Kolhapur has been India's wrestling capital for well over a century, and Khasbag is the sport's epicentre. The stadium is the country's largest dedicated wrestling venue, with a central mud pit — the akhara — where national-level bouts have been staged since the 19th century. The most famous tournaments take place during festivals, particularly around Dasara.
If you're in Kolhapur when the stadium is active, this is a genuine local experience. Morning training sessions are sometimes visible. The connection between wrestling, royal patronage, and civic pride is deeply embedded here in a way that feels entirely unlike anything you'll find elsewhere in India.