Ichalkaranji (District: Kolhapur) located in Western region of Maharashtra State of India, is popularly known as the Manchester of Maharashtra, being a leading centre of textile industry. Formerly it was a small hamlet situated on the left bank of the river Panchganga. Naro Mahadev, the founder of the Ghorpade family, made Ichalkaranji the seat of his capital in 1708 A.D.; since then till 1949 A.D. it remained the capital of Shrimant Ghorpade.