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Solapur

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For Solapur district, see Solapur district.
Solapur
Solapur सोलापूर
city
Government
 • Mayorarif shaikh
Population
 (2001)
 • Total2,253,840
Website0
0

Solapur (Marathi : सोलापुर) is a city and a municipal corporation in South Eastern Maharashtra, India near the Karnataka border and is the administrative headquarters of Solapur District. Solapur is one of the four districts that form the region of Eastern Maharashtra (the other three districts are Satara, Kolhapur and Sangli. It is the fourth largest district in Maharashtra in terms of land area (behind Ahmednagar, Pune and Nashik) and seventh largest in terms of population.[1] Solapur is a melting point with a confluence of Marathi, Kannada and Telugu cultures. It is an important junction on the Central railway line. Solapur is a city with an array of small and medium scale industries. It has been a leading center for cotton mills and power looms, though recent times have seen these industries relocate elsewhere. Bedding accessories made in Solapur ('chaddars') have earned fame and reputation for their novel designs and durability. The chief deity of the city is Shri Siddeshwar. The "Nandidhwaj" procession on Makar Sankranti fair is attended by millions of devotees.

Solapur is transport hub connecting Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and also Tamil Nadu. It is well connected by road and rail to major districts and cities. Akkalkot is the site of Akkalkot Swami Maharaj Math, visited yearly by huge number of people from Maharashtra and neighbouring Karnataka. Also an annual fair is held in the month of January wherein huge crowd comes from various parts of country, which is called as Gadda Fair in vernacular language.

History

The Solapur District was ruled by various dynasties such as Andhrabhratyas, Chalukyas, Rashtrkutas, Yadavas and Bahamanis. 'Solapur' is believed to be derived from two words 'Sola' meaning sixteen and 'pur' meaning village. The present city of Solapur was considered to be spread over sixteen villages viz. Aadilpur, Ahmedpur, Chapaldev, Fatehpur, Jamdarwadi, Kalajapur, Khadarpur, Khandervkiwadi, Muhammadpur, Ranapur, Sandalpur, Shaikpur, Solapur, Sonalagi, Sonapur and Vaidakwadi. Recent research work however shows that the name SOLAPUR is derived not from the congregation of sixteen villages.It is evident from the inscriptions of Shivayogi Shri. Siddheshwar of the time of the Kalachuristis of Kalyani, that the town was called Sonnalage which came to be pronounced as Sonnalagi. The town was known as Sonnalagi even up to the times of Yadavas. A Sanskrit inscription dated Shake 1238, after the downfall of the Yadavas found at Kamati in Mohol shows that the town was known as Sonalipur. One of the inscriptions found in Solapur fort shows that the town was called Sonalpur while another inscription on the well in the fort shows that it was known as Sandalpur.[2]

File:Siddheshwar.jpg
Siddheshwar Lake

The present Solapur district was previously part of Ahmednagar, Pune and Satara districts. In 1838 it became the Sub-district of Ahmednagar. It included Barshi, Mohol, Madha, Karmala, Indi, Hippargi and Muddebihal Sub-divisions. In 1864 this Sub-district was abolished. In 1871 this district was reformed joining the Sub-divisions viz. Solapur, Barshi, Mohol, Madha and Karmala and two Sub-divisions of Satara district viz. Pandharpur, Sangola and in 1875 Malshiras Sub-division was also attached. After the State reorganisation in 1956 Solapur was included in Mumbai State and it became a full fledged district of Maharashtra State in 1960.

