Karad


Karad is a city in Satara district in the southern part of Indian state of Maharashtra and it is 320 km from Mumbai and 159 km from Pune. It lies at the confluence of Koyna River and the Krishna River known as the "Priti sangam". The two rivers originate at Mahabaleshwar, which is around 100 km from Karad. They diverge at their origin, and travel for about the same distance to meet again in Karad. The rivers meet exactly head on, thus forming letter "T" which is the only head on confluence in the world. Hence Krishna and Koyna river's confluence is called Preeti Sangam, meaning Confluence of Love. Karad is well known for sugar production and is known as the sugar bowl of Maharashtra owing to the presence of many sugar factories in and around Karad. It is considered as an important educational hub in Western Maharashtra due to the presence of many prestigious educational institutes. This place is also known for resting place or of the first chief minister of Maharashtra Shri. Yashwantrao Chavan situated at the confluence of Krishna and Koyana river.
Karad has an adjoining small town named Malkapur, Karad which has its own municipal council and a population of 31,671. Karad city was awarded a prize under "Sant Gadagebaba Gramswachhata Abhiyan" started by Indian Government.
The pin code of Karad is 415 110, Karad have independent Regional Transport officer, Karad, Satara Rural.
The RTO code for karad RTO is MH50.

History

It was originally known as "Karhatak", meaning "Elephant Market". Karad is also a city of historical importance. According to Mahabharata, Sahadeva one of the Pandavas lived in the city also known to be pious as Lord Rama stepped his feet on this land. Located to the south west of Karad is Karad Caves.
The first capital of the Shilaharas was probably at Karad during the reign of Jatiga-II as known from their copper plate grant of Miraj and Vikramankadevacharita of Bilhana. Hence sometimes they are referred as 'Shilaharas of Karad'. The capital was later shifted to Kolhapur. Among the Silaharas of Kolhapur who ruled over Satara and Belganv districts from 1000 to 1215 A. D., Gonka deserves mention here, as he is described as the Lord of Karhad, Mairifvja and Konkan.

Features

Major landmarks in the city include Kolhapur Naka, MSRTC Bus Stand, Krishna Naka, Karve Naka, Jama Masjid, Chawdi Chowk, Krishna Ghat, Historical Manora, Bhaji Mandai, Bheda Hospital Chowk, Town Hall, 10,000-capacity Chhatrapati Shivaji Stadium, Krishna Canal Chowk, Vidyanagar, Yashwant Highschool, Cottage Hospital, Dutta Chowk, Kanya Shala, Tilak Highschool and Holy Family Convent School in Vidyanagar among others.

Geography

Karad is located at. It has an average elevation of 566 metres. Karad is located near Agashiva caves. It has been referred in great epic Mahabharata. It has the shape of an "Aum" when viewed aerially.

Tourism

Some Famous Tourist places in and around Karad are:
Some Famous Points Near Satara :
The city boasts many important government offices and other institutions of significance. With the vision of great leader Yashwantrao Chavan the city was one of the few in India to have a well- planned underground drainage system well before in the 1960s. By end-2010, Malkapur, Karad, on the outskirts of the city of Karad, is delivering water 24x7 to all its residents as a result of concrete steps taken by the Malkapur Nagar Panchayat with support from the Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran, a state government entity. This is the first of its kind by a public body in India. Major offices and institutions in Karad are as follows:
India census, Karad town and surrounding villages had total population of 74,355. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Karad has an average literacy rate of 76%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 80%, and female literacy is 72%. In Karad, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age. People from different cultures live here but vast majority belong to Hinduism and Speak Marathi language.

Transportation

National Highways

The National Highway 48 goes through the Karad city. National Highway 48 is a major National Highway in Western and Southern India. NH 48 links four of the 10 most populous Indian cities - Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Pune. NH 48 also connects Karad to Kolhapur. Pune is the largest metropolis near Karad and Kolhapur is an important trade centre and educational hub for IIT training and a tourist destination.

