Satara, Maharashtra, India

🇮🇳 Satara (Sātārā) is a city located in the Satara District of Maharashtra state of India, near the confluence of the river Krishna and its tributary, the Venna. The city was established in the 16th century and was the seat of the Chhatrapati of Maratha Empire, Shahu I.

It is the headquarters of Satara Tehsil, as well as the Satara District. The city gets its name from the seven forts (Sat-Tara) which are around the city. The city is known as a Soldier's city as well as Pensioner's city.

History The first known Muslim ruling of the Deccan took place in 1296. In 1636, the Nizam Shahi dynasty came to an end. In 1663, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj conquered Parali and Satara fort. After the death of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Shahu Shivaji, heir apparent to the Maratha Empire, was captured by Mughals when he was only seven years old. He remained their prisoner till the death of his father in 1700.

The Dowager Maharani Tarabai proclaimed his younger half-brother, and her son, Shahu Sambhaji as Chhatrapati Maharaj under her regency. Mughals released Shahu under certain preconditions in 1707, so that Marathas would face an internal war for the throne. Shahu returned to the Maratha Empire and claimed his inheritance.

Aurangzeb's son Muhammad Azam Shah conquered Satara fort Ajinkyatara after a 6-month siege, later won by Parshuram Pratinidhi in 1706. In 1708, Chattrapati Shahu, the son of Chattrapati Sambhaji, was crowned at the Satara fort. The direct descendants of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj continue to live in Satara. Chattrapati Udayanraje Bhonsle is the 13th descendant of Shivaji.

A shadow government was established during Quit India movement in Satara.

Modern history In 2023, a communal clash in Satara's Pusesavali village stemming from a social media post led to one death and nineteen injuries. The victim, Nurul Hasan, was reportedly unconnected to the social media posts in question.

Geography Satara is located in the Satara District. Satara city is surrounded by seven mountains. Satara lies on the slope of Ajinkyatara fort. It lies on the western side of the Deccan Plateau. Pune (110 KM), Sangli (121 KM), Kolhapur (122 KM) and Solapur (263 KM) are the main cities close to Satara. The city is surrounded by the tehsils of Koregaon on the West, Karad (51 KM) and Patan on the South, Jawali on the East and Wai on the North.

National Highway 48 (formerly National Highway 4) passes through Satara, between Karad and Khandala. Kaas Plateau, a valley of flowers, is situated 25 km away from Satara.

The Satara District experiences earthquakes of minor magnitudes. the epicenter of these earthquakes are scattered in Patan Taluka.

Satara is famous for the Kaas Plateau, Thoseghar, and a lot of natural sites present in the vicinity of the city. Kass Plateau has been awarded as a UNESCO's World Heritage Site (WHS). In the monsoon months, the Kaas Pathar, as it is locally known, transforms into a wildflower wonderland. More particularly so in September when vivid shades of pink balsams, yellow Smithia flowers, and blue utricularias carpet the vast grasslands. It’s a must-visit for serious botanists, amateur photographers to witness the spectrum of Western Ghats monsoon montane grasslands flora, some of which are rare and endangered.

Economy Sugarcane is the single biggest crop of Satara along with turmeric and ginger. The Satara district has around 302 banks. The per capita of Satara district is nearly 1.2 times the state average. The British had, during the pre-Independence period started a variety of industries in Satara for Menthol and soap manufacturing in 1905. Bigger industries for copper were started in 1922. After independence, the whole district was stagnant in industrial growth. From 1950-60, industrial growth restarted and the manufacture of jaggery was started in the Satara Tehsil area. There is tanning industry in Satara city. It existed during the British rule, and after independence, the Maharashtra government established a modern tanning centre in 1957.

