The Chattrapati Shahu Maharaj Terminus (codenamed CSMT) is the central railway station in Kolhapur. The station is located on the Miraj- Kolhapur railway line and the terminus is connected with all the major stations in the country. There are express and super-fast trains that cross Kolhapur daily from cities like Mumbai, Hyderabad, Nagpur, Tirupathi, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Dhanbad, and others. CSMT falls under the administrative control of Pune division under Central Railways Zone of Indian Railways. The terminus opened only in 2007, and since then, the strategic location of Kolhapur provides a good connectivity for nearby towns to commute to other parts of Maharashtra.
The terminus is provided with only two platforms as of today, and construction work is in progress to have another two additional platforms by late 2015. There is a daily commute service between Kolhapur station and Miraj Station. The station is named after Shahu Maharaj of Kolhapur. The station is equipped with basic passenger amenities to help passengers have a comfortable stay during their visit. CSMT is located at 563 metres above sea level and serves as a hub for goods carrier in the central region.
CSMT is located at 10 Kilometres from the Kolhapur domestic airport and is also close to the three inter-city bus terminals. The station is near landmarks such as Vishalgad (76 KM), Bhudargad (50 KM), Paargad (28 KM), Narasimha Wadi (45 KM), Jyotibha (17 KM), Bahubali of Kumbhojgiri (27 KM), Dajipur Bison Sanctuary (80 KM), and Amba (65 KM). All these locations are pride for Maharashtra, and the Kolhapur city is located in good proximity to have a trip for passengers visiting CSMT.
- Facilities Available at Chattrapati Shahu Maharaj Terminus:
Over the years since its inception in 2007, the Central Railways has upgraded the facilities at the station to include computerized reservation system, enquiry service, cafeteria, integrated voice response system, book stalls, refreshment stores, foot over bridges between platforms and provision for prepaid parking services. Kolhapur grew in size with rise in the economy and coupled with growth in the tourism industry led to position CSMT to be the next major hub in the region. The station is also equipped with general waiting room, supply of drinking water, well-maintained restrooms and emergency medical care services. The bus terminal is located near the CSMT and provides easy transport to other parts of the district.
- Restaurants Near Chattrapati Shahu Maharaj Terminus:
The passengers have multiple avenues with restaurants located near the CSMT.
Some of The Popular Places are Listed Below:
- Tandoor Restaurant – Contact # 0231 252 4007
- Mr. Idli- South Indian Restaurant – Contact # 0 954 545 1811
- Hotel Maratha Regency – Contact # 0231 265 2666
- Hotel Karnival –Contact # 0231 266 4988
- Hotel Ayodhya – Contact # 0231 265 1781
The restaurants located near the railway station offer variety of north Indian, South Indian and Chinese dishes at reasonable prices. The culture of Kolhapur promotes non-vegetarian food and is widely available across the city. There are few hotels with customized restaurants to serve the passengers delicacies of Kolhapur.
- Famous Food of Kolhapur:
The cuisines of Kolhapur resonate all over Maharashtra state. The Maratha recipes were designed during the olden times, and since then, the region has developed unique dishes here. The city is famous for the three dishes- Kolhapuri Lavangi (chilli peppers), Kolhapuri Jaggery and Kolhapuri masala (mix of spices). These dishes are prepared here in Kolhapur and are very popular in other parts of the country also. Kolhapuri Misal is a good healthy snack hot and spicy. Ginger, garlic and mint are common ingredients in the Kolhapur cuisines. This misal product is served with roasted bread and often served in all restaurants in Kolhapur.
Other significant dishes worth mentioning are Tambra/Pandra Rassa. These are specially prepared mutton cuisines of Kolhapur. Pandra Rassa is a mutton soup prepared by boiling meat with garlic and other spices. Studies have shown tremendous medicinal values in this starter or pre-food item. Tambra Rassa is also prepared in a similar fashion with a mix of red pepper chilli, and very popular among the rural communities of Kolhapur. After these special starters, roasted mutton satiates the appetite. The city is famous for a variety of mutton related dishes with separate recipes for perusal.