Solapur is one of the biggest cities in Maharashtra, situated near the borders with Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. It is an ancient historical and religious place with Shri Siddharameshwar as its "Gramadaiwata". Shri Siddharameshwar was a historical figure of the 12th century whose "Karmayoga" on his own native land-Solapur, turned him into a God-figure over the course of time.There was a great saint Shri.Siddarama,who preached the teachings of Shri.Basaweshwara. A young girl, inspired by the teachings of this saint wished to marry the saint. Shri. Siddaram being a brahamachari denied to marry her and gave permission to marry with his Yogadanda. The same marriage function is celebrated every year on the Makar Sankranti for three days on Bhogi, Sankrant and Kinkrant. The Nandi Dhwajas are presumed as Bride and Groom for the marriage. This festival falls around 14th Jan every year. A fare popularly known as Gadda Jatra is arranged for fifteen days during this period.

The importance of Solapur is unique in the history of India in the sense that this district enjoyed the freedom even before independence. The citizens of Solapur enjoyed the independence for three days from 9th to 11 May 1930. The brief history runs like this. After the arrest of Mahatma Gandhi in May 1930, protests and demonstrations against British rule were held throughout the India. Large scale rallies and protests were done at Solapur also. Many citizens lost their lives in the police firings. Due to this the irate mob attacked the police stations. Out of fear the police and other officers ran out of Solapur. During this period the responsibility of law, order and security of citizens was on the shoulders of Congress Party leaders. Then city congress leader Tulsidad Jadhav 'with his other congressmen maintained the law and order for a period of three days from 9 to 11 May 1930.In February 2009 a statue was erected of Shri Tulsidas Jadhav to acknowledge his bravery act at Mechanic chowk. The unvieling ceremony was done by Shri Sharad Pawar.

File:Solapur four statues.jpg
Solapur Four Statues (Chaar Hutatma)

Secondly, the Solapur Municipal Council was the first Municipal Council of India to host the national flag on the Municipal Council building (Now Municipal Corporation) Solapur in 1930. The brief history runs like this. Taking the spirit of Dandi March from Mahatma Gandhi, the freedom fighters of Solapur decided to host the national flag on the Solapur Municipal Council. Accordingly, senior freedom fighter from Pune Shri. Annasaheb Bhopatkar hoisted the National Flag on 6 April 1930 on Municipal Council. This was the first and the unique incidence of such kind throughout the country. The British rulers, due to irritation declared martial law at Solapur and arrested many leaders and innocent citizens on false charges. The freedom fighters Shri. Mallappa Dhanshetti, Shri. Kurban Hussain, Shri. Jagnnath Shinde and Shri. Kisan Sarda were arrested on charges of killing two policemen of Mangalwar police station. The lower court sentenced the punishment of hanging till death for these freedom fighters. The High Court also confirmed the same decision and these four freedom fighters were hanged till death on 12 January 1931. As a mark of respect to these freedom fighters, the statues of these freedom fighters have been installed in the heart of the city and the location has been named as Hutatma Chowk.

Ancient Wells: -one in the Juni Mill compound near Kalpana Cinema Theater and another in the Open Space near Kambar talav (lake), third well under the Bhagavat Cimena Theater (one of the oldest multiplex in India) the fourth in the East Solapur are amongst the ever green well since ancient times. During all the drough in the past these wells have provided water to the whole city. During the period of the Brithsh rule electric power was generated on these wells. But, today the Muncipal Corporation of Solapur city need not bother to do the maintanance of these wells, which are yet very much helpful during the famines. many attempts to close these well have been done by the Muncipal corporation.Even metal was poured in these wells to choke the water streams in the well. with the help of motorpumps water was continously drawn out for 48 hours though the water in the well did not finish. Such greate resourses are been finshed. One of the well near the Kambar talav (lake) have been burried by the constructure. This is an appeal to all to visit the sites of these wells to study about the engineering mind of the ancient human resourses in Solapur and at the same time help us save these wells which are a greate resources, as well as help us find and preserve many more such wells through out the District.


Solapur has been famous for its textile industries, Solapur Chaddars and Towels are famous not only in India but also in other countries.

During the Indian independence movement, the people of Solapur enjoyed full freedom on 9th, 10th and 11 May 1930. However, this resulted in the executions of Shri Mallappa Dhanshetti, Shri Kurban Hussein, Shri Jagannath Shinde and Shri Kisan Sarda who were hanged on 12 January 1931, in the prison at Pune. This resulted in the city becoming recognized as "The City of Hutatmas".

