Panhala

Tucked into the beautiful district of Kolhapur District in Maharashtra, Panhala is a loved hill station standing at a height of 3,177 ft. above sea level. The pictorial natural surroundings, trekking opportunities, ancient monuments of historical significance – all add to the charm of this southwest India destination and allure hordes of tourists round the year. Panhala is also considered as a therapeutic hill station as it is completely free of any pollution and hustle-bustle of city life. Some of the attractions of Panhala include Parashar Caves, Panhala Fort and Someshwar Tank. This tourist guide will lead you to important tourist information about Panhala.

Panhala is a quaint hill station that gained its significance during the rule of Sivaji. Panhala happens to be the smallest city of Maharashtra. The entire city is located within the fort and is spread over an area of 390 acres land. It was formed during 1191-92, as its mention is found in a copper plate obtained from Satara. The evidence says that Silahara Bhoja Raja II ruled his empire from Panhala and later this place was also ruled by Adil Shahi Dynasty of Bijapur in 1489. The rise and fall of Maratha Empire took place in Panhala which was later conquered by the British. Pleasant weather conditions prevail in the region throughout the year.

October to May

Sightseeing in Panhala takes a couple of days. Travellers can also enjoy the getaway like: Ratnagiri (about 110 km.): This lovely port city on the coast of the Arabian Sea is closely associated with the Indian mythological stories. The prime tourist spots of Ratnagiri are Jaigad Fort, Mandavi and Ganatipule beaches and some beautiful temples. Sangli (about 70 km.): The Turmeric City of India, Sangli, is affluent in temples and other tourist attractions like Sagareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary. Sangameshwar Temple, Dattadeva Temple, Ramling Temple, and Ganpati Temple are some of the noted places. Satara (about 122 km.): This is one of the most beautiful tourist destinations of Maharashtra surrounded by hills on all the sides. Beautiful temples and forts like Ajinkyatara Fort are the prime attractions here.

Alike other tourist places of Maharashtra, Panhala also has many restaurants that serve the local Marathi food and some serving south Indian dishes. However, restaurants like Hill Top, Valley View Grand, and Anand Delux serve Indian and continental delicacies at their best.

Panhala dos not have any huge multiplexes, but there are small local shops selling the things for basic necessities and some selling handicrafts like leather shoes, bidri work and some exquisite textiles from Pune, Kolhapur, Paithan, and Aurangabad.

Closest domestic airport from Panhala is at Kolhapur (about 32 km. away), while the closest international airport to Panhala is Mumbai Chatrapati Shivaji International airport (about 380 km. away). Nearly 22 km. away from Panhala is Kolhapur railway station that is well connected to Pune and Mumbai. Travellers from other parts of the country can also reach Panhala via rail through Mumbai VT railway junction. Good road connectivity and public transport buses connect Panhala to the major nearby cities. Taxis can be hired to visit the top attractions.

Other excursion spots from Panhala are Ganapatipule, Amboli, Vijaydurg, Chiplun, Khandala, Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani.

Sightseeing in Panhala takes a couple of days. Travellers can also enjoy the getaway like: Ratnagiri (about 110 km.): This lovely port city on the coast of the Arabian Sea is closely associated with the Indian mythological stories. The prime tourist spots of Ratnagiri are Jaigad Fort, Mandavi and Ganatipule beaches and some beautiful temples. Sangli (about 70 km.): The Turmeric City of India, Sangli, is affluent in temples and other tourist attractions like Sagareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary. Sangameshwar Temple, Dattadeva Temple, Ramling Temple, and Ganpati Temple are some of the noted places. Satara (about 122 km.): This is one of the most beautiful tourist destinations of Maharashtra surrounded by hills on all the sides. Beautiful temples and forts like Ajinkyatara Fort are the prime attractions here.

Other excursion spots from Panhala are Ganapatipule, Amboli, Vijaydurg, Chiplun, Khandala, Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani.