Wai

The Wai is a small town in Maharashtra. It is 13 km away from Panchgani, 35 km away from Satara, and 88 km away from Pune. As a day outing destination, it is one of the best places near Panchgani. Wai has great historical significance since it is situated on the Krishna River.

In this town, two Maratha queens were born. One is Rani Laxmibai, and another one is Rani Gopikabai. Rani Gopikabai was married to Nanasaheb Peshwa. It is also famous as the Dakshin Kasi. The town has temples more than one hundred. 

The place has become very popular in the last few years because of the Bollywood and Marathi movies. More than 300 movies have been made in this area. The popular movie Swades was also made here and it was famous as Charanpur in the movie. 

What is Wai famous for?

The Indian state of Maharashtra has the tiny town of Wai. It is famous for its many old temples and rich cultural history. People often call Wai "Dakshin Kashi" because it has many churches and a strong spiritual vibe. While opting for Panchgani tour packages, do not forget to visit Dholya Ganpati temple on the Krishna Ghat.

Temples: The city is famous because it has so many temples. It has Dholya Ganpati Temple, Laxmi Narasinha Temple and many more.

Historical Sites: Wai's historical importance is evident from its well-kept buildings and design, such as Nana Phadnavis Wada's historical home.

Attractions: The town is on the banks of the Krishna River and has beautiful ghats that make it feel calm.

Cultural Heritage: Wai's unique charm comes from its rich cultural heritage, which includes the Krishnamai Utsav event.

Natural Beauty: Wai isn't particularly famous for its natural beauty, but its location near Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar makes it easy to get to beautiful landscapes and hill towns.

History

Wai, formerly Viratnagari, was a Bahamian military outpost from 1453 until 1480. In 1648, it was the headquarters of the Bijapur Mokasadar. Afzal Khan was a subhedar of the town. Shivaji occupied it after the Maratha territory became independent in 1659.

Wai, a town in Bijapur, came under attack by Bijapur's general Sharjakhan in 1687. After the attack, the Marathas gained control of Wai. Maratha general Hambirrav Mohite defeated Sharjakhan, allowing the Marathas to reclaim territory ceded to the Mughals.

In 1690, the Mughals took back power, but Santaji Ghorpade led the Marathas to take Wai back. Ramchandrapant's plan led to Santaji capturing the faujdar of Wai and establishing a Maratha presence. The town eventually fell to the Peshwas but was occupied by Tarabai in 1753.