About Solapur

Country: India | State: 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.

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Other Info
Internet Availability: Good
STD Code: 0217
Languages Spoken: Marathi, Kannada, Telugu
Major Festivals: Gadda Yatra
Notes/Tips:
None

How to Reach Solapur

By Air

Nearest Airport: Pune - Pune Airport (253 Kms)

By Train

Nearest Train Station: Solapur (0 Kms)

By Bus

Nearest Bus Station: Solapur Bus Station (1.5 Kms)

Top 10 Places to Visit in Solapur

#1 of 8 Places to Visit in Solapur

At a distance of 2 km from Solapur Railway Station, Siddharameshwar Temple is a Hindu temple located in the city of Solapur. It is one of the most famous temples in Maharashtra, and among the prominent places to visit as part of Solapur tour packages.

Located amidst a lake further flanked by Bhuikot Fort, Siddheshwar Temple, also known as Siddharameshwar Temple is dedicated to Lord Siddheshwar, who is considered an incarnation of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. The temple is highly revered by the devotees as it is the place where Yogi Sri Siddharameshwar attained Samadhi who is also considered as the six prophets of the Lingayat religion, and a devoted follower of Sri Mallikajuna of Srisailam.

Sri Siddeshwar Temple was built by yogi Sri Siddharameshwar to honor Lord Siddheshwar. There are 68 Shiva lingams in the courtyard, which were installed by Lord Siddheshwar. Amrit Linga is one of them. There are several smaller temples .....

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#2 of 8 Places to Visit in Solapur

At a distance of 2 km from Solapur Railway Station, Bhuikot Fort is an ancient fort situated in the city of Solapur, Maharashtra. Located on the banks of Siddheshwar Lake, it is one of the popular places of heritage in Maharashtra, and among the top places to visit in Solapur.

Bhuikot Fort, also known as Solapur Fort, is a landmark of Solapur town and a footmark of the Bahamani dynasty. It is said that the fort was built during the 14th century by Bahamani Sultans. It is said that the fort was built in the memory of Hutatma Bagh. After Bahmani, Solapur Fort came under Mughal rule. During Aurangzeb's reign, most of his time was spent around the fort. Later, this fort came under the control of Nizam of Hyderabad and later the Marathas. Historians say Bajirao II also stayed here for a month in 1818.

The unique characteristic of Bhuikot Fort is that it is a land fort and not a regular mountain fort. .....

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#3 of 8 Places to Visit in Solapur

At a distance of 22 km from Solapur, the Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary situated at Nannaj near Solapur. Also known as the Jawaharlal Nehru Bustard Sanctuary, it is one of the famous wildlife places in Maharashtra, and among the must-include places in Solapur packages.

The Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary is one of those exclusive places in India which is the home to gigantic and enormously beautiful Indian Bustards (Ardeotis nigriceps). The sanctuary happened to be discovered by B.S. Kulkarni in the year 1972. The Government of Maharashtra declared the Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary as a wildlife reserve with the sole objective of conserving the rarest species of Great Indian Bustard in 1979. Even the late Dr. Salim Ali, India's best-known ornithologist, paid a visit here for some research. Many efforts have been made by famous ornithologists and bird lovers for the protection of the sanctuary.

Maharashtra .....

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#4 of 8 Places to Visit in Solapur

At a distance of 11 km from Solapur Railway Station, the Solapur Science Center is an educational and cultural center in Solapur city of Maharashtra, India. It is one of the prominent places to visit as part of the Solapur tour.

Solapur Science Center, also known as the Science Museum is an ideal place to explore more about the universe, animals, and humankind. The museum is an autonomous society developed jointly by the Rajiv Gandhi Science and Technology Commission, Government of Maharashtra, and the National Council of Science Museums, Government of India to promote scientific knowledge, skill, and awareness in all sectors of life. Particularly interesting for science buffs, the Science Center is Maharashtra's third largest science center.

The center has many exhibits, including interactive displays, videos, and science-related games. At the entrance, one will find a giant inflatable globe that shows how the world is divided .....

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#5 of 8 Places to Visit in Solapur

At a distance of 48 km from Solapur, Naldurg Fort is a historic fort in Naldurg town of Osmanabad district in Maharashtra state of India. It is one of the famous places of heritage in Maharashtra, and among the top places to visit near Solapur.

Naldurg Fort is considered to be one of the strongest and impregnable forts of Deccan. There is a belief that Nalaraja (The King Nala) built this fort. Other sources said that it was built by a Hindu Raja who was a vassal of the Chalukya kings of Kalyani. It was later included in the dominions of the Bahmanis and was subsequently taken over by the Adil Shahi kings of Bijapur, from whom it passed in the hands of the Mughals in the year 1686 AD. The fort was earlier known as Yeral, when it is under the Bahamani Sultans from 1351 to 1480, before it was handed over to the Mughal Empire. Later the Adil Shahi rulers constructed the massive fortification wall in 1558.

Spread over a large area, .....

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#6 of 8 Places to Visit in Solapur

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 .....

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#7 of 8 Places to Visit in Solapur

At a distance of 39 km from Akkalkot, and 46 km from Solapur, Sri Tulja Bhavani Temple is a Hindu temple located in Tuljapur in Dharashiv district of Maharashtra, India. It is one of the top places of pilgrimage in Maharashtra, and among the prominent places to visit near Hyderabad.

Dedicated to goddess Bhavani, Sri Tulja Bhavani Temple is considered as one of the 51 Shakti Pithas in India. Goddess Bhavani, literally translates to 'giver of life',is considered to be a mother who provides to her devotees and also plays the role of dispensing justice by killing Asuras. The temple was built in 12th century CE by Maratha Mahamandaleshwara Maradadeva of the Kadamb dynasty.

The temple of Bhavani at Tuljapur along with the temples of Renuka at Mahur, Mahalaxmi at Kolhapur, and Saptashringi at Vani forms the four great Shaktipitha in Maharashtra. Goddess Bhavani of Tuljapur is known as the Kulswamini of Maharashtra, .....

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#8 of 8 Places to Visit in Solapur

At a distance of 3 km from Solapur Railway Station, Sambhaji Lake, also known as Sambhaji Talav, is an artificial lake located in the city of Solapur in the state of Maharashtra. It is one of the best Solapur tourist places.

Situated at the heart of Solapur city, Dharmaveer Sambhaji Lake is a beautiful lake with a unique structure. This lake has several water bodies, which the city's administration maintains well. The lake was constructed in the 1950s. Earlier, the lake was called Kambar Talav, which was named after the daughter of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.

The main attractions of Sambhaji Lake include its tranquil waters, lush greenery, walking and jogging paths, and a children's play area. It provides a serene atmosphere for relaxation, picnics, and family outings. The park around the lake is well-maintained and often used for leisure activities. Boating is one of the activities offered at Sambhaji .....

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