15 Best Pilgrimage sites near Kolhapur

Ganpatipule is a small pilgrimage & beach town on the Konkan coast of Maharashtra in India. About 307 km from Pune, and 345 km from Mumbai, it is one of the top places to visit near Kolhapur, and among the must include places in Maharashtra packages.

Ganpatipule is mainly known for its 400 years old Ganapati Temple which is the prime attraction in Ganpatipule holiday packages. The idol of Ganesha is believed to be a monolith that was self-incarnated and discovered over 1600 years ago. It is one of the Ashta Ganapati Temples of India and is known as 'Paschim Dwar Devata'. The temple is at the base of a hill, and pilgrims walk around (pradakshina) the hill as a mark of respect. Ganpatipule can be visited as a day trip along with Mahabaleshwar tour packages.

Besides, Ganpatipule has some of the most spectacular beaches that can be visited along with Konkan packages. It is an ideal getaway that attracts peace-seekers, beach lovers, and pilgrims alike. Jaigad Fort, Prachin Konkan Museum, Arey Ware Beach, Guhagar Beach, and Velneshwar are the other prominent places to visit in Ganpatipule.

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Harihareshwar is a coastal town in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, India. About 175 km from Pune, and 213 km from Mumbai, it is one of the must-include places in Konkan tour packages, and among the famous weekend getaways from Pune, and Mumbai.

Situated on the Konkan coast, Harihareshwar is one of the best Maharashtra beach destinations. This beach town is often called Southern Kashi because it is home to the Harihareshwar temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Harihareshwar comes across as a pleasant surprise with some of the most peaceful and beautiful beaches along the Konkan Coast. Harihareshwar Beach, Diveaghar Beach & Temple, Kondvil Beach, Kelshi Beach, Velas Beach, Srivardhan Beach, Bankot Fort, are the must include places in Harihareshwar Packages.

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Pandharpur is a temple town located on the banks of Chandrabhaga River near Solapur city in Maharashtra, India. About 77 km from Solapur, and 209 km from Pune, it is one of the popular places of pilgrimage in Maharashtra, and among the must-include places in Solapur tour packages.

Renowned for its deep-rooted religious heritage and enchanting spiritual aura, Pandharpur is considered to be the spiritual capital of Maharashtra and revered as the Southern Kashi of India. The sacred town of Pandharpur boasts magnificent temples and shrines. The Vitthal Rukmani Temple stands as the primary place of worship, attracting millions of devotees every year. The exquisite craftsmanship and intricate carvingsof the temple offer a glimpse into the artistic prowess of the bygone era.

Besides, the Kaikadi Maharaj Math, Pundalik Temple, Shri Gopalkrishna Temple, Vishnupad Temple, and ISKCON Pandharpur are the other prominent Pandharpur tourist places. The annual Pandharpur Yatra, also known as the Ashadi Ekadashi, witnesses a colossal gathering of devotees.

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At a distance of 21 km from Ratnagiri, Ganeshgule Beach is a beautiful beach situated at Ganeshgule village in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. It is one of the most serene Maharashtra beaches, and among the top places to visit in Ratnagiri.

Ganeshghule Beach is popular among nature lovers and is known for its clear sunset view. The beach is 1.5 km long and is flanked by mountains on both sides. The rocky, white sandy terrain and clear emerald sea of the secluded Ganeshghule Beach is an idyllic holiday retreat for many travellers who visit the beach as of Ratnagiri packages.

Ganeshgule Beach is considered a perfect place for those who want to relax and spend peaceful moments. Swimming and sunbathing are the favorite activities at the beach. This beach also has many water sport activities such as snorkeling, diving, surfing, and parasailing. Visitors can even enjoy boat riding when visiting this beach.

The well-known Ganeshgule Temple is located 1.5 km from the beach. This temple is a popular religious place and is visited by many pilgrims from the Konkan region. This temple contains the idol of Lord Ganesha that is known as Swayambhu. The trunk of Lord Ganesha is towards the west in the temple. In addition, this temple contains an ancient well of the Pandava era.

