Wai, Maharashtra

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?Wai Maharashtra • India
Wai
Coordinates: 17°56′N 73°54′E / 17.93, 73.9
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Area • Elevation	• 718 m (2,356 ft)
District(s)	Satara
Population	31,090 (2001)

Coordinates: 17°56′N 73°54′E / 17.93, 73.9

Wāi (Devanāgari: वाई) is a town in Sātārā District in Mahārāshtra, India.

Wai has the epithetic name Dakshin Kāshi (Devanagari: दक्षिण काशी). In old times, it was known as Wirāt Nagari (Devanagari: विराटनगरी).

Wai is known in Maharashtra for its ghats on the banks of the Krishnā ((Devanagari: कृष्णा) river and its temples, including especially the "Dholyā Ganapati" (Devanagari: ढोल्या गणपती) temple on the "Ganapati Ghāt" (Devanagari: गणपती घाट).

Wai's STD code is 02167.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Culture
4 Temples
5 Education
6 Tourist Spots In and Around Wai
7 References
8 External links

[edit] Geography

Wai is located at 17.93° N 73.9° E^[1], approximately 65 km south of the city of Pune (Devanagari: पुणे). It has an average elevation of 718 metres (2355 feet). It is surrounded by the mountainous region of the Sahyādris; ("Dhom Dam" has been constructed in the vicinity of Wai).

[edit] Demographics

According to 2001 census in India^[2], Wai then had a population of 31,090. Males constituted 51% of the population, and females, 49%. Literacy in Wai was 77%, (which is higher than the national average of 59.5%), male and female literacy being 81% and 73%, respectively. As of 2001, 11% of the population was under 6 years of age.

[edit] Culture

Two cultural institutions of Wai, Prādnya Pāth Shālā (Devanagari: प्राज्ञ पाठशाला) and the Marāthi encyclopedia, Wishwakosh^[3] (Devanagari: विश्वकोश), are well-known in Maharashtra.

Wai has recently been a favored film-shooting location, films Omkār, Swadesh, and Gangājal having been shot in Wai's vicinity.

"Krishnābai Utsawa" is the main festival in Wai. When Chhatrapati Shivāji went to meet Afzalkhān near Wai in 1659, according to a legend, one Shende Shāstri from Wai prayed to the Krishna river, which was personified as Goddess Krishnabai, for Shivaji's victory. Krishnabai Utsawa involving a variety of shows is said to mark this incident, and is celebrated on Wai's seven ghats for 4 to 8 days, each. (The same festival is also celebrated in the nearby town of Karād).

[edit] Temples

Temples built in the "Hemādpanti" style of architecture, including the following three, are located in and around Wai. (Use of huge stone slabs is the major characteristic of Hemādpanti architecture.)

Mahā Ganapati Mandir (Dholyā Ganapati, in common parlance), Wai

Vishnu Mandir, Dharmapuri
Lakshmi Vishnu Mandir, Dharmapuri

[edit] Education

Besides Pradnya Path Shala, Wai has the following Institutes:

Kisan Vir Mahavidyalaya (Janata Shikshan Samstha)
Dravid High School (Deccan Education Society)
Kanya Shala (Maharshi Karve Stree Shikshan Samstha)
Maharshi Shinde VidyaMandir (Swami Vivekanand Samstha )
TarkaTeertha LakshamanShastri Joshi Vidyalaya (Yashavant Shikshan Samstha)
St.Thomas School
Dyandeep High School
Surabhi Institute of Information Technology and Research (An ISO 9001:2000 Certified)

A training center for weaving silk garments run by the state government is located between Wai and Pānchgani.