karad

Karad (Devanagari: कराड) is a 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 then meet again in Karad. The rivers meet exactly headon, thus forming letter "T". Hence their confluence is called 'Preeti Sangam' meaning "Lovely Meeting". It will be of interest to know that their length from originating point to meeting point is almost same. That is unique in the world. 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 Govt. College of Engineering, Govt. College of Pharmacy, KIMS and hotels such as Hotel Sangam.
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 "Aum" (Devanagari ॐ) shape when viewed aerially.
Karad has strong influence over Politics of Maharashtra, as first Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Honorable Mr. Yashavantrao Chavan, was from Karad who later served as Deputy Prime Minister of India.karad city was recently awarded Sant Gadagebaba Gramswachatta Abhiyan started by Indian govt.
Present CM of Maharashtra Prithviraj Chavan started his political career in 1991, and won the family seat of Karad thrice, in '91, '96 and '98 and lost it in 1999.
The famous tourist points near and in Karad City are:

• Aagashiv
• Sadashiv
• Aundh
• Manora
• Sagareshwar
• Pachawadeswar
• Priti Sangam (confluence Of Krishna & Koyna River)
• Buddha Leni (Aagashiv)
• Khodshi Dam
• Tembhu Dam
• Koyna Dam 40 km
• Vasant gad 14 km
• Chandoli dam 55 km

NearBy Cities

• Umbraj - 15 km
• Islampur - 25 km
• Tasgaon - 25 km
• Satara - 50 km
• Kolhapur - 75 km
• Sangli - 70 km
• Vita - 45 km

History

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

Karad is well known for Mogul Architectures like twin minar(cylindrical shaped Tower). It was also meeting point of Haji holy pilgrim "HAJ" in mogul period (India in 1526 until 1857). The Jama Masjid of Karad is very notable and has twin towers that can be seen from a distance.

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'. Later on although the capital was 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.].

THE OLDEST KNOWN PLACE IN THE SATARA DISTRICT IS PROBABLY KARAD, styled as Karhakada in the inscriptions of about 200 B.C. These inscriptions have recorded gifts of pillars by Karad pilgrims at the Bharhut Stupa near Jabalpur in the Madhya Pradesh [Cunningham's Stupa of Bharhut, 135, 138, 139. Karad gives its names to the Karada Brahmins found in large numbers even now in the district.]. This is confirmed by a group of Buddhist caves found at a distance of about three miles south-west of Karad, one of which is associated with an inscription dating about the first century after Christ [Fergusson and Burgess' Cave Temple, 211-217; Archæological Survey of Western India IV 60.]. Caves at Shirval and Wai in Javli also indicate Buddhist settlements [Besides these caves, there are groups of eaves and cells of Buddhist or Brahmanical origin at Bhosa in Tasgaon, at Malavadi and Kundal in Khanapur, at Patan in Patan, and at Pateshwal in Satara; Dr. Burgess' Antiquarian list 58-59.]. Wai is locally believed to be Viratanagari where Pandavas lived in the thirteenth year of their exile [Mahabharata Sabhaparva 70-9 "nagarim Sanjayantimca pasandam Karahatakam".]. From early times Mahabaleshvar at the source of Krsna is known as a holy place [Journal of Bombay Branch Royal Asiatic Society, X, 1, 18.].

It is true that the countries of the Deccan are mentioned in the Cylonese Chronicle Mahavamsa of the missions sent after the third Buddhist in 16th year of Ashoka's reign for the propagation of Dhamma in different countries. Here one Maharakkhita [The missionary who was sent to Maharashtra was called Mahadharmarakshita (The Age of Imperial Unity, p. 54).] is reported to have been sent to the Maratha country (Dakshinapath) which can be safely inferred as forming a part of Ashokan empire. As ancient Buddhist caves at Karad are found, the Maratha country referred to above appears to have included Satara district in it.

Engineering College's in Karad City

• 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.

Arts, Science, Commerce College's in Karad City

• 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.

 Other Colleges in Karad

• 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],Karad

Notable residents

• 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