Karad

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.[1] Located to the south west of Karad is Karad Caves.[2]

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 (Karad), Mairifvja (Miraj) and Konkan.[3]

Also a Major event in history is witnessed by the Krishna River Banks, His Highness Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj once washed his weapon which is known as Waghnakhya and Bichhwa in the River Krishna's waters.

Karad is the capital of Maratha empire for most of time which lead by Former king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

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 (cricket, football), Krishna Canal Chowk, Vidyanagar, Yashwant Highschool, Cottage (Venutai Chavan) Hospital, Dutta Chowk, Kanya Shala, Tilak Highschool and Holy Family Convent School in Vidyanagar among others.

Karad is located at 17.28°N 74.2°E / 17.28; 74.2.[4] It has an average elevation of 566 metres (1856 feet). Karad is located near Agashiva caves 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.

Some Famous Tourist places in and around Karad are:

• Preeti Sangam (Krishna-Koyna Confluence) ➤ Approx 2 km
  
• Krishnamai Temple ➤ Approx 2 km
• Pritisangam Udyan ➤ Approx 2 km
  

  Karad
• Late Yashwantrao Chavan's Samadhi ➤ Approx 2 km
• Historical Monument 'Manore' (2 Minars) ➤ Approx 2 km
• Naktya Ravlyachi Vihir (Ancient Well) ➤ Approx 2 km
  

  Karad
• Masjid Built by Sultan Ali Adilshah (1557- 1580) ➤ Approx 2 km
• Sadashivgad ➤ Approx 5 km
• Khodshi Dam ➤ Approx 5 km
• Agashiv Caves ➤ Approx 5 km
• Vasantgad ➤ Approx 15 km
• Talbid (Ram Mandir) ➤ Approx 15 km
• Sar-Senapati Hambirrao Mohite Samadhi ➤ Approx 15 km
  
• Chauranginath Temple, Sonsal ➤ Approx 20 km
• Ramling Bet, Bahe ➤ Approx 30 km
• Shri Khandoba Devsthan, Pal ➤ Approx 30 km
• Ram Mandir Chaphal ➤ Approx 30 km
• Yamai Mandir, Aundh ➤ Approx 35 km
• Uttarmand Dam ➤ Approx 35 km
• Sagareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary ➤ Approx 30 km
• Valmiki Temple & Big Wild Area ➤ Approx 45 km
• Chandoli Dam ➤ Approx 50 km
• Koyna Dam ➤ Approx 60 km
• Nawja Waterfall ➤ Approx 65 km

Some Famous Points Near Satara : ( Km From Karad )

• Ganesh Temple, Angapur ➤ Approx 40 km
• Tuljabhavani Temple, Shendre ➤ Approx 45 km
• Charbhinti ➤ Approx 60 km
• Ajinkyatara ➤ Approx 60 km
• Yavateshvar ➤ Approx 60 km
• Sajjangad ➤ Approx 65 km
• Ganesh Temple, Phutka Talav ➤ Approx 65 km
• Sangam Mahuli ➤ Approx 60 km
• Chalkewadi Wind Mills ➤ Approx 75 km
• Pateshwar ➤ Approx 75 km
• Kaas Plateau ➤ Approx 75 km
• Thoseghar Waterfall ➤ Approx 75 km
• Vajrai Waterfall ➤ Approx 85 km
• Baramatyachi Vihir ➤ Approx 85 km

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 (MNP) with support from the Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran (MJP), 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:

• Karad Court, Karad
• Diwani -Foujdari Court, Karad
• Doordarshan Kendra, Karad
• Fire- Brigade, Karad
• Division Office, Karad
• Tehsil Office, Karad
• Khashaba Chounk
• Panchayat Samiti, Karad
• Government Rest House, Karad
• City Police Station, Karad
• Taluka Police Station, Karad
• Head Post Office, Karad
• Railway Station, Karad
• Airport, Karad
• MSRTC Depot, Karad
• Cottage Hospital, Karad
• RTO Office, Karad
• Taswade MIDC, Karad
• Nagarpalika, Karad
• Town Hall, Karad

As of 2011 India census,[5] 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.

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.

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.

