About Solapur
Country: India | State: Maharashtra
#24 of 24 Places to visit in Maharashtra
Ideal Trip Duration: 1-2 Days
Nearest City to Solapur: Solapur
Best Time to Visit Solapur: October to March
Peak Season: December to February
At a distance of 126 km from Gulbarga, 203 km from Bidar, 236 km from Kolhapur, 251 km from Pune, 322 km from Hyderabad, and 407 km from Mumbai, Solapur is a city located in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. Close to its border with Karnataka, Solapur is the 4th largest city in Maharashtra, and among the must-visit places in Maharashtra tour packages.
Solapur district lies entirely in the Bhima and Seena basins, and the district headquarters is said to be Solapur city, which is blessed with religious and historic tourist attractions that one must visit as part of the Solapur tour packages. Solapur leads Maharashtra in the production of beedi. Solapuri Chadars and towels are famous not only in India but also at a global level. Solapuri chadars are the first product in Maharashtra to get a Geographical Indication tag. It has been a leading centre for cotton mills and power looms in Maharashtra. Solapur has the world's second-largest and Asia's largest spinning mill, as well as the National Research Centre on Pomegranate (NRCP) of India.
Solapur is believed to be derived from the combination of two words: Sola means sixteen and Pura means village in Marathi as it was considered to be spread over sixteen villages. Solapur, anciently called Sonnalage, was ruled by various dynasties, such as Andhrabhratyas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Yadavas and Bahamanis. The Solapur district was taken over from the Bahamani kingdom by the Bijapur Kings. It was later passed over to the Maratha rulers. The fall of Peshwa in 1818 saw the British government occupy Solapur, and it was made a subdivision of the Ahmednagar district then. Solapur got its own tag as a district of the Maharashtra state in 1960.
The city is one of the most sought-after tourist places in Maharashtra owing to its multiple tourist attractions. The city is often referred to as an 'all-round' destination for tourists as it attracts visitors from all walks of life. Fort Bhuikot or Solapur Fort, Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary, Sri Siddheshwar Temple, Akkalkot Swami Maharaj Temple, Motibaug Tank, Mahatma Gandhi Zoo, Solapur Science Centre, Pandharpur, and Tuljapur are some of the top tourist places in Solapur.
Festivals have great importance in the culture of Solapur. Siddheswar Temple festival is one of the most important festivals in Solapur and is held in January every year. This annual Gadda Yatra has been celebrated for the past 900 years. The day before and after the Makara Sankranti festival are the festival days in Solapur. It is a marriage ritual. Two Nandi Dhwajas will be taken out for a procession symbolizing bride and groom and on the Sankranti day the marriage ritual will take place. A fifteen-day cultural fair will be arranged on this occasion.
About 8 km from Solapur Railway Station, Solapur Airport is located to the south of Solapur city but there aren't any scheduled flights operating out of Solapur Airport. Kalburgi Airport is the nearest airport, which is located at a distance of around 139 km from Solapur and has direct flights from Bangalore and Hyderabad. From the airport, tourists can take a bus or taxi to reach Solapur. Solapur is well-connected by train with all the major cities of India. By road, there are various shuttle services offered by the state transport and private companies that help you reach Solapur not only comfortably, but economically too.
The best time to visit Solapur is from October to March when the weather is pleasant and suitable for sightseeing. Summer is supposed to be very humid, and the temperature is generally scorching. Hence, it is best to avoid visiting Solapur during summer. The monsoons are a great time to be here, when the rains wash over the heat and add a touch of freshness.
None
