Karad
—  town  —
Karad Location of Karad in Maharashtra and India
Coordinates	17°17′N 74°12′E / 17.28°N 74.2°E / 17.28; 74.2Coordinates: 17°17′N 74°12′E / 17.28°N 74.2°E / 17.28; 74.2
Country	India
State	Maharashtra
District(s)	Satara
Population	56,149 (2001[update])
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area • Elevation	• 566 metres (1,857 ft)
Codes • Pincode • 415110 • Telephone • ++91-2164 • Vehicle • MH 50
Website	www.karadinfo.com

Karad (Devanagari: कराड or कर्‍हाड) is a small town and a municipal council in Satara district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It lies at the confluence of Koyna River and the Krishna River. 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 headon, thus forming letter "T". Their confluence is called 'Preeti Sangam' meaning "Lovely Meeting" 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 has many prestigious educational institutes such as Government College of Engineering, Government College of Pharmacy and the Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences and hotels such as Hotel Sangam and Hotel Pankaj.

Geography[link]

Karad is located at 17°17′N 74°12′E / 17.28°N 74.2°E / 17.28; 74.2Coordinates: 17°17′N 74°12′E / 17.28°N 74.2°E / 17.28; 74.2.^[1] It has an average elevation of 566 metres (1856 feet). Karad is located near Agashiva 17°14′15″N 74°09′07″E / 17.237506°N 74.15205°E / 17.237506; 74.15205. It has been referred in great epic Mahabharata. It has the shape of an "Aum" (Devanagari ?) when viewed aerially.

Karad has strong influence over politics of Maharashtra. Yashvantrao Chavan who was the first Chief Minister of Maharashtra and later served as Deputy Prime Minister of India was from Karad. The present Chief Minister of Maharashtra Prithviraj Chavan also hails from Karad. He started his political career in 1991, and won the LokSabha seat of Karad constituency, in '91, '96 and '98 but lost it in 1999. Later he was elected to RajyaSabha.

Tourism[link]

Some famous tourist points near Karad are:

A Statue of Shivaji Maharaj at Narayan Maharaj Math,Shembdi Vaghali,Satara

• Aagashivgad
• Sadashivgad
• Vasantgad (10km)
• Aundh
• Manore
• Sagareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary
• Pachawadeswar
• Preeti Sangam (Confluence of Koyna & Krishna River)
• Talbid ( Ram Mandir And Vasant fort ) 12 km
• Kas Pathar 76 km
• Narayan Maharaj Math,Shembdi Vaghali 90 km
• Thoseghar Waterfall 76 km
• Walmiki 45 km
• Khodshi Dam 03 km
• Tembhu Dam 05  km
• Koyna Dam 40  km
• Chandoli Dam 55  km west
• Urmodi Dam 30 km
• Ram Mandir Chaphal 30 km

A view of Narayan Maharaj Math from Shembdi Vaghali-Bamnoli Road

Sunset view from Naryan Maharaj Math,Bamnoli

Karad city was recently awarded a prize under "Sant Gadagebaba Gramswachatta Abhiyan" started by Indian Government.

History[link]

Karad is also known as "Dakshin Kashi". It was originally known as "Karhatak" which means elephant market. Karad is a historical city, according to epic Mahabharata, Sahadeva one of the Pandavas lived in the city also known to be pious as Lord Rama stepped his feet on this land.

Karad is also known for some Mughal-age architecture like the twin minarets of the Jama Masjid mosque that is located in the heart of the town. It was also meeting point of Haji holy pilgrim "Haj" in the Mughal period (1526-1857).

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.^[2] 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 (Karad), Mairifvja (Miraj) and Konkan [Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, Vol. IV, p. 281, Sanskrit Transcript.].

How to reach Karad[link]

• By Road - NH4 highway

MSRTC runs intercity bus service from Karad to Mumbai, Pune, Sangli-Miraj and Satara.

• By Rail - Karad Station
• By Air - Karad Airport

Nearby Cities[link]

• Islampur - 25 km
• Satara - 50 km
• Tasgaon - 55 km
• Sangli - 70 km
• Wai - 75 km
• Kolhapur - 75 km
• Khandala - 111 km
• Pune - 150 km

Railway Station[link]

• Karad - 4 km from city

Karad has railway station and is onroute from Mumbai to Miraj / Sangli / Kolhapur / Bangalore (some trains). You can reach Karad from Mumbai / Pune easily by road or rail (Mahalaxmi express / Koyna express / Sahyadri Express / Chalukya express).

Nearest Railway Junction

• Miraj - 72 km

All superfast trains like 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 1 hour 15 minutes.

Railway Time Table[link]

Demographics[link]

As of 2001^[update] India census,^[3] Karad had a population of 56,149. 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. karad railway station is just 4 km away from karad city.

Education Institutes[link]

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High Schools in Karad City[link]

• Shaheen High School, karad (Urdu Medium)
• Atmaram VidyaMandir, Karad.
• Siddheshawar Vidyalay, Koparde haveli.
• Shri Shivaji Vidyalaya, [Karad,Karve,Masur].
• Maharashra High School,Karad.
• Yashwant High School,Karad.
• Vithamata High School,Karad.
• Tilak High School,Karad.
• Kanya Prashala,Karad.
• Anandrao Chavan high School,Karad.
• Holy Family Convent High School,Karad.
• Sant Tukaram High School,Karad.
• Saraswati Vidya Mandir, Karad
• Palkar Highschool,Karad
• S.M.S English Medium School
• Krishna School, Karad.
• Mahatma Gandhi Vidyalay, Vadgoan Haveli.