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At a distance of 3 km from Anjarle Beach, 24 km from Dapoli, 43 km from Harihareshwar, and 82 km from Chiplun, Anjarle Ganapati Temple, also known as Kadyavarcha Ganapati Temple, is a Hindu temple located atop a hill in the small village of Anjarle in the Dapoli Taluka of Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra. It is one of the popular temples in the Konkan region of Maharashtra, and among the most popular places to visit near Chiplun.

Dedicated to Lord Ganesh, the Kadyawarcha Ganapathi Temple is believed to have been built in 1150 AD using wooden pillars. It was renovated during the 18th century and is a 3-tier structure. Ganapathi at this temple has a trunk curved towards the right, unlike most idols that have the trunk curved towards the left. Devotees believe that Kadyawarcha Ganapathi is a live deity who will come to their rescue whenever they are in trouble.

Apart from the Kadyavarcha Ganapati, there is one smaller temple dedicated to Lord Shiva on the temple premises. There is also a small pond in front of the temple which is full of fish and turtles and tourists can have a bit of fun feeding them. From the temple, one can also enjoy the stunning views of the nearby Suvurnadurg Fort, Anjarle Creek, and the surrounding hills filled with greenery. Maghi Ganesh Utsav is the most important festival celebrated at this temple as it marks the birth of Lord Ganpati.

Earlier devotees had to cross the Jog River in a boat and then climb the hill to reach the temple. ...

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At a distance of 44 km from Satara and 63 km from Panchgani, Yamai Devi Temple is an ancient temple situated on a hilltop at Aundh in Satara distric of Maharashtra. The temple is very much revered in Maharashtra and also one of the top places to visit in Satara.

Yamai Devi is the family deity of many Maharastrian families. The idol of Devi Mahishasur Mardini in black stone is almost 2 meters high in a cross-legged sitting position. The idol has four hands and is carrying gada, arrow, trishul and paan patra.

The town and the temple have been associated with the Pant family for many centuries. The present head of this former ruling family, Gayatridevi Pantpratinidhi, has installed a 7 kilograms (15 lb) solid gold kalash or crown on the pinnacle of the Yamai temple on the hill. Another temple of Devi Yamai is located in the town; apart from the one on the hill.

The temple can either be reached using steps that start at the bottom of the hill. Direct road access is also available to the hilltop. The temple complex also houses Sri Bhavani Museum established from the private collection of the Maharajas of Aundh. The museum holds paintings by noted 19th and 20th century Indian artists such as M. V. Dhurandhar, Baburao Painter, Madhav Satwalekar and Raja Ravi Varma as well as the famous Mother and Child stone structure by the British artist Henry Moore.

The annual Yatra to the Yamai Devi Temple attracts thousands of devotees. Yamai Devi Yatra is annually observed ...

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At a distance of 40 km from Sangli, and 61 km from Kolhapur, Sri Kopeshwar Temple is an ancient Hindu temple situated at Khidrapur village in the Kolhapur district of Maharashtra. Located at the border of Maharashtra and Karnataka, it is one of the ancient temples in Maharashtra, and among popular places to visit near Kolhapur.

Built on the banks of River Krishna, Kopeshwar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and is one of the must include places in Kolhapur tour. According to archaeologists, the construction of the temple began by Badami Chalukyas in the 7th century AD and remained incomplete for a long time. It was patronized by the Shilahara Kings during the 12th century. Lord Shiva has worshiped here in the form of a Shivalinga as well as a sculpture of his fierce form, Veerbhadra. Legend has it that Lord Shiva got angry when Sati sacrificed herself and he was then brought to this temple by Lord Vishnu. This is how the temple got its name as Kopeshwar which means furious god.

Kopeshwar Temple is a magnificent piece of intricate Chalukyan architecture. Built with basalt stone, the entire temple is divided into four parts Swarga Mandap, Sabha Mandapa, Antarala, and Garbhagriha / Sanctum Sanctorum. The Swarg Mandap of the temple is unique and stunning. The mandap is supported ...

