The city of Latur is the Administrative Headquarters of Latur as a district as well as a taluka. Latur is a part of the Marathwada Region of state of Maharashtra and has great history lessons in each of its attractions. Latur is surrounded by Temples and Historical monuments which make it a centre of attraction for tourists. Marathi is the majorly spoken language and the official language of Latur as it is a city in Maharashtra. 

Latur is located at about 330 kms to the east of Pune. The region of Latur is also known as the Sugar belt of India due to the eleven sugar factories in the region and the sugarcane production in and around the place. The earthquake of 1993 resulted in a massive loss of life after which precautions were taken to avoid a similar scale of damage.

Places to Visit

Ganj Golai Market

Ganj Golai is a marketplace that’s an architectural wonder which is the heart of Latur city. The market place is a roundabout where nearly 15 streets converge to a focal point which is a two-storied structure which is the Temple of Devi Jagdamba. Ganj Golai was designed by a city planner named Faiyajuddin and was constructed in the year 1917. Some various small stores dot the streets converging to the centre. The market is perfect for shopping for any products from gold to footwear. This commercial extravagance can be accessed from any part of the city.

Nana Nani Park

Nana Nani Park or also known as Vilasrao Deshmukh Park is a favourite relaxing place in Latur. The park is known to be a great place to spend quality time with Family, Friends and Children. The park is spacious enough and has a place for community meetings and an open theatre. The Park is famous for its pleasant and quiet atmosphere. Nana Nani Park is located near the Municipal Office, and it is open for visitors from 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

Siddheshwar Ratneshwar Temple

Siddheshwar Ratneshwar Temple is dedicated to Lord Siddharameshwar of Solapur from the 12th century. It was constructed by King Tamradwaj who was a devotee of Siddharameshwar. The temple was a mark of the evolution of the Shaivism sect, and Lord Siddharameshwara was one of the most prominent prophets and a spiritual leader of the sect. He was also a poet and wrote verses in Kannada. Lord Siddharameshwar was also known for being a part of Basavanna’s Veerashaiva revolution. The temple has intricate carvings of mythological creatures and characters making it a marvel to the eyes. Siddheshwar & Ratneshwar Temple is located 2 kms from the city of Latur. The temple sees an immense number of devotees every year during the Mahashivratri when a fair is organised. Devotees from all around Latur gather to be a part of the celebration. Siddheshwar & Ratneshwar Temple opens at 5:30 AM and closes down at 8:00 PM after the evening aarti.

Shri Ashtavinayak Mandir

Shri Ashtavinayak Mandir is known for its beautiful structure built in south Indian style. The temple has gardens on either side with an artificial fountain which makes it even more attractive. The Garden is blessed with a standing statue of Lord Shiva nearly 9 feet tall. The main chamber has eight different idols of the forms of Lord Ganesha in the walls, and a 4 feet tall Ganesha idol carved out of marble stone.

Shri Virat Hanuman Mandir

Shri Virat Hanuman Mandir is located on Ausa Road in Parivar Housing Society of Latur. The temple is well known for the tall Statue of Lord Hanuman over the actual temple and the serene environment of the garden around it. The complete structure comprises of a lower base over which the temple with a small idol of Hanuman is constructed and an upper base above the temple which is a platform for the 25 feet tall Hanuman idol. An artificial stream of water falls from the frontal edge of the upper base into a pool below and creates a fantastic curtain of water in front of the main temple.

Surat Shawali Dargah

Surat Shawali Dargah is the tomb of Saint Saifulla Shaha Sardari. The Dargah was constructed in 1939, and it is located in Patel Chowk, Ram Galli. It is attached to the Chintamani Parshwanath Digambar Jain Temple. A five day fair is held during June/July during which the Hindu community of Latur offer a blanket of flowers and a green flag to the Dargah through Shri Siddheshwar Mandir. The Muslim community also offers flowers and a saffron flag to the Temple during the Shri Siddheshwar Temple fair. Both the communities of Latur show an example of unity despite the differences.

