About Kolhapur

About Kolhapur

Kolhapur City (16° 42' N; 74" 14' E, Ht. 1870 ft.: 25.7 Sq. miles; p. 1,36,835),

stands on rising ground on the south bank of the river Pancaganga, bounded on the north by the Pancaganga river, on the east by the boundaries of Ucgaon village, on the south by the boundaries of Kalambe and Pacgaon villages and on the west by the boundaries of Nave palinge, Padali and Singnapur villages and by the Pancaganga river.


Climate and Rainfall

Except from March to May when it is hot, the climate is temperate and healthy. From March to May hot winds prevail, but the sea breeze which begins in the afternoon makes the evenings cool and pleasant. Often, when the heat becomes very oppressive, there is a shower in the evening which brings down the temperature immediately.


Markets

There are four vegetable and fruit markets in the city and one main mutton and fish market. In addition there are 16 small mutton stalls distributed in different parts of the city. There is one main milk-stand where buffaloes are brought and milked in the presence of the customers. In addition there are three or four smaller milk-stands in other parts of the city. There is also one grain market. The annual income of The markets is about Rs. 1,30,000. The main vegetable and fruit markets is the Sivaji Market (Old Ferries Market) near Sivaji Cauk. There are many fruit stalls and wholesale business is also transacted here. There are some vegetable stalls and a few stalls for sale of coli pieces (colkhan). During mango season, the market is full of mangoes coming in cases and baskets from Ratnagiri district. The market has 163 built stalls and there is a separate shed for wholsale business. This market was opened in 1906.
The second important market is the Kapiltirth market. It is mainly a vegetable market, both wholesale and retail. Butter, ghee and curds are sold here in a special shed. Grains are also sold here. The whole market is an open paved area except for the shed where butter, ghee and curds are sold. About 600 vendors come here daily. There is a well in this area and its water is used for cleaning the market. The other two vegetable and fruit markets are near Sukravar Peth dharmasala and in Rajarampuri. The latter named Bagal Market is not very popular and there are hardly any vendor in it. There is a market called Gandhi Market in the Municipal office building itself. These shops are mainly grain and grocery shops. A number of vegetable vendors also sit in cauk, behind the building, and on the Bazargate Road for want of accommodation in the Sivaji marketThe main or general mutton and fish market is situated about a furlong from the municipal office on the Dasram Road. It contains a slaughter house for sheep and 35 stalls for selling mutton. On the other side, there are 13 stalls for dried fish and also for fresh fish. Some fish vendors sit on the open paved space outside the stalls. Sea fish comes daily in the evening from Deogad and Malvan. Local river fish is also available in plenty. In addition to this market, there is a slaughter house and stalls for sale of beef in the Sadar Bazar.
The milk-stand or Katta is at Gangaves. It is a practice in Kolhapur to buy milk by getting the buffalo milked in one's presence. About 300 buffaloes are brought every morning and evening to the Gangaves milk-stand. The stand area is paved and provided with rings for tethering the buffaloes.
The grain market is situated in Laxmipuri. Wholesale and retail business is carried on here. It consists of a number of tin sheds, belonging to the municipality. In addition, there are shops in private buildings along this road. All these together constitute the grain market. The municipality proposes to pull down the tin sheds and construct an enclosed grain market.
There is a separate grass market and a separate market for bamboos. The former is situated near Uttaresvar while the latter is situated beyond the Panyaca Khajina (old water reservoir) near the aqueduct. The bamboo market is held on Sundays while the grass market is held daily. Near the bamboo market is a cattle market where cattle are bought and sold in large numbers every Sunday. The cattle market is a well-planned area of about two acres with plenty of trees for share and tin shed for buyers and sellers. A water trough for cattle is also provided. Every Sunday 400 to 500 cattle are brought for sale of which 200 to 250 are sold.
In addition to the daily markets, a weekly bazar is held on every Sunday, where all articles of daily need are available. Villagers of nearby villages come to this bazar for their weekly purchases. The local people buy their requirements of onions, chillies, etc., during the season when these commodities come to the market in large quantities and prices are low. The weekly bazar is held on the Raosaheb Mali Road, on Master Vinayak Road and on Comrade Dange Road.
Gur Market Yard. Kolhapur district has been producing sugarcane and jaegery (gul) since long. In 1854, Graham in his report mentions that Kolhapur State produced annually 1,296 Khandis of ' Gur' valued at Rs. 1,20,539. This gul used to be sent to Rajapur for sale as there was no market at Kolhapur. Afterwards, when a market was established at Sangli, Kolhapur gul was sent there. In 1895, Sahu Chatrapati ordered the establishment of a market near the station. Traders were given free plots and other concessions and were persuaded to start a market in Sahupuri. The market seems to have started in 1902 and made rapid progress thereafter. During 1955-56 gul worth Rs. 3.60 crores was sold in it. It has also given a great filip to the cultivation of sugarcane in the district. In 1954-55, the acreage under sugarcane in the district was 44,419 acres. In addition to jaggery, groundnut is also soid in the market. During 1955-56 groundnut worth about Rs. 44.5 lacs was sold. Jaggery is sold by brokers on behalf of agriculturists and is bought by traders who export it to Bombay, Gujarat, Karnatak and other parts of India. It is also exported to Africa, Malaya and other countries.

The market is situated in the Vyaparpeth of Sahupuri and also on the Sahu Road, and the cross lanes of Sahupuri. The godown facilities are, however, woefully inadequate and during the season, a lot of jaggery is stored on the road in the open until it is exported by truck or rail. There is now a proposal to shift the market yard outside the city proper and a site measuring about 120 acres has already been acquired for the purpose on the Poona-Bangalore Road and the work of developing it is going on (1957). The shifting of the market yard outside the city will also reduce the traffic congestion in the city where at present the roads are full of bullock-carts bringing jaggery from the villages. In order to control this market and prevent malpractices, an Agricultural Produce Market Committee was appointed by the Kolhapur Government in 1945 and the Agricultural Produce Markets Act was applied. The Committee controls the activities of brokers, traders, weighmen and shop assistants by licensing them; it fixes the races of brokerage and weighing and regulates sales by enforcing sale by public auction. The Committee consists of 15 persons of whom seven represent agriculturists, three represent traders, and brokers, one represents co-operative societies, one represents the municipality and three are nominated by Government, one of whom is the Marketing Inspector and other is the Mamlatdar of the Taluka. The last two are ex-officio members. Every year the committee elects two of its members to work as Chairman and Vice-Chairman. The Committee is elected every three years.

In Sahupuri there are seven main roads running parallel to the Sahu road and starting from the Sivaji road. The 'Gur' market is situated in Sahupuri and first main road is known as Vyapara Peth and the other main roads are numbered one to six.
In Rajarampuri, there are four main roads running north-south and thirteen cross lanes running east-west.

In Tarabai Park there is a road leading from the Mandai corner on Sahu road to Jamkhindikar Tikti via Kiran Bungalow This road is named Major General Thorat road. Another road goes from Jamkhindikar Tikti to the Collector's office and then goes on to join the Bavada road. To the North this road goes to Line Bazar.

Kolhapur as a military centre

Kolhapur has been a military centre since old days. The Chatrapati had his own armv before the British came. The British maintained their infantry and it was quartered at Infantry Lines near Line Bazar, but when the British units withdrew and the Maharaja was allowed to have his own army, the Raiaram Rifles were formed. They were Quartered in barracks specially built on a hillock near the Terhblai Hill. This continued to be the head quarters of the Raiaram Rifles until the merger of the Kolhapur State when this infantry was disbanded. Now a Territorial Army Artillery unit is stationed at Kolhapur and it uses the barracks built for the Rajaram Rifles.

Fire Service

The Municipal Fire Brigade is controlled by the Fire Brigade Superintendent. There are two fire stations, one in the municipal office building and the other in the Subhasa Store of the municipality on the Subhasa Road. There are two new fire engines bought recently and one old fire engine. They are of the storage type and not tenders as there are no hydrants. However, the work of fixing hydrants in some localities has been started. Under the Fire Brigade Superintendent, there is a total staff of six motor drivers and 19 firemen.There have not been many big fires in recent years in the Municipal limits.There are eight places in the city for the disposal of dead Disposal of dead bodies. Of these two are cremation grounds for Hindus, of which bodies. one is owned and managed by the municipality. The remaining are burial grounds, one for Mohamedans, three for Christians and two for Hindus and other communities. Of these, two are private and are managed by trustees belonging to the different communities concerned.