• Sadguru Gadage Maharaj (SGM) Prathamik Shala, Vidyanagar, Karad.
• Shri Shivaji Vidyalaya, Karad.
• Shri Shivaji Vidyalaya, Masur.
• Shri Shivaji Vidyalaya, Karve.
• Maharashtra High School, Karad.
• Holy Family Convent High School, Vidyanagar, Karad.
• Adarsh Primary School, Karad.
• Deshbhakta Bhikoba Approx.aji Salunkhe Vidyalaya, Kival.
• Venutai English Medium School, Karad.
• Keshavrao Pawar English Medium School, Karad.
• Yashwant High School, Karad.
• Vithamata High School, Karad.
• Tilak High School, Karad.
• Kanya Prashala, Karad.
• Anandrao Chavan high School, Karad.
• Sant Tukaram High School, Karad.
• Saraswati Vidya Mandir, Karad.
• Palkar Highschool, Karad.
• S.M.S English Medium School, Karad.
• KCT's Krishna English Medium, Malkapur, Karad.
• Husen Kasam Danekari Anglo Urdu High School, Karad.
• Shaheen Urdu Medium School, Karad (Primary).
• Shaheen Urdu Medium School, Karad.
• Star English School, Karad.
• Rotary School, Malkapur, Karad.
• Kalyani English Medium School, Karad.
• Podar International School, Karad.
• Bachpan English Medium School, Karad.
• Anandrao Chavan Vidyalaya, Malkapur, Karad.

Engineering colleges

• ligade-patil science jr college, karad.

Government College of Engineering, Karad and Government Polytechnic, Karad are amongst the best engineering and polytechnic colleges in the state of Maharashtra.

• Central Government's Earthquake Engineering Research Centre, Karad (Coming soon).
• Government College of Engineering, Karad.
• Dr. Daulatrao Aher College of Engineering, Karad.
• Shri Santkrupa College of Engineering, Ghogaoan, Karad.
• Dadasaheb Mokashi College of Engineering, Karad.

Architecture College

• Smt Premalatai Chavan College of Architecture, Karad.

Arts, Science, and Commerce colleges

• 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
• Shikshan Maharashi Bapuji Salunkhe Arts, Science, Commerce College, Karad
• Mahila Maha Vidyalaya Arts, Science, Commerce College, Karad
• KCT's Jr. College of Science Malkapur,Karad.
• Vithamata Vidyalaya and Junior College, Karad

Polytechnic colleges

• Government Polytechnic, Karad
• Premalatai Chavan Polytechnic, Karad
• Doulatrao Aher Polytechnic, Karad
• Dadasaheb Mokashi Polytechnic, Sadashivgad, Karad
• Shivajirao Desai Polytechnic, Daulatnagar, Patan, Karad
• Shri SanShri Santtkrupa Polytechnic, Ghogaoan, Karad
• Ramrao Nikam Polytechnic, Indoli, Karad
• Chatrapati Shahu Polytechnic, Atit

Other colleges

• Government Pharmacy College, Karad
• Government Agriculture college, Karad
• Government ITI, Karad
• Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, Karad

KIMS Karad

• Bharati Vidyapeeth Law College, Karad
• Yashavantrao Mohite Institute of Management, Karad
• Mahila College, Karad
• Late Advv. Dadasaheb Chavan college ofPpharmacy, Masur Karad
• Vishwakarma-Dadasaheb Chavan Institute of Management & Research,Malwadi, Masur, Karad
• Ligade-Patil Junior College of Science, Vidyanagar, Karad
• IIJT Institute, Karad
• Sunbeam Institute (CDAC's authorized Center )
• Shri Santkrupa Pharmacy College, Karad
• Dadasaheb Mokashi Food Managenant College, Karad

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.

• Gopal Ganesh Agarkar (1856–1895), social reformer and newspaper editor born in Tembhu.
• Khashaba Jadhav (15 January 1926 – 14 August 1984) Born in a very poor farming family at Goleshwar Tal. Karad, the only individual Olympic Medal Winner for India until 2000. He won India's first individual Olympic medal by winning the Bronze medal on 23 July 1952, in the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games for wrestling in bantamweight, which is the unbeaten record for India in wrestling until today. In 1993, Maharashtra State awarded him the Shiv Chhattrapati Award posthumously. In 2001, the Central Government also awarded him the Arjuna Award posthumously.[7]
• 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 hold this political post.
• Prithviraj Chavan: He was the 17th Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Chavan served as the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions. Chavan was also General Secretary of the All-India Congress Committee (AICC), in-charge of many states, including Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Haryana, Gujarat, Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh.
• Udayanraje Bhosale:- the 13th holder of the title of Chhatrapati which was founded by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
• Shrinivas Vinayak Kulkarni:

Shrinivas Vinayak Kulkarni ( (C) Shekhar Godbole)

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 (USA), Yashwantrao Chavan Karad Pratishthan etc.

• Prakash Narayan Sant: https://mr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B6_%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A3_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A4 Noted Marathi Author. His character 'Lampan' is a notorious but sensitive and smart child residing in Belgaum among his relatives and neighbours speaking Marathi language of Kannada flavour. His books include 'Vanvas', 'Sharadasangeet', 'Zumbar', 'Pankha', 'Chandanyacha Rasta'.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Karad.

• Slide Show Video About Karad
• Facebook Page ( ???? ???? )
• Satara Goes Global
• Satara district website
• karaddiary