17 Best Pilgrimage sites near Kolhapur

Ganpatipule is a small pilgrimage & beach town on the Konkan coast of Maharashtra in India. About 307 km from Pune, and 345 km from Mumbai, it is one of the top places to visit near Kolhapur, and among the must include places in Maharashtra packages.

Ganpatipule is mainly known for its 400 years old Ganapati Temple which is the prime attraction in Ganpatipule holiday packages. The idol of Ganesha is believed to be a monolith that was self-incarnated and discovered over 1600 years ago. It is one of the Ashta Ganapati Temples of India and is known as 'Paschim Dwar Devata'. The temple is at the base of a hill, and pilgrims walk around (pradakshina) the hill as a mark of respect. Ganpatipule can be visited as a day trip along with Mahabaleshwar tour packages.

Besides, Ganpatipule has some of the most spectacular beaches that can be visited along with Konkan packages. It is an ideal getaway that attracts peace-seekers, beach lovers, and pilgrims alike. Jaigad Fort, Prachin Konkan Museum, Arey Ware Beach, Guhagar Beach, and Velneshwar are the other prominent places to visit in Ganpatipule.

Distance from Kolhapur: 153 Kms

Harihareshwar is a coastal town in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, India. About 175 km from Pune, and 213 km from Mumbai, it is one of the must-include places in Konkan tour packages, and among the famous weekend getaways from Pune, and Mumbai.

Situated on the Konkan coast, Harihareshwar is one of the best Maharashtra beach destinations. This beach town is often called Southern Kashi because it is home to the Harihareshwar temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Harihareshwar comes across as a pleasant surprise with some of the most peaceful and beautiful beaches along the Konkan Coast. Harihareshwar Beach, Diveaghar Beach & Temple, Kondvil Beach, Kelshi Beach, Velas Beach, Srivardhan Beach, Bankot Fort, are the must include places in Harihareshwar Packages.

Distance from Kolhapur: 272 Kms

Pandharpur is a temple town located on the banks of Chandrabhaga River near Solapur city in Maharashtra, India. About 77 km from Solapur, and 209 km from Pune, it is one of the popular places of pilgrimage in Maharashtra, and among the must-include places in Solapur tour packages.

Renowned for its deep-rooted religious heritage and enchanting spiritual aura, Pandharpur is considered to be the spiritual capital of Maharashtra and revered as the Southern Kashi of India. The sacred town of Pandharpur boasts magnificent temples and shrines. The Vitthal Rukmani Temple stands as the primary place of worship, attracting millions of devotees every year. The exquisite craftsmanship and intricate carvingsof the temple offer a glimpse into the artistic prowess of the bygone era.

Besides, the Kaikadi Maharaj Math, Pundalik Temple, Shri Gopalkrishna Temple, Vishnupad Temple, and ISKCON Pandharpur are the other prominent Pandharpur tourist places. The annual Pandharpur Yatra, also known as the Ashadi Ekadashi, witnesses a colossal gathering of devotees.

Distance from Kolhapur: 184 Kms

At a distance of 72 km from Shirdi and 44 km from Ahmednagar, Shani Shingnapur or Sonai is a village in Nevasa taluka of Ahmednagar district in Maharashtra. The village is known for its popular temple of Shani Mahadev, the Hindu god associated with the planet (graha) Saturn. This is one of the most popular Shani temples in India and also among the famous pilgrimage places to visit near Pune.

The idol of Lord Shanidev at the Shingnapur temple is swayambhu and the temple is believed to be a jagrut devasthan, meaning that a deity still resides in the temple. The idol is personified in the form of a black stone that is five and a half feet high installed on an open-air platform. There is a Trishul alongside the stone as well as a Nandi on its south. In front are the small images of Shiva and Hanuman. An east-facing multi deity temple was built west of the Shani idol later. The premises also contain a tomb of Saint Udasi Baba and a temple dedicated to Dattatreya. This is one of the must include places in Shirdi packages.