Udgir Fort

Udgir Fort is a 12th-century fort famous for the treaty of Udgir which was a result of the battle between the Marathas, led by Sadashivrao and the Nizams. The fort is named after Rishi Udaygiri Maharaj whose Samadhi rests 60 feet under the ground level of the same fort. The fort is designed in a quadrilateral form with several hall spaces. The surrounding hills have ruins of observation points built of white clay for military purposes. The fort is surrounded by trenches as deep as 40 feet to avoid intrusion. Some parts of the fort have Arabic and Persian inscriptions. The fort is supposed to have underground tunnels that connect to the Bidar and Bhalki forts in Karnataka.

Ausa Fort

Ausa fort in Latur district is one such fort that has a blurred history of itself. Ausa Fort’s prominence came to light during the fights between the Deccan Sultanates after the Bahamani Era. The Fort had been named 13 different names, but the name Ausa was the last one that it is now known by. The fort is located in a depressed ground level, and the highest point of the fort looks over the surrounding higher ground level. The design seems to have been useful to watch out for incoming armies from a greater distance while keeping most of the fort hidden.

The Fort is designed in a nearly square form with a double rampart mounted with Turkish engineered cannons over semicircular bases, and the whole fort is in the centre with almost 120 feet wide ditches surrounding it. The Fort has seen numerous modifications from its original form thus unintendedly becoming a design collaboration of the Hindu and Muslim architecture over the years of its occupancy. Among the surviving Inscriptions that are mostly in an unreadable condition, one of the Nilgiri inscription dates to the year 1529. The Ausa Fort happens to have a patchy History that needs discovery.

Kharosa Caves

The Kharosa caves is a cluster of 12 caves located in the village of Kharosa at a distance of 45 kms from the city of Latur. The Caves of Kharosa welcome its visitors with the sculpture of Yaksha which in turn is very popular. The Caves depict Mythological Stories in the form of carvings. Each of these caves has a Shivling in them along with intricate sculptures of various other deities. Some of the famous sculptures are of a seated image of a Jain Tirthankara, a beautiful painting of Buddha and a detailed picture of Lord Dutta. The caves date back to the 6th century, and the Sita Nhani (Sita’s Bathroom) points towards the indications that Rama, Lakshmana and Sita might have stayed in these caves during their exile. The Kharosa Caves are well known for the Shiva-Parvati and Vishnu Idols along with the sculptures of them including that of Kartikeya, Narasimha and Ravana.

Hattibet Devarjan

Hattibet-Devarjan is located close to Udgir town and is famous for the samadhi of Gangaram Maharaj. This place also includes several cave carvings that date back to the medieval period. The site is a place where many freedom fighters took birth and lost their lives during the freedom struggle of Hyderabad..

Must Try Food in Latur

1. Maharashtrian Cuisine at Wada Pure Veg Restaurant
2. One n Only Food Mall
3. Maharashtrian Cuisine at Sanjay Quality Restaurant
4. Vegetarian Food at Gayatri Veg Culture
5. South Indian Food at Tuljai Idli Dosa Centre
6. Brij Indian Fine Restaurant
7. Aroma MultiCusine Restaurant
8. Fastfood at UFO Fries & Corn
9. Jadhav Lunch Home
10. Thali at Shahi Bhoj Restaurant

How To Get Here

By Air

The nearest Airports to Latur are the Pune Airport, Aurangabad Airport and the Hyderabad Airport. There are intercity buses that traverse to Latur from all of these cities. One can avail rental cars or taxis to reach Latur. 

By Road

Driving to Latur is accessible from nearby major cities as various state Highways connect the city. The National Highway 62 passes through the Ausa Taluk of Latur District which makes up for major road traversing visitors.

By Train

Latur has a Railway Station (LUR) with regular trains to the Northern and the Western railway lines similar to the Southern railway lines.