WAI, MAHARASHTRA

Wai is located at 17.94°N 73.88°E,] approximately 35 km north of the city of Satara (Devanagari:
satara). It has an average elevation of 718 metres (2355 feet). It is surrounded by the mountainous
region of the Sahyādris. 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 is a settlement at the foothills of the Western Ghats along the Krishna River. It is a historic town
known for its “Ghats” along the river and temple architecture of “Hemadpanti” style.

Wai has the epithetic name "Dakshin Kashi" (Kashi or Varanasi of the South) because of the city's
more than 100 temples.

There are seven ghats along th the Krishna's banks: Gangapuri, Madhi Aali, Ganpati Aali,
Dharmapuri, Brahmanshahi, Ramdoh Aali and Bhimkund Aali. The Dholya Ganapati temple
on Ganapati Ghat, being the most well-known from all of them.

The 17th century warlord Afzal Khan (general), representing Ali Adil Shah II of the Bijapur Sultanate,
is said to have made his first halt here on his way to the fort of Marahtha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji
Maharaj.
Krishnabai Utsav is the main festival in Wai. When warlord Afzal Khan set out from Wai to attempt to
defeat Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Shendye Shāstri of Wai prayed to the Krishna River for Shivaji's
victory, sparking the Krishnabai festival. It is celebrated on each ghat for four to eight days. The
festival is still being celebrated since 350 years.

Wai is also a part of the route of the Pandharpuri wari. During this Jatra a lot of people come to this
town.
Apart from temple architecture this town also has its unique vernacular/local architecture, which is
threatened with anhilition.

The wadas now are too big for the families of 3-4 people living there. Since it is not possible for them
to manage such huge wadas anymore, they are breaking it down to build low-rise buildings in their
plots.This has lead to replacing vernacular structures withstructures made up of concrete and
cement plaster.