Gardens

There are two gardens maintained by Government and five maintained by the municipality. The two Government gardens are the Town Hall garden and the garden behind the Jain hostel. The Town Hall garden was constructed in 1870 and has to-day many old trees and some special varieties of plants. There is a glass house and a band stand. In the garden is siutated the attractive Town Hall building which now houses a Museum. There is a beautiful fountain and a marble bust of Sivaji There is a small barrack like structure which houses the office of the Garden Superintendent. There is a temple of Mahadeva at the southern end. The civil courts are also situated within this area but are near the road and do not obstruct the beauty of the garden. The garden is a real beauty spot and is perhaps the coolest spot in Kolhapur on account of the shade of many old trees.
The other Government garden is on the same road about two furlongs to the north. It has a beautiful equestrain statue of Prince Sivaji. There are many flower-trees and seasonal flower-plants.
Of the five municipal gardens, the Padmaraje park is near the Rahkala tank. It has well-trimmed hedges and flower-beds. There is a section for children where swings, sea-saws, and other equipment are provided. There is a band-stand at one end. A radio is also installed in the garden. In the centre of the garden there is a bronze bust of Rehman, a well-known painter of Kolhapur. This garden is a favourite place for evening strolls.
The Sahu Udyan is near the Gangawes. This garden also has good hedges and flower-beds and a children's section. In the centre of this garden, there is a bust of Sahu Chatrapati.
The Rajaram hall garden is in Rajarampuri. It has good rose beds and lawns. It is a favourite place for evening strolls. A radio is also installed and music is given in the evening. There is a bronze bust of Govindrao Tembe, a noted musician of Kolhapur.
The Tarabai Garden is situated in the Tarabai Park area. It has good flower beds, and a separate section for children.
The fifth garden is in the Line Bazar near the Maruti temple.

Bridges

There are two bridges across the Pancaganga river and five bridges across the Jayanti Nala. There are also two causeways across the Jayanti Nala. There is one bridge across Gomati Nala. The two bridges across Pancaganga river are the Sivaji Pool which takes one to the Kolhapur-Ratnagiri Road, and the Pancaganga bridge which takes to the Poona-Bangalore National Highway across the river. Sivaji Pool is a stone masonry structure with five arches. It is 411 feet long, and its height is 69 feet above the bed of the river. It was built between 1874 and 1878. The Pancaganga bridge is a steel structure of the girder deck type with seven pillars. It is 5-10 feet long, its height above the bed of the river is 40 feet.
Of the five bridges across the Jayanti nala, one takes the Bavada road (Bhausingji) across the nala; another known as Juna Pool or old bridge, takes the Sahu road across the nala; the Wilson bridge takes the Sivaji road across the nala; the Ravivar Pool takes Rajaram road across the nala and the new bridge near the proposed Hutatma Park takes the Sathamari road across the nala. The first bridge is a stone masonry structure with three arches. It is 91 feet long and 31 feet high. It has slightly ornamental parapets. It was built in 1876. The Juna Pool or Sahu bridge is an arched bridge with cantiliver girders for footpaths. It is 127 feet in length and its height is 21 feet from the bed of the nala. It was built in 1875. The Wilson bridge is a stone masonry structure with three arches. It is 87 feet in length and its height is 21 feet from the bed of the nala. It was built in 1927 at a cost of Rs. 70,000. The Ravivar Pool is also a stone masonry structure with three arches. It is 103 feet long and its height above the bed of the nala is 24 feet. It was built in 1879. The bridge near the proposed Hutatma Park is a R.C.C. deck type bridge with three arches. It is 76 feet long and its height from the bed of the nala is 15.5 feet. It was built in 1953. The bridge across the Gomati Nala is near this bridge on the same road. It is also a R. C C. deck type bridge with two arches built in 1953. Its length is 44 feet and height 13.5 feet.

