Barshi is a town and a Municipal Council in Solapur district in the state of Maharashtra, India. It is a headquarter and the largest city in Barshi Taluka. It is famous in the region for its quality toor dal (lentil) production and other agriculture products. The town is traditionally considered as a gateway to the neighboring region "Marathwada". Barshi has one of two temples dedicated toVishnu as Lord Bhagvant; the other is at Varanasi. Barshi has also twelve Jyotirlinga such as Uttareshwar, Bhogeshwari, Baleshwar and so on. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Rama traveled through here while going to Sri Lanka.
Barshi had three cotton textile mills, although only one survives. The three were Rajan Mill, Lokmanya Mill and Barshi Textile Mill (called BTM - Old Name JaiShankar Mills Ltd.). The last one is now managed by NTC- previously managed by Rao Bahadur Ganpatrao Zadbuke alias Kakasaheb, grand father of Anand Zadbuke. Barshi is also known for its wholesale trading market, called "Krishi Utapanna Bazar Samiti (adhat bazzar)". Farmer and cattle owners come to Barshi from all over to sell raw commodities, crops, vegetables, fruits, animals, and animal products to wholesale buyers, who then sell to big city traders. It is emerging as a regional education centre with reputed educational institutes.
Nargis Dutt Memorial Cancer Hospital, initiated by film actor Sunil Dutt, is situated in Barshi. It has state-of-the-art facilities and is funded privately (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation) as well as by the government. The hospital is also linked to Tata Memorial Hospital for Cancer Research, Parel-Mumbai. Dr. B.M Nene took the responsibility as the head of hospital since founded. This campus of 50 acres donated by Utreshwar alias Baburao Kathale, brother of Balasaheb Naganath Kathle, grandfather of Anand Zadbuke, this hospital is run by Sarumanga Utreshwar Kathle Trust.
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