Nanaj 18 km from Solapur is the habitat of the Great Indian Bustard, locally called Maldhok. The GIB was discovered by Shri B.S.Kulkarni in 1978, and Nanaj is now an international eco destination. Mr Kulkarni has taken immense efforts for the conservation of the great Indian bustard and the lakes in and around solapur. The world bustard population is just in hundreds a nanaj hosts arounnd 23 bustards.

Pandharpur, one of the holiest places in Maharashtra for Hindus, with its Vitthal-Rakhumai temple on the banks of the Chandrabhaga river, is only 70 km from Solapur. Akkalkot, just 38 km from Solapur is a holy place due to the shrine of Akkalkot Swami. Across the border in Gulbarga District of Karnataka, is Ganagapur and Dargah of Khwaja Bande Nawaz both places of pilgrimage. The city of Bijapur in Karnataka, 109 km from Solapur, is widely known for its Gol Gumbaz, a highly regarded piece of architecture.

Geography and climate

Solapur
Climate chart (explanation)
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F
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█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
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Source: Weather Online
Imperial conversion
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6.8
 
 
86
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3
 
 
91
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1.3
 
 
88
64
 
 
0.3
 
 
86
59
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches

Solapur is located at 17°41′N 75°55′E / 17.68°N 75.92°E / 17.68; 75.92.[3] It has an average elevation of 458 metres (1502 feet). It is bordered by Ahmednagar district on the North, Osmanabad district on the North and Northeast; Gulbarga district (Karnataka state) on the Southeast and South; Sangli district on the South and Southwest; Satara district on the West and Pune district on the Northwest. It is situated at a distance of 410 km from the Maharashtra State Capital of Mumbai by road and train. Solapur is at a distance of 245 km from Pune and 305 km from Hyderabad. Solapur is situated on Deccan plateau.

Solapur falls under the category of Dry (arid and Semiarid) Climate according to the Köppen climate classification. The city experiences three distinct seasons: summer, monsoon and winter. Typical summer months are from March to May, with maximum temperatures ranging from 30 to 40 °C (86 to 104 °F). The warmest months in Solapur are April and May when it is not uncommon to see the daytime temperatures as high as 40 °C (104 °F). The highest temperature ever recorded is 48°C in April 1988. Although summer doesn't end until May, the city often receives locally developed heavy thundershowers in May (although humidity remains high). The monsoon lasts from June to end of September, with moderate rainfall. The city of Solapur receives an average rainfall of 545 mm per year.[4] Winter begins in November and last until the end of February with the temperatures occasionally dropping below 10 °C (50 °F).Solapur lies very close to the seismically active zone around Killari, about 100 km east of the city.

Demographics

As of 2001 India censusTemplate:GR, Solapur had a population of 873,037. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Solapur has an average literacy rate of 71.2%, higher than the national average of 65%: male literacy is 82%, and female literacy is 60%. ex ratio is 935 female per 1000 males. Solapur is seventh largest city in Maharashtra state . Marathi is the official language, while Kannada, Telugu, Urdu, Hindi and English are spoken and understood widely. 82% of total population is Hindu, 11% Muslims, and others are Christians, Buddhist, Jains. According to Solapur Municipal Corporation 25% population live in slums.

Transportation

Public transport in Solapur is primarily provided by buses operated by Solapur Municipal Transport (SMT) and auto rickshaws.

Rail:
Solapur is one of the largest train junctions on the Mumbai-Chennai, Mumbai-Hyderabad lines and is one of the five divisions of the Central Railway Zone of the Indian Railways. It is connected by direct trains to many important cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Thiruvananthapuram, Vijayawada etc. Solapur is also a terminal point of the Solapur-Bijapur line. A current timetable for the Solapur Railway Station is available on the Solapur district website.