Water supply

Kolhapur city gets its water from two sources-Kalamba tank and the Bhogavti river. The Kalamba tank is about three miles from the city. It is formed by building a bund between two ridges and impounding the water of the Katyayani valley. The bund was built between 1881-83 and its height was increased in 1894.
The water was taken through an aqueduct to a reservoir just outside Mangalwar Peth and from there distributed to the city. The water was not filtered or treated till 1946, when a filter house was built on rising ground beyond the old race course of Padmala. The use of Katyayani water in the city dates back to 1792 when a rich resident of Poona named Baburao Kesav Thakur or Khatro was persuaded to bring water from Katyayani to supply Mahalaxmi's temple, and in time the water began to be used by all in the city. The water of the Kalamba tank is pure and wholesome and is filtered and chlorinated.
Kalamba water is available only to a portion of the city. To meet the growing needs of the city it was necessary to find other sources of water supply. The Pancaganga river was the nearest source available. When the new extensions of Sahupuri and Rajarampuri were laid down, it was necessary to supply water to them. A pumping station was, therefore, established near Bapat camp and the water was taken to the Vikramsinh Reservoir on the Temblai hill between 1927 and 1930. The water was supplied to Sahupuri, Tarabai Park area, new Palace, Residency etc. In course of time, this source was found to be inadequate and also liable to contamination from the sewers of the city. Between 1941 and 1947, therefore, a scheme to improve the water supply of the city was undertaken. According to this scheme the aqueduct of the Kalamba tank was improved to prevent loss through seepage and a filter house to purify the water was established. The pumping station near Bapat camp was stopped and instead a new pumping station near Balinge, a village about three and a half miles from Kolhapur, was established on the Bhogavati river and this water was taken to a reservoir on the Cambukhadi hillock and from there was distributed to the city. A filter house was also established at Balihge. The whole scheme cost about Rs. 30 lakhs and was planned to meet the needs of a population of two and a half lakhs. With the completion of the Radhanagari dam, there is sufficient water in the Bhogavati river throughout the year and the water supply is adequate to meet the growing needs of the city.
The water works are maintained by Government. Distribution is also done by Government. Water is supplied through private connections and through municipal public stand-posts. Water is generally available for all the 24 hours for private connections.
Formerly, the water of Rahkala tank was supplied through taps and was otherwise used for drinking and other purposes. In 1883, a new-cut-stone dam higher and stronger than the old dam was built on the city side. New pipes were laid and water was distributed by stand-cocks eighty or ninety feet apart. The use of Rankala water for bathing or washing was forbidden. [Old Distrjct Gazetteer.] The use of Rankala water was however, discontinued later on and at present it is mainly used for irrigation. Dhobis use the tank for washing clothes and residents of the neighbourhood use it for bathing and washing. In addition to Rahkala there were formerly nine other tanks or lakes the water of which was used for washing and bathing. [Old Distrjct Gazetteer.] All these lakes, except the Kotitirth are now filled up and converted into residential and other places. The Kotitirth is, however, still used for bathing and washing.
In Rajarampuri, there was no piped water supply till 1954. Bore wells were being used for suplying water till then. The water of these bore wells was slightly brackish. With the laying of pipes in this area, the bore wells have gone out of use.
In the newly included hamlets of Kadamwadi, Bhosalewadi and Temblaiwadi there is still no piped water supply. Well water is used in these places. There is also a small lake. at Kadamwadi. In Bavda there is piped water supply. In addition there is one lake, the water of which is used for washing and bathing.

Drainage

There is no underground drainage in the city and drainage is mainly by surface drains. The drains are let into the Jayanti nala and the Pancaganga river. Drainage of A and D wards is mainly let into Pancaganga river. At some places, it is also used by agriculturists for manuring their fields. Drainage of Sahupuri, Rajarampuri, Laxmipuri, Khasbag, C Ward and B Ward is mainly let into Jayanti nala. There is a proposal to have underground drainage for the city and plans and estimates for the same are being prepared (1956).