Kolhapur tourist rush slows highways and temple access
Kolhapur witnessed a massive influx of tourists this extended weekend, with popular destinations in Satara and Kolhapur districts including Mahabaleshwar, Thoseghar and the Mahalaxmi temple drawing record crowds. The rush led to highway standstills, prolonged delays and surging demand for hospitality services, testing the region’s infrastructure under peak festive-season travel.
Highways bore the brunt of the surge, with traffic snarls stretching for kilometres. Travellers reported delays of nearly two hours on the Pune–Bengaluru National Highway, with ongoing flyover and road-widening works adding to the congestion. Toll plazas at Khed Shivapur, Anewadi, Tasawade, Kini and Kognoli witnessed serpentine queues throughout the day, leaving commuters frustrated and raising questions about the adequacy of transport planning during long weekends.
Within the cities and hill stations, the tourist crush was equally visible. Mahabaleshwar was packed with visitors seeking respite in misty weather, drizzles and lush green surroundings. Hotel tariffs spiked sharply amid full bookings, while popular spots such as Lingmala Waterfall, Mahabaleshwar Temple, Kate’s Point and the UNESCO-recognised Kas Plateau witnessed footfall beyond capacity. Similar crowds thronged Thoseghar waterfalls and Chalkewadi windmills, adding further pressure on access roads and parking facilities.
Religious tourism intensified the travel gridlock. The revered Mahalaxmi temple in Kolhapur recorded over three lakh devotees between Friday and Saturday, with local temple boards estimating higher turnout through Sunday. Other destinations including Jyotiba temple, Panhala Fort and Rankala Lake also saw record footfalls, contributing to near-continuous congestion across the district. Local businesses, however, thrived on the influx. Street vendors, eateries and handicraft outlets reported brisk sales as visitors combined pilgrimages with leisure trips. Tourism experts said such surges are vital for the regional economy but underscored the urgent need for sustainable visitor management. “Tourism brings prosperity, but without investments in public transport, digital queue management and ecological safeguards, the experience can turn chaotic for both visitors and residents,” a senior official observed.
Environmentalists flagged another dimension: the risks of unchecked vehicular traffic in ecologically sensitive areas like the Western Ghats. They warned that the twin pressure of carbon emissions and waste generation could damage fragile ecosystems unless balanced with strong regulatory measures such as green mobility corridors, shuttle bus services and stricter waste disposal mechanisms. The extended-weekend rush has spotlighted both the promise and perils of tourism-led growth in western Maharashtra. While it boosts local economies and connects communities, the region’s long-term ability to handle peak tourist seasons will depend on how well authorities balance mobility, ecology and heritage preservation.
