Solapur or Sholapur is a city in the south-western region of Maharashtra,India, close to its border with Karnataka. state. Solapur is located on a major highway, rail routes between Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, and Hyderabad, ‘The city of Solapur is considered to be created out of sixteen (16) villages.. It is the 7th biggest Metropolis and 11th most populated city in Maharashtra. Solapur is famous for the production of beedi. and Solapuri Chadars.
Solapuri chadar are the famous and first product in Maharashtra to get a Geographical Indication tag. The has been a leading centre for cotton mills and power looms in Maharashtra. It is situated in an upland region on the Sina River. The Gramadevata (Chief deity) of the city is Shri Shivyogi Siddheshwar. Solapur was once ruled by various dynasties such as Andhrabhratyas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Yadavas, and Bahamas. The present Solapur district was previously part of Ahmednagar, Pune, and Satara districts.
In 1838 it became the Sub-district of Ahmednagar. After the State reorganization in 1956 Solapur was included in Bombay State and it became a full-fledged district of Maharashtra State in 1960. Close proximity to other states means Solapur has a mixture of Marathi,Kannada, and Telugu cultures. the economy of this big and is growing even more with a number of medium and small-scale and medium industries., it is one of the prime centers of the handloom and powerloom industry, cotton mills and the beedi industry..in agriculture also the city is a top producer of crops including jawar, wheat, and sugarcane.
Well connected by road, rail and air Solapur has several places worth visiting by tourist. and pilgrims alike. The city has many places of worship and holds great value to Hindus across the country. It has temples that are not only important in Solapur, but in all of Maharashtra. Some of the significant temples situated in and at a short distance away from Solapur include the Akkalkot Shree Swami Samarth Maharaj Temple, where the Samadhi of Swami Samarthji lies, the Siddeshwar Temple dedicated to Lord Shiddeshwar, Also worth visiting is Bhuikot Fort, which was built back in the 14th century. Tourists flock here to try the famed Solapuri chutney.
Solapur is also known for the Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary, which is also referred to as the Jawaharlal Nehru Bustard Sanctuary. This sanctuary was built for the conservation of the Great Indian Bustard, is a bird that resembles an ostrich and is one of the heaviest birds that can fly. The sanctuary is blessed with exotic flora and fauna that are sure to take a visitor’s breath away. Also worth visiting is Hipparga Lake,. Kambar Talav, Hutatma Garden, and Waterfall of Naldurg. Solapur is also the stopover to visit Tuljapur and Pandharpur. There are several hotels that provide luxurious, mid-range, and budget accommodation. The food scene of the city is also good with restaurants serving a variety of delicious Maharashtra and Hyderabad dishes.