Economy: Tourist Industry The famous tourist points near Satara city are: • Ajinkyatara Fort (अजिंक्यतारा किल्ला) • Jarandeshwar Hanuman - Satara Koregaon Road. • Sajjangad Fort (सज्जनगड किल्ला) • Kaas Plateau – Called "Valley of flowers of Maharashtra" which is also a World Heritage Site • Baramotichi Vihir Step well, near Limb village which is about 16 km from Satara • Thoseghar Waterfall • Yewateshwar • Bamnoli • Dhom Dam • 12 motichi vihir, limb • Raje Baksavar Peer Saaheb Dargha (Khatgun) • Chaphal (Shree Ram Mandir, Near Umbraj) • Paratapgad located 75 km North West of Satara

The fort's historical significance is due to the Battle of Pratapgad, which took place here on 10 November 1659, between Chatrapti Shivaji and Bijapur Sultanate general Afzal Khan. Killing of Afzal Khan by Chatrapati Shivaji was followed by decisive Maratha victory over the Bijapur army. • Panchgani located 50 km from Satara. Panchgani, called Paachgani (पाचगणी in Marathi), is a hill station and municipal council in Satara district.

Places to visit Satara is located at foot of the famous Ajinkyatara fort. It is located on Kas plateau / Flower plateau, now a World Natural Heritage site. Satara has two palaces in the heart of the city, the Old Palace (Juna Rajwada) and the New Palace (Nava Rajwada) adjoining each other. The Old Palace was built around 300 years ago, and the New Palace was built about 200 years ago.

Satara has a unique statue of chatrapati Shivaji maharaj standing near a canon, at Powai Naka. Generally, a statue of Shivaji Maharaj has seen him riding the horse.

Thoseghar Waterfalls around 20  km west of Satara. It is one of the best monsoon tourist places in the Western Ghats. People come from all over Maharashtra to visit the falls, especially during the monsoon season between July and October. Vajrai Waterfall, India's highest waterfall, is around 22 km from Satara. And Sajjangad, around 15 km from Satara.

Satara hosts 'Satara Half Hill Marathon' each year. In 2015, they entered the Guinness World Records book for Most People in a Mountain Run (Single Mountain) with 2,618 runners.

Apshinge Military is a small village in Satara district but it has historical significance as at least one member of every family in the village has served or is serving in the armed forces. The contribution of the village was recognised by the British government, which installed a memorial in the village in the memory of 46 soldiers who laid down their lives fighting for Britain during World War I. Food

Satara is well known for its sweet: Kandi Pedhe. Kandi Pedhe is a special delicacy of Milk which is prepared by pure full-fat milk available in nearby villages. It has its natural richness and sweetness. Kandi pedha has its unique taste and is not sugar loaded like other pedhas available in the market.

Education Satara is well known for Sainik School, Satara - The first among the chains of Sainik Schools established in the country on 23 June 1961 under the Ministry of Defence. Satara has base of Rayat education institutes. Yashavantrao Chavan Institute of Science is one of the famous institute from District. Rayat Shikshan Sanstha's Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil college of engineering, Satara is the oldest engineering college in Satara city. Government Medical college start from year 2022. GMC (Government Medical College) Satara has first batch in the year 2022, it is located near the Civil Hospital Satara • KSD Shanbhag Vidyalaya (1990) • Government Medical College (2022).

Road links Satara is about 250 km from Mumbai on National Highway 48 (via Mumbai Pune Expressway and PB road) and 110 km away from Pune. A bypass on Highway 48 was constructed to avoid traffic congestion in the city. National Highway 965D connects Kedgaon, Supe, Morgaon, Nira, Lonand, Wathar up to Satara. National Highway 548C starts from Satara. Satara-Akluj-Latur Highway connects Satara to Latur. It passes through Koregaon, Pusegaon, Mhaswad, Akluj, Tembhurni and Murud. It will also be a 4 lane highway, work is going to start soon. State Highway 58 connects Satara with Mahabaleshwar and Solapur. Satara Mahad Bankot is a newly declared national highway connecting Satara to the Konkan region.

Bus links Private and government state transport buses are available from Borivali, Dadar, Mumbai Central, and Thane to Satara.

Air links Pune Airport is the nearest airport.

Transport: Rail Satara railway station lies on the Pune-Miraj line of the Central Railways and is administered by the Pune Railway Division. The station is situated near Mahuli about 0.7 km from the Satara bus stand on the Satara Pandharpur road. Satara is On Route from Mumbai to Miraj, Sangli, Kolhapur, and Bangalore (some trains). Sahyadri Express, Koyna Express, Mahalaxmi Express, Maharashtra Express, Goa Express are daily trains that have stops at Satara.