Wai, Maharashtra
Wai () is a town in Satara district of Maharashtra state in India. Located on the Krishna River, Wai was a prominent town during the Peshwa era. Two important Maratha Brahmin from ruling families had their origins here: Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi (Tambe family) and Gopikabai, wife of Nanasaheb Peshwa (Raste family). Locally prominent families such as the Raste, Ranade, Phadnavis etc. built several architecturally significant temples in Wai. 400 years old Mandhradevi Kalubai temple is about 12 kilometers from Wai on a hill 718 metres above sea level. In recent decades, Wai has become a popular location for  filming Bollywood and Marathi movies, with over 300 films have been shot in and near Wai. History. Wai has the epithetic name "Dakshin Kashi" (Kashi or Varanasi of the South) because of the city's more than 100 temples. Wai is known in Maharashtra for its ghats on the banks of the Krishna River and its temples, especially the Dholya Ganapati temple on Ganapati Ghat. The 17th century warlord Afzal Khan, representing Ali Adil Shah II of the Bijapur Sultanate, is said to have made his first halt here on his way to the fort "Kille Pratapgad" of the Maratha  ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. A cache of 105 guns, swords and other weapons were found in Wai around 2005. Geography. Wai is located at , approximately 35 km north of the city of Satara. It has an average elevation of 718 metres (2355 feet). It is surrounded by the mountainous region of the Sahyādris. Dhom Dam, west of Wai, was completed in 1982. Waters held by "Dhom" and "Balakwadi" dams, west of Wai taluka, surround the region's remaining small villages. Most residents of small villages moved elsewhere when dams were built. Dhom, Daswadi, Chikhali, Tasgaon, Aasgaon, Wyahli, Dhawli, Dahyat, Jor , Golewadi, Golegaon and Ulumb are major villages which were moved partly and they still exist partly. Nearly 16 km from Wai is the village of Borgoan, in middle of Dhom dam and Balkawdi dam, with four waterfalls. Borgoan's residents drink water from the falls year round. Boundaries of Wai taluka: East of Wai are talukas of Khandala and Koregaon. To the west lies the taluka of Mahabaleshwar. The northern border abuts the Pune district. The north-west border is shared with the Raigad district. South of Wai are talukas of Jawali and Satara. A taluka is an Indian sub -district—smaller than a district and larger than a village. Headquarters of Wai taluka is the city of Wai, populated by about 25,000 people. Wai is 35 km. from Satara, 95 km. from Pune, 250 km. from Mumbai. Situated on the Mahad-Pandharpur State Highway, Wai is a major city on the way to the hill stations of Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani. Wai taluka has seven ghats on the Krishna's banks: Gangapuri, Madhi Aali, Ganpati Aali, Dharmapuri, Brahmanshahi, Ramdoh Aali and Bhimkund Aali. Demography. According to a 2001 census in India, Wai had a population of 31,090. Males were 51 % of the population; females, 49%. Literacy in Wai was 77%, (higher than India's national average of 59.5%). Male literacy was 81%; female literacy, 73%. As of 2001, 11% of Wai's population was under age 6. Culture. The prominent "Pradnya Path Shala" educational institution is based in Wai. Wai is well known for "Tarkateertha" Lakshman Shastri Joshi, founder of Marāthi Vishwakosh. Krishnamai Utsav is the main festival in Wai. When warlord Afzal Khan set out from Wai to attempt to defeat Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Shendye Shāstri of Wai prayed to the Krishna River for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's victory , sparking the Krishnamai festival. It is celebrated on each ghat for four to eight days. The festival is also celebrated in the nearby town of Karad. A 105-year-old Govardhan Sanstha (Goshala) celebrates Shri Krishna Janma Ashtami (Gokul Ashtami). The two-day Jatra festival attracts people from all over Maharashtra. The annual fairs, Yatras/Jatras, began with the Yatra of Mahalaxmi of Bhuinj, Jamb, Kikli and Belmachi on Dassraa. Yatras in the Wai taluka include Mandhardevi, Bagad of Bavdhan, Kavathe, Kalambhe and Surur. A number of movies have been filmed in Wai, including Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hain , Gangaajal, Omkara (2006 film), Dabangg 1, Dabangg 2, Swades, Ishqiya, Singham, Deool, Bol Bachchan, Zila Ghaziabad, Gulaab Gang, R Rajkumar, and Chennai Express, Bajirao Mastani. Others are Ardhasatya, 22 June 1897, Omkara (2006 film), "Mrutyudand", Swades, Gangaajal, Dabangg and Gulaab Gang Sargam were shot in Wai and the nearby villages of Dhom, Bavdhan, Chikhli, Menvali, Bhuinj, Pachwad and the surroundings of Dhom, Balakwadi, Jambhali and Nagewadi dams. Temples. Temples built in the Wai area tend to be built in Hemādpanti-style architecture. Use of huge stone slabs is the major characteristic of Hemādpanti architecture. Four temples are near Brahmanshahi ghat : Chakreshwar, Chimneshwar, Kaunteshwar/Harihareshwar and Kaleshwar. Govardhan Sanstha ghat has Krishna Mandir. Near Brhmanshahi there are Vitthal and Ganpati temples. Ramdoh ghat has Rameshwar temple, Ramkund and Chilavali Devi temple. Gangapuri ghat has Lord Shiva, Dwarka, Bahiroba, Dattatray Temple. Ganpati Aali ghat has Ganpati and Kashi Vishveshvar temples. In Dharma Puri are Lord Vishnu temple and Mahalaxmi temple. Rokdoba temple (maruti) is built by Ramdas Swami. Dholya Ganpati temple is one of Maharashtra's prime temples. The large idol of Lord Ganesh is on Krishna River's ghats. Hanuman Mandir is near Mahaganpati ghat. Bhavani Mata Mandir Asale is near  by Wai on Satara Road. Education. As well as Pradnya Path Shala, Wai has the following institutes: