Solapur is the largest city in southern Maharashtra, India and 4th-largest in Maharashtra, sharing its place with Nashik, which is equal in population and area. It lies on the border of Maharashtra and Karnataka. It is 2 TIER city classified as B-1 by HRA classification. It is 30th-most-populous city in India and 43rd-largest urban agglomeration. Solapur has speakers of Marathi, Kannada, Telugu and Urdu, with Marathi as the major language and Kannada as sub-major. Solapur is the fourth-largest district in Maharashtra in terms of land area, and seventh-largest in terms of population.The district shares its borders with the southern Indian state of Karnataka.
Solapur is well known for its textile industries, often referred as the "Manchester of India". Solapur chadars and towels are world-famous. It has been a leading center for cotton mills and power looms in India. Solapur had the world's second-largest and Asia's largest spinning mill. The chief deity of the city is Shri Siddheshwar. The "Nandidhwaj" procession on Makar Sankranti is celebrated on 14 January. An annual fair locally known as 'Gadda yatra' attracts large crowds. Solapur municipal corporation extended its area up to 300 square kilometres (120 sq mi) by merging its suburbs