Road:
Solapur is well connected by road with major cities of Maharashtra as well as the adjoining State Capital of Hyderabad and important cities in Karnataka by three National Highways - NH-9 connecting Pune with Vijaywada via Hyderabad, NH-13 connecting Solapur to Mangalore, Karnataka and NH-211 connecting Solapur to Dhule. There are also numerous state and country routes that pass through Solapur. And connected to some cities like Siddipet, Karimnagar, Warangal etc. daily.

Ratnagiri-Nagpur National highway NH-204 connects Solapur to important cities of Maharashtra like Nagpur, Sangli, Kolhapur and Nanded.

Airport:
Solapur city is now connected by airways with Mumbai.It will be connected to other cities after completion of new airport. (IATA code: SSE[5]) Kingfisher Airlines operates flights from Solapur to Mumbai on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

Entertainment and leisure

Adlabs opened a new theatre 'adlabs Bhagwat' in city. Adlabs Bhagwat, Solapur has a seating capacity of 650 with Platinum, Gold and Silver classes. Solapur also has a range of other cinema halls which have been favorite with the local people. Domino's, a well known pizza has recently have been opened. Food centres such as park (fast food stalls) Sips n Bytes, Krishna Icecream Centre and Tajoddin are also very famous for their respective cuisine. THE local famous food is Bhagyashri Chiwada & Batata Wada. Supraja Pavbhaji is welknown in Lucky square, Kinara Hotel on Hotgi Road, Baburao's bhel puri and pani puri center near saat rasta.

Proposal to create new Phandarpur District

The Solapur district is under proposal to be divided and a separate Phandarpur district be carved out of existing Solapur district

Economy

As stated the Solapur district consists of medium and small scale industries, although Solapur is one of the leading centres for handlooms, power looms and cotton mills. Chaddars, (Solapur bed sheets) have earned Solapur a reputation and fame for their durability and novel designs. The Solapur district has the largest industry in Maharashtra for Beedi production. Apart from the textile industry and tobacco, Solapur is also known for its market in oilseeds.

Recently, Solapur has steeped into BPO sector also and there is a beautiful call center named as iPing technologies Pvt. Ltd into the heart of city in Damani nagar, it has its own history, because it is being managed by the Damani's whose main business was started by Jamshri mill.

In rescent development BF-NTPC Energy Systems Ltd (BFNESL), a JV between forgings maker Bharat Forge Ltd and power generation company NTPC Ltd, has begun work on its manufacturing plant at Solapur in south-eastern Maharashtra. The foundation stone for the new plant was laid on 15 March by the Union Power Minister, Mr Sushilkumar Shinde. It is expected to become operational by mid-2012 and involves an investment of Rs 300-350 crore.

Places of interest

  • Hotgi Saibaba Temple
  • Markandeya Temple
  • Siddheshwar Temple - Surrounded by Siddheshwar Lake.
  • Revani Siddheshwar Temple
  • Balaji Temple
  • Rupabhavani Temple
  • Nagareshwar Temple
  • Hipparga Lake - a scenic nature area
  • Kambar Lake, newly named as Sambhaji lake
  • IndraBhavan - Solapur Corporation building
  • Bhui-Kot Killa (Fort) - castle of 15th century and under the Bahamani period
  • Hutatma Garden
  • Pandharpur Vithoba Temple (70 km away)
  • Akkalkot - Swami Samarth (35 km away)
  • HAIDRA - Saifan mulk chishti dargah (near about 20 km from Akkalkot)
  • Sanjay Gandhi Zoo
  • Nannaj- Bird Sanctuary (25 km away)
  • Tuljapur - Tuljabhavani Temple (45 km away)
  • Naldurg Fort (approx. 45 km towards Hyderabad)
  • Barshi "Bhagvant" Temple (approx. 70 km away)
  • Mardi - Yamai Devi Temple (22 km north of Solapur city)
  • Hattur - Shri Bansiddheshwar & Someshwar Mandir (14km away from City)
  • Aran - Sant Savta Mali Temple (60 km away/on pune solapur expressway)
  • Wadval- nagnath temple
  • Soregaon- Gajanan Maharaj Temple
  • Gaudgaon Budruk- Hanuman Temple
  • Kudal Sangam - Sangmeshwar Temple and first Marathi rock inscription and a rare Shivalinga (1000 faced)