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At a distance of 4 km from Sangli Railway Station, and 47 km from Kolhapur, Sangli Ganapati Temple is a sacred Hindu temple situated at Ganapati Peth locality of Sangli town in Maharashtra. It is one of the prominent temples in Maharashtra, and among the popular places to visit near Kolhapur.

Dedicated to Lord Ganesh, the Sangli Ganapati Temple is situated on the eastern banks of the Krishna River. The construction of the temple started in 1814 by Chintamanrao Patwardhan, the first head of the Sangli, to honor the guarding deity of the Sangli city. The construction of this temple took a period of 30 years and was completed in 1845. The king consecrated the idol of Lord Ganesha in this temple only. In 1952, a red stone arch was erected in front of the Ganesh temple. The rest of the temple was completed during the reign of Chintamani Rao II. Vijay Singh Patwardhan has recently renovated and transformed this temple.

Considered as a masterpiece of Peshwa architecture, the main temple is made of black stones brought from the Jyotiba hills. The doors of the temple have been carved out of multi-colored natural wood. The premises of the temple is spread over an area of 2 acres of land and comprises of a large hall, a platform, and a 'Nagarkhana'. The idol of Ganesha with Riddhi-siddhi in marble is beautiful in the temple. Around the main temple, there are four temples of Chintamaneshwar, Chintamaneshwari, Suryanarayana, and Laxminarayan. These four temples along with the ...

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At a distance of 20 km from Kolhapur, Jyotiba Temple is a sacred Hindu temple situated near Wadi Ratnagiri in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra. It is one of the revered places of pilgrimage in Maharashtra, and among the top places to visit near Kolhapur.

Standing 3124 feet above sea level, the glorious temple of Jyotiba is dedicated to Lord Jyotiba, who was believed to be an embodiment of three different deities Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwar. According to mythology, Jotiba helped Mahalaxmi in her fight with the demons. He founded his kingdom on this mountain. It is believed that this temple should be visited after visiting the Mahalakshmi Temple of Kolhapur.

The Jyotiba temple was made in three different stages. The original temple was established by Navji Saya while the main temple that stands today was built by Ranoji Shinde in 1730 in its place. It is 55 feet in length, 37 feet in width, and 77 feet in height. The second temple of Kedareshwar was constructed by Daulatrao Shinde in 1808 and is 49 ft x 22 ft x 89 ft high while the third temple of Ramling was constructed in circa 1780 by Malji Nilam Panhalkar, and is 13 ft x 13 ft x 40 ft high including its dome.

The interior is elegant while the exterior includes a flight of 100 stairs that pilgrims need to climb to reach the main temple. The triangular domes of the temples are painted in shades of yellow while the main body and walls are still in the same stone that they were made of. The premises includes ...

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At a distance of 41 km from Solapur, Akkalkot Temple, or Akkalkot Swami Samarth Maharaj Temple is a sacred Hindu temple situated in Akkalkot. It is one of the important places for pilgrimage in Maharashtra, and among the top places to visit as part of the Solapur tour.

Swami Samarth Temple is the final abode of Sri Swami Samarth Maharaj, a 19th-century saint who is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Dattatreya by his devotees. He is also believed to be a reincarnation of Narasimha Saraswati, another earlier spiritual master of the Dattatreya sect. Swami Samarth is also known by different names, such as 'Akkalkot Swami, Akalkot Maharaj, Maharaj of Akalkot, and Akalkot Niwasi Maharaj.

According to Swami Samarth himself, he had originally appeared in the Kardali forests near Srisailam, a holy town in Andhra Pradesh. Later, he migrated to different places. Sri Swami Samarth probably arrived at Akkalkot in 1856 on receiving an invitation from Chintopant Tol and then stayed there for about 22 years. Sri Swami Samartha Maharaj left his mortal body in 1878, but his legacy continues to inspire and guide people around the world. The holy Samadhi of Swamiji is located in the house of his disciple Cholappa, in the place already reserved for it before his bodily demise.

This temple is also called Vatavruksha Swami Mandir because of the presence of the huge banyan tree (Vatavruksha). This is the same banyan tree ...

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