Shani Shingnapur Temple, among the top Shirdi places to visit, among the most significant pilgrimage places to visit near Aurangabad. The entire village around the temple has no doors to the houses. ...

At a distance of 28 km from Nashik, Trimbakeshwar or Tryambakeswar is a small pilgrimage town located on the banks of River Godavari at the foothills of Brahmagiri Mountains in Nasik district of Maharashtra. It is one of the popular places of pilgrimage in Maharashtra, and among the must-include places in Nashik packages.

Trimbakeshwar is famous for Trimbakeshwar Temple which is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples of Lord Shiva. It is one of the most famous places to visit near Nashik. Trimbakeshwar Temple is built by Sri Nana Saheb Peshwa in 1755-1786 AD. The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Shiva as Trimbakeshwar. The extraordinary feature of the Jyotirlinga located here is its three faces embodying Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Rudra. A crown studded with precious stones rests on top of this Linga, which is said to be from the age of Pandavas. This crown is decorated with various precious stones like emeralds, diamonds, and many other varieties. The crown is displayed every Monday from 4 PM - 5 PM. It is one of the most popular places to visit near Mumbai.

The temple is built of black stone in the Nagara style of architecture and is enclosed in a spacious courtyard. The sanctum internally a square and externally ...

At a distance of 21 km from Ratnagiri, Ganeshgule Beach is a beautiful beach situated at Ganeshgule village in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. It is one of the most serene Maharashtra beaches, and among the top places to visit in Ratnagiri.

Ganeshghule Beach is popular among nature lovers and is known for its clear sunset view. The beach is 1.5 km long and is flanked by mountains on both sides. The rocky, white sandy terrain and clear emerald sea of the secluded Ganeshghule Beach is an idyllic holiday retreat for many travellers who visit the beach as of Ratnagiri packages.

Ganeshgule Beach is considered a perfect place for those who want to relax and spend peaceful moments. Swimming and sunbathing are the favorite activities at the beach. This beach also has many water sport activities such as snorkeling, diving, surfing, and parasailing. Visitors can even enjoy boat riding when visiting this beach.

The well-known Ganeshgule Temple is located 1.5 km from the beach. This temple is a popular religious place and is visited by many pilgrims from the Konkan region. This temple contains the idol of Lord Ganesha that is known as Swayambhu. The trunk of Lord Ganesha is towards the west in the temple. In addition, this temple contains an ancient well of the Pandava era.

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Distance from Kolhapur: 142 Kms

At a distance of 1 km from Ellora Caves, and 29 km from Aurangabad, Grishneshwar or Ghrushneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple is a famous Hindu temple located at Verul village in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra. It is one of the famous places of pilgrimage in Maharashtra, among the must-visit places as part of Ellora tour packages.


Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Grishneshwar Temple is believed to be the last or 12th Jyotirlinga on the earth. This is one of the top places to visit in Ellora, and among the prominent pilgrimage places to visit near Aurangabad. The presiding deity, in the form of Jyotirlinga, is known by several names like Kusumeswarar, Ghushmeswara, Ghrushmeswara, and Grishneswara. The Grishneshwar temple was re-constructed by Maloji Raje Bhosale, the grandfather of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, in the 16th century. Later, the temple was again reconstructed in the 18th century by Rani Ahilyabhai Holkar, a Maratha princess who ruled Indore from 1765 CE to 1795 CE.

According to the legend, In the Devagiri Mountain, there lived a Brahmin couple named Brahmavetta Sudharm and Sudeha. They had no children and according to the wish of Sudeha, Brahmavetta married her sister Ghushma. On the advice of ...

At a distance of 3 km from Anjarle Beach, 24 km from Dapoli, 43 km from Harihareshwar, and 82 km from Chiplun, Anjarle Ganapati Temple, also known as Kadyavarcha Ganapati Temple, is a Hindu temple located atop a hill in the small village of Anjarle in the Dapoli Taluka of Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra. It is one of the popular temples in the Konkan region of Maharashtra, and among the most popular places to visit near Chiplun.

