Page 474 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

472  SOUTHWESTERN INDIA

Colourful fishing boats docked off the Malvan coast
4 Kolhapur later inherited by his younger the remains of the Old Palace
son. The state remained with or Rajwada, where members
Kolhapur district. 237 km (147 miles)
S of Pune. * 549,250. £ @ n the Bhonsles (one of the four of the former maharaja’s
Maharashtra Tourism, (0231) 265 2935. Maratha princely families) family still live. Its huge
until Independence. entrance hall was once
Situated on the banks of the Of the numerous used for large public
Panchganga river, the city of temples in Kolhapur, wedding ceremonies.
Kolhapur is a thriving commercial the Shri Mahalakshmi Situated near the
centre, noted today for its or Amba Bai Temple, palace gates are
flourishing dairy industry. It dedicated to the the town’s wrestling
is also one of Maharashtra’s Mother Goddess, is grounds, where young
most important pilgrimage the most venerated. men practise traditional
sites, associated from early Built in the 7th century Indian wrestling, known
times with the worship of by the Chalukya king as kushti.
Shakti (the Mother Goddess). Karnadeva, the temple’s The New Palace, 2 km
Ruled by the Hindu Yadava idol, said to be a Kolhapuri (1 mile) north of the city
dynasty between the 10th swayambhu, or naturally chappal centre, was completed in
and 13th centuries, it was later occurring monolith, is 1881 and designed by
occupied by the Mughals. encrusted with diamonds Major Charles Mant (see p422),
In 1659, Kolhapur was finally and other precious stones. The who merged European, Jain,
seized by the Maratha chief mandapa has a finely carved Hindu and Islamic elements
Shivaji (see p475), and was ceiling. Behind the temple are to create a style that widely

The Malvan Coast
The Southern Konkan coastline in the Sindhudurg district, known as the
Malvan Coast, is dotted with marine forts and pretty fishing villages that
are worth visiting. Vijaydurg Fort, 525 km (326 miles) south of Mumbai,
stands on the site of an 11th-century fort, rebuilt by the Bijapur sultans
(see pp546–7) in the 16th century. In 1654, it was further renovated by
Shivaji, who added three layers of fortifications, 27 bastions and 300 guns.
Fishing boat, Malvan coast It became the main naval base for the great Maratha admiral Kanhoji
Angre, who used the fort to plunder European ships in 1698. It fell to the
British in 1756; a platform stands within the grounds, where British astronomers set up their telescopes
to study a solar eclipse. About 74 km (46 miles) south of Vijaydurg, Sindhudurg Fort, built by Shivaji
in 1664, lies deserted on an island known as Kurte. With its 10-m (33-ft) high ramparts, it was a Maratha
stronghold until power shifted to Vijaydurg. Shivaji’s palm and feet impressions are preserved in mortar
near the entrance. The fort contains the only temple of Shivaji in the world and is the only place in
Maharashtra where a statue of Shivaji depicts him without a beard. The small port of Malvan, 4 km
(2 miles) north of Sindhudurg, lends its name to this stretch of coast. It has developed into a beach
resort, as has Vengurla, 56 km (35 miles) to the south.
Savantwadi, 25 km (16 miles) east of
Vengurla, was the capital of the Bhonsle
kings. The art of making ganjifa cards
(painted, circular playing cards) was
developed here. The town is also
known for its wooden toys and
lacquer work. Amboli, 25 km
(16 miles) northeast of Savantwadi,
is a pretty hill station. Vijaydurg Fort, overlooking fishing boats in the bay

For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp700–701 and p715

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Date 12th July 2013
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