Solapur is a city situated in the south-western region of the Indian state of Maharashtra, positioned near its border with Karnataka. It serves as a significant transportation hub, located on major highway and rail routes connecting Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, and Hyderabad. The rail network also includes a branch line serving the cities of Kalaburagi and Vijayapura in neighboring Karnataka. Additionally, Solapur Airport (SSE) was inaugurated on September 29, 2024.
The city is classified as an A1 Tier and B-1 class city by the Government of India's House Rent Allowance (HRA) classification. In terms of demographics and urban scale, Solapur ranks as the seventh largest Metropolis Urban Agglomeration and the 11th most populated city in Maharashtra. Nationally, it is recognized as the 43rd largest urban agglomeration and the 49th most populous city in India.