Dedicated to Lord Ganesh, the Kadyawarcha Ganapathi Temple is believed to have been built in 1150 AD using wooden pillars. It was renovated during the 18th century and is a 3-tier structure. Ganapathi at this temple has a trunk curved towards the right, unlike most idols that have the trunk curved towards the left. Devotees believe that Kadyawarcha Ganapathi is a live deity who will come to their rescue whenever they are in trouble.

Apart from the Kadyavarcha Ganapati, there is one smaller temple dedicated to Lord Shiva on the temple premises. There is also a small pond in front of the temple which is full of fish and turtles and tourists can have a bit of fun feeding them. From the temple, one can also enjoy the stunning views of the nearby Suvurnadurg Fort, Anjarle Creek, and the surrounding hills filled with greenery. Maghi Ganesh Utsav is the most important festival celebrated at this temple as it marks the birth of Lord Ganpati.

Earlier devotees had to cross the Jog River in a boat and then climb the hill to reach the temple. ...

Distance from Kolhapur: 248 Kms

At a distance of 44 km from Satara and 63 km from Panchgani, Yamai Devi Temple is an ancient temple situated on a hilltop at Aundh in Satara distric of Maharashtra. The temple is very much revered in Maharashtra and also one of the top places to visit in Satara.

Yamai Devi is the family deity of many Maharastrian families. The idol of Devi Mahishasur Mardini in black stone is almost 2 meters high in a cross-legged sitting position. The idol has four hands and is carrying gada, arrow, trishul and paan patra.

The town and the temple have been associated with the Pant family for many centuries. The present head of this former ruling family, Gayatridevi Pantpratinidhi, has installed a 7 kilograms (15 lb) solid gold kalash or crown on the pinnacle of the Yamai temple on the hill. Another temple of Devi Yamai is located in the town; apart from the one on the hill.

The temple can either be reached using steps that start at the bottom of the hill. Direct road access is also available to the hilltop. The temple complex also houses Sri Bhavani Museum established from the private collection of the Maharajas of Aundh. The museum holds paintings by noted 19th and 20th century Indian artists such as M. V. Dhurandhar, Baburao Painter, Madhav Satwalekar and Raja Ravi Varma as well as the famous Mother and Child stone structure by the British artist Henry Moore.

The annual Yatra to the Yamai Devi Temple attracts thousands of devotees. Yamai Devi Yatra is annually observed ...

Distance from Kolhapur: 108 Kms

At a distance of 40 km from Sangli, and 61 km from Kolhapur, Sri Kopeshwar Temple is an ancient Hindu temple situated at Khidrapur village in the Kolhapur district of Maharashtra. Located at the border of Maharashtra and Karnataka, it is one of the ancient temples in Maharashtra, and among popular places to visit near Kolhapur.

Built on the banks of River Krishna, Kopeshwar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and is one of the must include places in Kolhapur tour. According to archaeologists, the construction of the temple began by Badami Chalukyas in the 7th century AD and remained incomplete for a long time. It was patronized by the Shilahara Kings during the 12th century. Lord Shiva has worshiped here in the form of a Shivalinga as well as a sculpture of his fierce form, Veerbhadra. Legend has it that Lord Shiva got angry when Sati sacrificed herself and he was then brought to this temple by Lord Vishnu. This is how the temple got its name as Kopeshwar which means furious god.

Kopeshwar Temple is a magnificent piece of intricate Chalukyan architecture. Built with basalt stone, the entire temple is divided into four parts Swarga Mandap, Sabha Mandapa, Antarala, and Garbhagriha / Sanctum Sanctorum. The Swarg Mandap of the temple is unique and stunning. The mandap is supported ...

Distance from Kolhapur: 60 Kms