Solapur, chutney, chaddar and gadda yatra. Review on Solapur

When I entered Solapur I noticed two things – first its hot, scalding sun and the broad four lane roads. The latter made my drive comfortable one and it made me fall in love with Solapur in spite of the sweltering heat. Indeed Solapur is a smart city in the making. Solapur is an industrial city known for its famous chadars. Though there may not be much for a tourist in Solapur, a traveller has many things to explore here.

I had been on the day of Makar Sankranti. It is at this time that the famous Gadda Yatra of Solapur starts. Siddeshwar’s temple is the presiding deity of Solapur. This is an ancient Shiva temple located in the middle of a lake. Siddeshwar was a sage and a reformer. When Solapur faced with draughts, he engaged men and women to dig the lake amidst which the temple stands today. A young potter girl fell in love with him and expressed her desire to marry her. Eternal bachelor that Siddeshwar was, he turned down her offer to marry and asked her to marry his staff instead. Since that day this annual festival is celebrated to commemorate that event. You can find staff’s both small and big decorated with festoons that are married off to Lord Siddeshwar.

Siddeshwar’s temple is massive. Made of royal black-stones the walls that compound the temple appear more of castle ramparts. While it is difficult to even manoeuvre during the yatra day, you can admire its beauty at your leisure on any other day. Solapur's Municipalty building is mesmerizing too and reminds you of gothic Bombay Victoria Terminus

Solapuri cuisine though has not made to the world or for that matter national platter, is unique. I tasted the famous kadak bhakris, which are made of both jowar and bajri. Groundnut chutney and groundnut roti are other specialities of Solapur. Make it a point to taste them. Journey to Solapur cannot be complete without purchasing its famous chaddars. There are many textile mills here and you can get their products cheaper in their factory outlets.

Solapur is well connected with other parts of the country with rail and road. There are three star hotels here and there is no dearth of budget hotels here. It is a safe place, though people, like other parts of India, frequently break the traffic rules.