Engineering College's in Karad City[link]

• Government Engineering College,Karad.
• Doulatrao Aher college of Engineering College,Karad.
• Shri Santkrupa college of Engineering College,Ghogaoan,Karad.
• Dadasaheb Mokashi college of Engineering College,Karad.-----------(Coming Soon)

Arts, Science, Commerce College's in Karad City[link]

• Yashwantrao Chavan College of Science,Karad.
• Venutai Chavan Art,Commerce college,Karad.
• Sadguru Gadge Maharaj [SGM] Arts, Science, Commerce College,Karad.
• Anandrao Chavan Arts, Science, Commerce College,Karad.
• Bapuji Salunkhe Arts, Science, Commerce College,Karad.
• Mahila Maha Vidyalay Arts, Science, Commerce College,Karad.

Polytechnics Colleges in and around Karad City[link]

• Government Polytechnic College, Karad
• Pramilatai Polytechnic College, Karad
• Doulatrao Aher Polytechnic College, Karad
• Dadasaheb Mokashi Polytechnic College, Sadashivgad, Karad
• Shivajirao Desai Polytechnic College, Daulatnagar, Patan, Karad
• Shri SanShri Santtkrupa Polytechnic College, Ghogaoan, Karad
• Ramrao Nikam Polytechnic College, Indoli, Karad
• Chatrapati Shahu Polytechnic College, Atit
• Diploma College of Architecture, Karad

Other College's in Karad City[link]

• Government ITI, Karad
• Government College of engineering, Karad
• IIJT Institute, Karad
• Government Pharmacy College, Karad
• Shri SanShri Santtkrupa Pharmacy College, Karad
• Dadasaheb Mokashi college Food Managenant College, Karad
• Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, Karad
• Bharti Vidyapeeth Law College, Karad
• Yashavantrao Mohite Institute of Management, Karad
• Mahila College, Karad
• Yashwant College [Tilak Vidyapeeth], Kara
• Late.Adv. Dadasaheb Chavan college of pharmacy, Masur Karad

Information by: Basargi Mahesh Group

Notable residents[link]

• Yashwantrao Chavan (12 March 1913 - 25 November 1984), an eminent Congress party politician hailed from Karad. He was the first Chief Minister of Maharashtra and also served as the Defence minister, Finance minister, Home minister, Foreign Affairs minister, and as the Deputy Prime Minister of India and became the first and only person from maharashtra to reach up to this political level. Tembhu, one of the mega-projects under the Krishna Valley scheme, is situated near Karad.

• Gopal Ganesh Agarkar (1856–1895) Also Tembhu is the birth place of Gopal Ganesh Agarkar. Gopal Ganesh Agarkar was a social reformer from Maharashtra, India during the British rule. He was the first editor of Kesari, a well-known Marathi weekly at that time. He left Kesari after ideological differences with Lokmanya Tilak and started his own periodical named Sudharak. The difference of opinion was about the primacy of political reforms versus social reforms. Agarkar, Tilak and Vishnu Shastri Chiplunkar were the founder members of 'Deccan Education Society'Gopal Ganesh Agarkar

• Khashaba Jadhav (15'th Jan. 1926 - 14 August 1984) Born in very poor farmer family at Goleshwar Tal. Karad, the only Olympic Medal Winner for India till 2000. He was honored by individual Bronze medal on 23 July 1952, in 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games for Wrestling in bantamweight which is the unbeaten record for India in wrestling till today. In 1993, Maharashtra State awarded him Shiv Chatrapati Award posthumously. In 2001, Central Govt. has also awarded him 'Arjuna Award' posthumously.^[4]

• Mr.P.D.Patil (1 July 1916 - 17 September 2008), the another notable resident of Karad who was the President of Karad Municipal Corporation for 42 years (1955–1996, Its a World Record noted by Gunniess Book of Records). He was also MLA of Karad-North of Maharashtra State (1963, 1980, and 1995) and Chairman of Sahyadri Sugar Factory, Sahyadri Bank and many other institute.He had started underground drainage system in 1972 in karad after mumbai.

• Hambirrao Mohite () He was first Commander in chief of Maratha Army after eastablishment of Ashtapradhanmandal by the great Shivaji Maharaj. Mohite was active Leader and Strong Pillar of Maratha Empire.After his Death,his Descendant Served Maratha Empire with Dignity

• Prithviraj Chavan: He Is the incumbent Chief Minister of Maharashtra
• New RTO office in Karad: MH 50

Proposed Karad District[link]

The Satara District is under proposal to be divided and a separate Karad District be carved out of existing Satara district with the inclusion of Karad and Patan as well as talukas of Walwa, Kadegaon and Shirala from neighbouring Sangli district in the proposed Karad district.

References[link]

Website:www.karadinfo.com

• Satara district website
• Satara Goes Global

Information by: Basargi Mahesh Group