Amba Ghat is one of Maharashtra's great treasures and a well-known hill station, with the Sahyadri mountain ranges (Western Ghats) located in Kolhapur District. This place is located at a height of 2000 ft above sea level. Surrounded by dense rainforests, it offers picturesque mountain-scapes and a soothing climate all around the year.
History of Amba Ghat
Amba ghat has a historic significance especially in the era of Chhatrapati Shivaji. The Ghat acted as a bridge between the Konkani and Kolhapur provinces. Konkan Darshan point is a famous sightseeing point, but back then it was used by the king to keep an eye on the Konkan Province Pawankhind. This site was the place where Bajiprabhu Deshpande and a few soldiers fought invaders till Shivaji Maharaj could reach the Vishalgad fort from the Panhala. This great escape of Shivaji is famous in the history books drawing many history aficionados to this place.
Significance of the place
The Amba village has a beautifully carved temple of Ambeshwara, which is the local deity. The noteworthy feature of Kolhapuri Culture is Lavani; a traditional form of Marathi folk dance focusing on eroticism. The erstwhile kings of Kolhapur used to entertain themselves with Lavani performances. Today this art form is preserved by only some families and dancer groups. You can enjoy a tour around the village and get a glimpse of the local life and traditions around the place.
It is also a convenient weekend destination for Kolhapur tourists. The place has a variety of fauna and flora.
How to reach there
Amba has pleasant weather, which makes it more enjoyable for tourists to visit all round the year.
- By Air - The nearest airport to reach Ambe Ghat is Kolhapur airport that is approximately 79 Km away and takes 1 hour and 54 minutes drive.
- By Train - The nearest railway station to Ambe Ghat is Kolhapur railway station which is approximately 70 Km away. You can take a train from any of the major cities like Mumbai and Pune to reach Kolhapur and then a private vehicle or bus will drop you at this location.
- By Road - Amba is about 65 km from Kolhapur on the Kolhapur - Ratnagiri highway and Ratnagiri, it is about 60 km which takes an hour and a half drive.
Things to do
There are many places to visit near Amba Ghat like Pawankhind, Panhala, Ambeshwar Temple, Vishalgad Fort, Wagh Zara, Manoli Dam, Pawas, Ganpatipule.
Treks in jungles, bird watching, day & night jungle safaris, horse riding, wildlife photography, paragliding, and bungee jumping are some of the things you can do and enjoy. Resorts and hotels provide car services for sightseeing, Jungle safaris are organized by the resorts on their vehicles. Konkan Darshan point is a famous sightseeing point. One can visit the nearby temples of Amba, Marleshwar, Ganpatipule, or Ratnagiri. There are a considerable number of places worth visiting like green mountainscapes and serene waterfalls and tourists feel the special pleasure of plucking and eating fruits like java plums or rose apples.
Conclusion
Unlike other hill stations, it has limited tourist traffic and was recently awarded world heritage status. It’s beautiful natural surroundings and pleasant cool weather is the reason that national and international tourists are visiting this tourist center almost in every season.
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