Solapur


Solapur is a city located in the south-western region of the Indian state of Maharashtra, close to its border with Karnataka. Solapur is located on major Highway, rail routes between Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore and Hyderabad, with a branch line to the cities of Bijapur and Gadag in the neighbouring state of Karnataka.Solapur international Airport is under construction.
It is classified as A1 Tier and B-1 class city by House Rent Allowance classification by the Government of India. It is the 5th biggest city in Maharashtra and the 49th most populous city in India and 43rd largest urban agglomeration.
Solapur leads Maharashtra in production of beedi. Solapuri Chadars and towels are famous in India and also at a global level, however there has been a significant decline in their exports due to quality reasons. "Solapuri chadars" are the famous and first product in Maharashtra to get a Geographical Indication tag It has been a leading centre for cotton mills and power looms in Maharashtra. Solapur had the world's second-largest and Asia's largest spinning mill. The National Research Centre on Pomegranate of India is located in Solapur. and pomegranate farming is done on a large scale in Solapur District. The Science Centre in Kegaon is the third largest and prominent scientific association in Maharashtra. The Raichur-Solapur Power Transmission line of 765 kV power capacity suffices the power grid accessing need of the southern states of Karanataka and Andhra Pradesh. The first waste-to-energy electricity plant in Maharashtra is situated in Solapur.
The Gramadevata of the city is Shri Shivyogi Siddheshwar. The "Nandidhwaj" procession on the Hindu festival of Makar Sankranti and on account of it an annual fair locally known as Gadda Yatra attracts large crowds and is associated with the marriage of Lord Siddheshwar. In 1992, the Solapur Municipal Corporation extended its area up to by merging its suburbs.
Solapur has the Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary.

Etymology and history

The Solapur District was ruled by various dynasties such as Andhrabhratyas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Yadavas and Bahamanis. 'Solapur' spelled in Śakē 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. Subsequently, the British rulers pronounced Solapur as Sholapur and hence the name of the district. 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 Subdivisions 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 Bombay State and it became a full-fledged district of Maharashtra State in 1960.
The municipal corporation building was built by Rao Saheb Mallappa Warad. He was also one of the first to bring the farming tractor to India. It was his wish that the building should be used for some public purpose and thus the building was made the municipal council. The building is also called Indra Bhawan which means 'Abode of Indra'. Mallappa Warad was also one of the ten members of 'Chamber of Merchants' under Queen Victoria.
The Solapur Municipal Council was the first municipal council to hoist the indian national flag on the Municipal Council building in 1930. Taking the spirit of Dandi March from Mahatma Gandhi, the freedom fighters of Solapur hoisted the National Flag on 6 April 1930 on the Municipal Council building. This was the first and the unique incidence of such kind throughout the country.
During the Indian independence movement, the people of Solapur enjoyed full freedom on 9–11 May 1930. However, this resulted in the executions of Mallappa Dhanshetti, Abdul Rasool Qurban Hussein, Jagannath Bhagwan Shinde and Shrikisan Laxminarayan Sarada, who were hanged on 12 January 1931, in the prison at Pune. This resulted in the city becoming recognized as "The City of Hutatmas" literally "The City of Martyrs".
There is also one of the oldest Ganesh temples, Ajoba Ganpati temple, which started celebrating the Ganesh festival in 1885.

Toponomy

The inscriptions of chief deity of Solapur Shivyogi Shri. Siddheshwar of the time of the Kalachuri suggest that the town was called "Sonnalage" which came to be pronounced as "Sonnalagi". 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. It was the main commercial hub of the Devagiri Yadavas and an important trading city. The town was known as Sonnalagi even up to the times of the Yadavas of Devagiri.

Culture

Solapur is a city with tri-linguistic and multi-cultural features. Solapur has a mixture of Kannada and Marathi culture.
The festival of Makara Sankranti is one of the largest festivals celebrated by the people of Solapur. Gadda yatra is another important part of this festival. It is a fair which is organized on the Hom Maidan ground annually in the month of January. Along with Makar Sankranti, people also celebrate Shivaji, Dr. Ambedkar Jayanti, Gudipadwa, Diwali, Ganesh Chaturthi and some more.
Ramadan is also a big religious event celebrated by the Muslim community of Solapur.
People also celebrate National festivals. Navratri is another festival celebrated in Solapur at Rupabhawani temple located at Tuljapur road. People visit the temple to worship Goddess Rupabhawani for nine days in Navratri. This festival is the biggest festival in central maharashtra. decorations of the 'Pendals' is eye catching during Navratri festival.

Demographics

As per 2011 census of Solapur city and as per provisional reports of the Census of India, the population of Solapur in 2011 was 951,118, of whom av were male and 468,924 were female.
Solapur's population, with the inclusion of its suburbs, increased to 1,250,000 reorganized in 2012.
In 2011, the total literates in Solapur city are 710,180 of whom 390,335 are males while 319,845 are females. The average literacy rate of Solapur city is 83.88 percent of which male and female literacy was 91.31 and 76.30 percent respectively.
Hinduism is the majority religion in Solapur city with 75.73% followers. Islam is the second most popular religion, with approximately 20.64% following it. Buddhism 1.62% Jainism by 1.00%, Christianity 0.73%, others, no religion and not stated 0.28%.

