Karad

Formerly known as Karhatak, Karad is a city and a municipal council, which is located in the Satara District of Maharashtra. Karad is situated at the confluence of Koyna River and Krishna River, both of which diverge at their origin in Mahabaleshwar and meet in this city. The confluence of both the rivers is called Preeti Sangam, which literally means ‘Lovely Meeting’.

The city is popularly known as Dakshin Kashi, as Lord Rama stepped his feet on this land and also, it was home of Sahadeva, one of the Pandava brothers. Inscriptions of about 200 BC to 100 AD were found at the Bharhut Stupa near Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh and at Kuda in Colaba.

These inscriptions mention Karad as Karahakada, which proves that Karad is one of the oldest places in Satara. In 1637, Mahmud Adil Shah declared the father of Shivaji Maharaj, the Deshmukhi of twenty two villages in Karad.

From him, the Deshmukhi rights were transferred to Baji Ghorpade of Mudhol in 1653. Later in 1661, Ali Adil Shah II, the eighth Bijapur King encamped at Karad after being disappointed in his hopes of crushing Shivaji.

In 1805, when Bajirao Peshwa along with Shinde planned to seize Pratinidhi Parashuram Shrinivas, he fled from Poona to Karad, which was his Jagir town. Historically significant, the city of Karad was the first capital of the Shilahara Dynasty during the rule of Jatiga-II.

Over the course of time, this city has been ruled by various dynasties, including Mauryas, Chalukyas, Bahmanis, Rashtrakutas, Marathas, Peshwas, Satavahanas, Mughals and the British. During the Mughal rule in India, this historic city was the meeting point of Hajis on their way to Haj. Today, Karad has emerged as a city of education, with numerous educational institutes.

Owing to the presence of many sugar factories in and around the city, Karad is known as the sugar bowl of Maharashtra. Most people here speak Marathi. Religious folk dances like Lavani, Gondhli, Dhangar, Dindi and Kala are an integral part of the culture of this city. Mashru and Himroo crafts are the popular handicrafts that belong to the region.

Buddhist caves that lie near Karad are the main attractions of the town. Devi Krishnamai Temple, dedicated to Devi Koynamai, is the most popular temple in the city.

The nearest airport, which can be used to reach Karad, is Pune International Airport. Located 4 km away from the city, Karad Railway Station is the main railway station serving the region.

Karad Bus Station is a major bus terminal, which is served by the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) from Pune, Satara, Mumbai, Kolhapur and Solapur. Buses from Belgaum and Bijapur are also served by this bus station. The best time to visit Karad is during late winter and early summer months.