Educational institutions

Schools

  • Jain Gurukul
  • Little Flower Convent High School, Sath Rastha Solapur
  • D.R.Sriram English Medium School (Padmashali Education Society), Raviwar Peth, Solapur.
  • St. Thomas English Medium School, Rajaswar Nagar, Solapur.
  • K.B.Banda, Akashwani kendra, Solapur.
  • Indian Model School, Jule Solapur, Solapur.
  • Kendriya Vidyalaya Solapur Near Modi Rly Gate, Modi Khana, Solapur. 413001
  • Chandrabhagabai Yelgulwar Primary and Secondary School, Ratnadeep Hsg Sty,Solapur.
  • Mamta School for Deaf and Dumb (President-Prakash Yelgulwar).
  • National Association For The Blind, Dist Solapur Branch (President-Prakash Yelgulwar).
  • Rajiv Gandhi School for the Blind (President-Prakash Yelgulwar).
  • Indira Bhavan, School for Physically and Mentally Challenged (President-Prakash Yelgulwar).
  • Swami Vivekananda primary and secondary school, Neelam nagar, Akkalkot rd M.I.D.C (President-Prakash Yelgulwar)
  • Kuchan High School (Padmashali Education Society)
  • Modern High School, Gandhi Nagar,Solapur.
  • Twinkle English Medium High School, 362 Begum Peth, Solapur
  • Hindustani covenant church English medium School, Solapur
  • Padmashree Sumatibai English Mediun High School, Samrat Chowk, Budhwar peth, Solapur
  • Solapur Social Association high school Kidwai chowk, Solapur
  • Jnana Prabodhini Balvikas Mandir Prashala, Solapur
  • SHRI DIGAMBAR JAIN GURUKUL PRASHALA
  • Annappa Kadadi High School (Bhavani Peth)
  • M.A. Pangal Anglo Urdu High School Solapur.(Siddheshwar Peth)
  • Begum Kamrunnisa Karigar Girls High School Solapur (Siddheshwar Peth).
  • Begum Karigar Girls Urdu High School, Solapur.
  • UES MAhila Mahila Mahavidhyalay.
  • S.R. Girls' High School, Sevasadan, Solapur.
  • Maharashtra Technical High School is well known as North Court which was established by British Govt. in 1901.
  • Dr. Ambedkar High School & Night School, Mechanic Chowk,Solapur.
  • Haribhai Deokaran High school (H.D.H.S)
  • Nutan Marathi vidyalaya (Nu.Ma.Vi.)
  • B S Kulkarni High School, Tilak Chowk, Solapur.
  • Suyash Vidyalaya, Solapur
  • NETAJI SUBHASH CHANDRA BOSE HIGH SCHOOL, MIDC SOLAPUR
  • St. Joseph High School, Solapur (one of the oldest school in Solapur established in 1897)
  • Ramsukh Santokiram Chandak English High School (formerly known as New High School), Samratchowk, Budhwar Peth.
  • Surawase Highschool, Aasara, Solapur
  • Siddheshwar High School extremely famous for Drawing Competitions and their way of teaching(established in 1962) all over INDIA.
  • Vidhya Niketan High School (Bhavsar Education Society)
  • Shri Markendeya High School, Sakhar Peth
  • Gurumaharaj Computers Jodbasvanna Chowk Solapur
  • Jeevadan Vikas Prashal Bhandarkavathe (South Solapur)
  • Jawahrhar Navodaya Vidyalaya,Pokharapur,Mohol
  • Sharadchandra Pawar High school, solapur

Colleges

  • Prin.K.P.Mangalvedhekar Institute of Management (MIM)
  • Yelgulwar D. Ed college.Solapur
  • Yelgulwar college of Arts. Solapur
  • Gayatri School of Management & Technology
  • Global Retail School (GRS)
  • V.G. Shivdare College of Arts, Commerce and Science
  • Hirachand Nemchand College of Commerce
  • Walchand College of Arts and Science
  • Government Polytechnic, Solapur
  • Solapur University
  • College Of Pharmacy - R.Y.Patil
  • Bharatratna Indira Gandhi College of Engineering
  • Walchand Institute of Technology (1983)
  • Dr. Vaishampayan Memorial Government Medical College
  • Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Dental College
  • College of Architecture
  • Dayanand Institutions. Founded in 1940. It is located on a campus of 65 acres (26 hectares) of land with four colleges and one high school and a model school. The oldest college in Solapur University.
  • Indira Gandhi Engineering College, Kegav, Solapur
  • S.P.M.Polytechnic, Kumathe
  • Brahmdevdada Mane Institute of technology, Belati
  • S.E.S Polytechnic,Samrat Chowk, Budhwar Peth
  • S.S.S M'S college of Architecture
  • S.V.E.R.I's College of Engineering Pandharpur
  • A.R.Burla Mahila Mahavidylay (Girls College), Sakar Peth
  • Abhinav Hi-Tech Enginnering College, Majarewadi Hotagi Road
  • Abhijit Kadam Institute of Management
  • Oyster by Cambridge University
  • Seth Govindji Raoji Ayurved Mahavidyalaya, Solapur
  • PSPM's Mahila Homoeoppathic Medical College & Hospital, 283/1B, Kolgiri Nagar, Hotagi Road Majrewadi, Solapur
  • A.P. High School, solapur.
  • New Unique Computers.
  • Lokmangal Agriculture College Wadala
  • Lokmngal Biotechnology College Wadala
  • Lokmngal Institute Of Versatile Eduction (LIVE)
  • Lokmangal Industrial Training Institute,Wadala
  • LOkmangal English Medium School Wadala
  • Lokmangal Agribiotechnology College Wadala
  • Lokmangal Agri Clinic Agri Business Center Wadala
  • Lokmangal Krushi Vidyalaya
  • Lokmangal Nursary Wadala
  • Lokmangal Tissue Culture laboratory wadala
  • Lokmangal Wormy Compost Wadala
  • Lokmangal Soil and Water test Laboratory Wadala
  • Ghuleshwar Maharaj Mandir, Telgaon (Bhima)
  • Shri Siddheshwar Women's Polytechnic, Solapur

Notable personalities

Superstitious practices

In an annual event held, infants are thrown off the roof of the Baba Sheikh Umar Saheb Dargah to thank God for blessing couples with a child. This ritual, which attracts many devotees from across the country, is believed to be good for the health of the child. The infants are initially carried over to the terrace in small bags by a devotee. One after the other the infants are then dropped from there and others standing down holding a blanket to catch the falling kid. The event was reported first in 2008. In 2009, the event received a lot of national and international press coverage and was criticised by all child and human rights groups.[6][7][8]

  1. ^ http://solapur.gov.in/htmldocs/demog.pdf
  2. ^ ""Solapur History. Government of Maharashtra" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-06-25.
  3. ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Solapur
  4. ^ http://solapur.gov.in/htmldocs/glance.pdf
  5. ^ http://www.world-airport-codes.com/india/sholapur-6869.html
  6. ^ http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/0,28318,25873689-5014090,00.html
  7. ^ "Baby-Throwing ritual in India". www.dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-08-06.
  8. ^ "Infants thrown off roofs to thank God". www.ibnlive.in.com. Retrieved 2008-04-27.
Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article "Sholapur".


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