Geography and climate

Solapur is located at. It has an average elevation of 458 metres. It is bordered by Ahmednagar district on the north; Osmanabad district on the north and northeast.
Gulbarga district on the southeast and Bijapur Districts on the south of Karnataka State, 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 from the Maharashtra State Capital of Mumbai by road and train.
Solapur is at a distance of from Pune and from Hyderabad. Solapur is situated on the Deccan plateau.
Solapur falls under the category of dry 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. The warmest months in Solapur are April and May. The typical maximum temperatures being or more. The highest temperature ever recorded is in May 1988. Although summer does not end until May or even the midst of June, the city often receives locally developed heavy thundershowers in May. The monsoon lasts from June to the end of September, with moderate rainfall. The city of Solapur receives an average rainfall of per year. Winter begins in November and lasts until the end of February, with the temperatures occasionally dropping below. Solapur lies very close to the seismically active zone around Killari, Latur District, about east of the city.

Civic administration

The civic administration of the city is managed by the Solapur Municipal Corporation, which was established on the Maharashtra Day of 1 May 1964 in the building constructed by Mallappa Warad in 1930. The corporation oversees the engineering works, health, sanitation, water supply, administration and taxation in the city. It is headed by a mayor who is assisted by municipal commissioner and elected representatives. The city is divided into 135 wards and 6 zones. The corporation members also known as corporators are elected by the citizens of Solapur every five years. The corporators, in turn, elect the mayor. Its activities include developing new layouts and roads, town-planning and land-acquisition.
As Solapur is one of the most important city for the transportation towards south and north india, here it's essential for the State and Central Government to develop this District. Due to no care taken by any officials and by politicians the city is back loging. Here many Projects are initiated but they are not taken into consideration and all the development projects are pending and many are not sanctioned, and some projects starts but for it no budget is passed.Many people's from Solapur goes for Jobs in other Districts mainly Pune, Mumbai. Here being major city no IT park initiated due to no Airport Construction which is most important in such textile or buisness cities for trading.Hence, Airport must be constructed as early as possible for the betterment of city.As this is a Textile City they are not been promoted, due to politicians Solapurkar's are not getting proper rights, the citizens have to leave Solapur. So, for the increase of fastness of Nation there must be proper planning for the major and useful cities in India to take into consideration for better future of State and Nation.

Sports

Indira Gandhi Stadium in Solapur, formerly known as Park Stadium, hosts Ranji Trophy matches and is the home venue for Maharashtra cricket team.

Economy

Solapur is located at an important junction of the north–south railway line which provides good transportation infrastructure for trade and industry. There are a number of medium and small-scale and medium industries found in the district, and it is one of the prime centers of the handloom and powerloom industry, cotton mills and the beedi industry. Rapier Terry Towels is now also an emerging industry in Solapur. Solapur is well known for the bed sheets produced here and has a reputation for the same. Textiles are an important aspect of the economy. As the epic growing part in the industrial sector, Sanghvi Towels are known as the parents of Rapier industries. They introduced the city how to go with the flow of changing demands of the Terry Towels market, following it many business houses have changed to Rapier Industries and now Rapier Chaddar Looms have been also introduced to the weaving sector by Bomdyal Textiles. The city is home to Precision Camshafts Limited one of the largest manufacturers in camshafts in the world. In the agricultural field, the district has a well-established market in oilseeds. The major crops grown in the district include jowar, wheat and sugarcane.

MIDC

areas are spread all over in Solapur district:
Solapur is one of the most-polluted cities in Maharashtra due to the effluent chemicals produced as the waste products from the textile industries in its region. As many vehicles in the city utilise diesel fuel, it also generates tremendous smog emitted by sugar factories and heavy textiles industries in the city's suburb. Various efforts are being made by Maharashtra Pollution Control Board to reduce air pollution and its environmental effects. The city has launched a GO-GREEN scheme by planting trees in the city and developing greenery with the help of various eco-friendly people in the city.
CNG will be available shortly soon in MIDC Chincholi and some major area in Solapur.

Transport

Rail

is the main railway hub within the city. The Solapur Railway Division is an important division connecting South India to Western & North west India. Trains from Ahmedabad, Jaipur, New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune etc., ply to Southern states via Solapur.Government has decided to make solapur railway station as the high tech station in Maharashta.
Hotgi Junction and Kurduvadi Junction are two junction railway stations present in the Solapur district.

Road

Solapur internal city transport is managed by SMT, SMC and other private cabs.
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 four National Highways – NH 9 highway connecting Pune with Vijaywada via Hyderabad, Suryapet, NH-52 connecting Solapur to Kaithal, Mangalore, Karnataka and NH-211 connecting Solapur to Dhule. Ratnagiri-Nagpur National highway NH-204 passes through city, connecting Solapur to other important cities in Maharashtra like Nagpur, Sangli, Kolhapur and Nanded. Recently sanctioned National Highways- and Ratnagiri-Solapur-Yavatmal-Nanded-Nagpur. Road section in NH-13 is proposed to be improved by its four laning. The Solapur-Aurangabad national highway is also proposed for its four laning to reduce the time and cost in travelling from Solapur to Aurangabad.

Air

is located to the south of Solapur city. There are scheduled flights operating out of Solapur Airport. The Government of Maharashtra has planned to upgrade the airport.

Utility services

The electrical supply to the city is managed by the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited and water is supplied from the Ujjani Dam on the Bhima River. CNG will be soon available for vehicle in Solapur as will as piped natural Gas will be available for Domestic, Commercial and industrial use.

Notable people

History