Sathmari is a game of elephant fighting once popular in Kolhapur. And the Sathmari ground of Kolhapur is an important tourist spot there. It is one of the most important parts of Kolhapur heritage.
The History
It was introduced there by Chhatrapati Shahu, Maharaja of Kolhapur in 1915. The elephant fighting was great entertainment for royal families and also the masses. It used to occur between two male elephants usually when they were in heat. The game sometimes used to become very gory, too. Sometimes the game used to get played between an angry elephant and a group of brave players. The players used to prick the elephant and get him more and more aggressive. The irritated animal tried to catch the players and when it tried then it used to get pricked by the other players from the opposite side. The players used to hide in the stone towers of the Sathmari ground. And if the elephant manages to catch a player anyhow the others then should make the animal leave their companion by frightening it with fireworks or arrows. There is almost no incident of an elephant killing a player in Sathmari.
Significance of Sathmari:
Sathmari has a great significance in Kolhapur history. It is a historical place of Kolhapur where you can visit and understand the Kolhapur culture. The memories of the heartless game sathmari are still alive there. Now the ground has transformed into a tennis court named Shahu stadium.
How to Reach Sathmari:
To reach Sathmari, one has to reach Kolhapur first. Kolhapur can be reached very easily from any part of the country, India.
- By Air:
Kolhapur Airport is the nearest air connectivity that has daily running flights from all the major cities of the country. After reaching Kolhapur there are multiple transportations available to reach Sathmari.
- By Road:
Kolhapur is connected with NH4. NH4 also connects Mumbai and Bangalore. Kolhapur has good road connectivity with Pune, too. So, one can reach Kolhapur from Mumbai, Pune, and Bangalore by road very easily. The roads connecting Kolhapur from these cities are excellent in condition and so the bus service is very smooth.
- By Train:
Kolhapur has its railway station. It is around 5 km away from the city center. There are regular trains from the major cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Satara, and Tirupati to reach Kolhapur. If you are from somewhere that does not have direct railway connectivity with Kolhapur then take a train to any of the above-mentioned cities and get to Kolhapur from there.
Things to Visit in Sathmari:
Sathmari ground is the main thing that should be visited here. It carries the evidence of the old elephant fighting games. You can see the stone towers that used to be a part of the game. There is a museum where some of the equipment of the game is still kept. The present tennis court of Shahu stadium deserves a visit, too.
Conclusion
Sathmari ground is a must-visit if you are traveling to Kolhapur and thinking of exploring the city.
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