Airport

An Airstrip was constructed in the 1955 by the Public Works Department to facilitate the Koyna dam project. It is currently being used for General aviation and pilot training. The airport is spread on 65 acres and the acquisition of more than 100 acres has been proposed. Runway 10/28 is 1280 meters long and 30 meters wide with a 60 meter by 60 meter apron. No navigational aids nor night landing facilities are available on the airstrip.
The State run Maharashtra Airport Development Company plans to extend the 1,250 meters airstrip by another 1,500 m and widen it by 150 m.
Besides this nearest airports are Pune Airport, and Kolhapur Airport which will start functioning in 2018-19

Railways

Karad has railway station situated near ogalewadi about 04 km distance on the Karad Vita road from Karad Bus stand. Karad is onroute from Mumbai to Miraj, Sangli, Kolhapur, and Bangalore.
You can reach Karad from Mumbai or Pune easily by road or rail.
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has allocated funds for a plan to build a new 112 km railway line between Karad and Chiplun.
;Nearest railway junction
All super-fast trains like the Karnataka Sampark Kranti, Deekshaboomi Express, Rani Chenama Express, Haripriya Express and Miraj Hubli Express stop at Miraj Junction. You can take private cars or MSRTC buses from Miraj to Karad. Travel time from Miraj to Karad is Approx.roximately 1 hour 15 minutes.
;; Railway Time Table Karad
;Towards Miraj
No.Train No.Train NameTrain TypeDayDeparture time
01 11097Pune – ErnakulamPoorna ExpressSun01.45 Am
02 11023Mumbai – KolhapurSahyadri ExpressDaily02.55 Am
03 17318Dadar - Hubli Hubballi ExpressDaily04.00 Am
04 17411Mumbai - KolhapurMahalaxmi ExpressDaily04.08 Am
05 11021Dadar - TirunelveliTirunelveli ExpressSun, Wed, Thu04.55 Am
06 11035Dadar – MysoreSharavati ExpressFri04.55 Am
07 11005Dadar - PuducherryPuducherry ExpressMon, Tue, Sat04.55 Am
08 51441Satara – KolhapurPassengerDaily06.40 Am
09 16209Ajmer – MysoreAll Mysore ExpressMon, Sat08.10 Am
10 16505Gandhidham – BangaloreGIMB SBC Bangalore ExpressWed08.10 Am
11 16507Jodhpur – BangaloreJU SBC Bangalore ExpressSun, Fri08.10 Am
12 16531Ajmer – BangaloreSBC Garib Nawaz ExpressTue08.10 Am
13 11040Gondia – KolhapurMaharashtra ExpressDaily09.20 Am
14 12148Nizamuddin – KolhapurNizamuddin ExpressFri01.10 Pm
15 01664Habibganj - DharwadDharwad ExpressSat01.10 Pm
16 12782Nizamuddin – MysoreSwarnajayani ExpressTue01.10 Pm
17 51409Pune – KolhapurPassengerDaily03.56 Pm
18 11029Mumbai – KolhapurKoyna ExpressDaily05.25 Pm
19 12780Nizamuddin – VascoGoa ExpressDaily08.20 Pm
11040 Express Train Splits at Bhusawal >> Gondia = Gorakhpur
Information by: Basargi Mahesh Updated On March 2020

;Towards Pune
No.Train No.Train NameTrain TypeDayDeparture time
01 11098Ernakulam – PunePoorna ExpressTue00.13 Am
02 11024Kolhapur – MumbaiSahyadri ExpressDaily01.22 Am
03 01663Dharwad - HabibganjHabibganj ExpressSun06.05 Am
04 51410Kolhapur – PunePassengerDaily07.58 Am
05 11030Kolhapur – MumbaiKoyna ExpressDaily10.42 Am
06 12147Kolhapur – NizamuddinNizamuddin ExpressTue11.37 Am
07 12781Mysore – NizamuddinSwarnajayani ExpressSat11.37 Am
08 16210Mysore – AjmerAjmer ExpressWed, Fri02.00 Pm
09 16506Bangalore – GandhidhamGandhidham ExpressSun02.00 Pm
10 16508Bangalore - JodhpurJodhpur ExpressTue, Thu02.00 Pm
11 16532Bangalore – AjmerGarib Nawaz ExpressSat02.00 Pm
12 11039Kolhapur - GondiaMaharashtra ExpressDaily06.10 Pm
13 51442Kolhapur – SataraPassengerDaily08.16 Pm
14 11006Puducherry - DadarChalukya ExpressMon, Wed, Thu10.10 Pm
15 11022Tirunelveli - DadarChalukya ExpressTue, Fri, Sat10.10 Pm
16 11036Mysore – DadarSharavati ExpressSun10.10 Pm
17 17317Hubli - DadarDadar ExpressDaily10.36 Pm
18 11012Kolhapur - MumbaiMahalaxmi ExpressDaily11.05 Pm
19 12779Vasco – NizamuddinGoa ExpressDaily11.37 Pm
11039 Express Train Splits at Bhusawal >> Kolhapur = Gorakhpur
Information by: Basargi Mahesh Updated On March 2020

Economy

Karad has the Taswade MIDC in its vicinity which boasts many industries giving employment to people in the Satara District. Karad has the presence of Emerson Climate Technologies and Pidilite Industries Ltd. Karad is famous for its Jaggery and Cattle markets in entire Maharashtra. Jaggery of very high quality is manufactured and traded here. Such quality of jaggery is rarely available and is one of the best in the world. Chikki named after an Indian dessert is one of the special jaggery which is used as a key ingredient during the Indian festival of Makar Sankaranti. There is a big market yard where various commodities are traded and the geographical location of the city add to its benefit since it is known as the gateway to Konkan region from Western Maharashtra.
Karad is well known for sugar production and is known as the sugar bowl of Maharashtra owing to the presence of many sugar factories in and around Karad.

Education

;High schools
Holy Family Convent High School is amongst the most prominent English medium schools in the city. Tilak High School for boys and Kanya Prashala for girls are among the top Marathi/Semi-English medium schools.
;Engineering colleges
Government College of Engineering, Karad and Government Polytechnic, Karad are amongst the best engineering and polytechnic colleges in the state of Maharashtra.
;Architecture College
;Arts, Science, and Commerce colleges
;Polytechnic colleges
;Other colleges

Performing arts

The city has a major hall for cultural activities and exhibitions: Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial - Town Hall. Cultural events of various organizations and gatherings of schools are also held here. Many theatre artists have been flashed at the National Level from this place. The "Venutai Chavan Hall" is used for classical concerts, conducting national and international seminars on topics like science, space, traditions, culture, spirituality, etc.

Literature

Karad has a tradition of literature lovers. The prestigious 76th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan was held at banks of Krishna river in Karad in 2003.

Museums and historic areas

In the honor of his contribution to building modern Maharashtra a small visiting museum is created in the residence of Late Shri Yashwantrao Chavan in Karad. An ancient well, named Naktya Rawalyachi Vihir is located near Krishna river in Karad which shows the well planned construction techniques followed during the ancient times.

Yashwantrao Chavan Agricultural, Industrial and Cattle show

The late Yashwantrao Chavan Agricultural, Industrial and Cattle Show is mega regional Agricultural event of global standards held at Karad, by Krishi Uttpanna Bajar Samiti Karad since 2001. The event of around 500 exhibitors provides an excellent platform under one roof for showcasing the latest technology in agriculture, poultry and livestock, dairy, agro services and food processing and technology etc.

Sports

  1. Wrestling: India's first individual Olympics medal winner Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav is from village Goleshwar-Karad.
  2. Cricket: Shivaji Cricket Stadium is renowned for holding two Ranji Trophy matches.
  3. Badminton: Indoor Badminton Court facility is available at Shivaji Stadium and Social Club Karad.

    Notable people

Noted Marathi Author. His books 'Doh', 'Sonyacha Pimpal', 'Panyache Pankh'and'Kordi Bhiksha' are considered milestones in Marathi literature. He has been awarded with Best literature awards by Govt of Maharashtra, Maharashtra Foundation, Yashwantrao Chavan Karad Pratishthan etc.
●Shriniwas patil :-Shriniwas Patil is the Member of Lok Sabha from the Satara constituency in Maharashtra, India. He is also the former Governor of Sikkim, India. He was a member of the 13th and 14th Lok Sabha of India, from 1999 to 2009. He represented the Karad constituency of Maharashtra and is a member of the Nationalist Congress Party. He is a former Indian Administrative Service officer.He was elected as Member of Parliament for the third time by defeating former Member of Parliament Udayanraje Bhosale by over 87,000 votes in October 2019 Bypolls.