivers "Rathi", history revels that in the 90 A.D. they have formed a group of fighters "Maharathi". Maharashtra is the state with a glorious past, pleasant present and fantastic future. The state is among the most advanced states of the country. Mumbai, the economic capital of the country is part of state. Here while your tour your are sure to found and feel the presence of most effective mixture of culture, traditions and technology. The per capita income of the state is 60% higher than the national average, state is among the high industrialised lands of India and contributes for 22% of India's net value-added output in the organized industrial sector-way ahead of any other state. The official language is Marathi with about 42 dialects, beside these Maharashtrians are also using Hindi,Gujrati and English in their day to day life, hence language is not going to prove hurdle for the enjoyment of your travel here. You will find at every place, sufficient accommodation facilities to meet with your budget, from five star luxury suites to shared rooms. The pure maharashtrian cuisine like the Misal, Kokani Fish Fry, Tambada and Pandhra Rasa, Kande Pohe, Jhunka Bakhari, Puran Poli, will not only prompt you to visit state again and again but also will keep your mouth watering for the years to come.

About your tour

Before you plan your tour have a look

Temperature: Summer 22°C-39°C Winter 12°C-34°C

Tourist Season :Sep to Apr (Coast) Jun to Sep (Hill Stations)

Airports : Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Aurangabad, Nashik, Sholapur

Mode of Transport : Excellent Air, Rail and Road links are available for travel within the state and around.

List of religious places includes :

Afghan Memorial [Colaba Mumbai]

Ambadevi Temple [Amravati]

Anwa Temple [Aurangabad]

Ayappa Temple [Mumbai]

Bahubali Temples [Kolhapur]

Ballaleshwar [Palli]

Bibi Ka Maqbara [Aurangabad]

Buddist Caves of Ajantha [A World Heritage site- Jalgaon]

Kailash Temple [Ellora-Aurangabad]

Mahalaxmi [Kolhapur]

Nageshwar Temple [Pune]

Osho Ashram [Pune]

Pandharpur

Shirdi

Sidhi Vinayak [Mumbai]

Shri Hazur Sahib,Sachkhand Saheb [Nanded]

Trimbkeshwar [Nashik]

If you are a domestic traveler I will suggest to go to

www.mtdcindia.com and plan you travel, as Maharashtra is a state with a quite large geographical area, so you can make parts of your Maharashtra Tourism, as for as the upper class domestic and foreigner travelers are concerned I will suggest them to have a tour with Deccan Odysee "A palace on wheal train" for maharashtra tourism. It is a life time experience of one week long comfortable and luxurious train journey that covers almost all the prominent travel destinations of the state. You can book your journey tickets online at the same www.mtdcindia.com site and have a look at your day to day journey schedules. Among the star attractions are unexplored see shores of Kokan are most important, you can even plan your trip only for these by making Kolhapur base camp.