Sangli

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River Krishna near Sangli, Maharashtra

The twin cities of Sangli and Miraj are located in the Indian state of Maharashtra, nearly 400 kilometers southeast of Mumbai. It has largest trading centre for turmeric in Asia. The green city is inside what is called 'Sugar Belt' of Maharashtra. The district alone has more than thirty sugar factories, which makes it among the highest sugar-producing districts of India. It also has oil seeds, Commodities and Fruit market.

Sangli is also known for high quality grapes and houses many state and privately owned cold storage facilities. A grape wine park spread over 1.42 km² (350 acres) has been established at Palus, 30 kms from Sangli city. A brand new Sangli Food Park, spread across 1.2 km² (300 acres) is under construction at Alkud Mane-Rajuri.

The city derives its name from "Saha Galli" ("Six Lanes" in Marathi). Sangli city is known as Natyapandhari, the birthplace of Marathi drama. It has a historic Ganpati temple built in the 18th century by ruling Patwardhan dynasty of Sangli, appointed by Peshwas of Pune. The temple attracts thousands of devotees year around.

The twin cities, Sangli and Miraj have merged to form the largest urban agglomeration in Southern Maharashtra. The cities have important education centres offering graduate and post graduate quality education in the areas of arts, science, management, medicine, and engineering. The twin cities offers infrastructure that includes railway junction, affordable housing, public transport, telephone, high speed internet, quality hotels, a multiplex, shopping mall and a state-of-art sports complex.

Miraj, also the capital of one of the former Princely States, is renowned for the manufacturing musical instruments. The Dargah of Meerasaheb Avalia attracts many devotees. Miraj is also known as hospital city offering every modern medical treatment. Hospitals in the region serve people of South [Maharashtra] and North Karnataka and even from Middle East countries. Some of the biggest hospitals in the area include century old Mission Hospital, Wanless Hospital, Siddhivinayak Cancer Hospital, Kripamayee Institute of Mental Science, Civil Hospital.

[edit] History

The region, known as Kundal (now a small village near Sangli city) in mediaeval India, was the capital of the Chalukya kingdom in 12th century AD.

[edit] Princely State of Sangli

Sangli, was one of the 11-gun salute princely states of British India, under the Kolhapur-Dekkan Residency in the Bombay Presidency, and later the Deccan States Agency. It was one of the southern Mahratta Jagirs. Its territory was widely scattered among other native states and British districts.

Sangli was part of Maratha Empire, however, there are no direct references mentioning Sangli before 1801. During the time of Shivaji, Sangli, Miraj and surrounding areas were captured from the Mughal Empire. Until 1801, Sangli was included in Miraj Jahagir. The First Chintamanrao Appasaheb Patwardhan established a different principality with Sangli as the capital city.

The Principality of Sangli covered an area of 1112 square miles (2942 square kilometers), and had a population of 226,128 in 1901, while the population of the town itself was 16,829 in that year. In 1911, the state enjoyed a revenue estimated at £10,000-.

Sangli joined the Dominion of India on March 8, 1948 and is currently a part of the state of Maharashtra.

This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.

[edit] Geography

Sangli district is located in the western part of Maharashtra. It is bounded by Satara, Solapur districts to the north, Vijapur district to the east, Kolhapur and Belgum districts to the south and Ratnagiri district to the west.

Sangli district is situated in the river basins of the Warna and Krishna river. The valley of the River Krishna and its tributaries is one of the greenest areas of the country. Other small rivers, such as the Warana and the Panchganga, flow into the River Krishna. Land in the region is best suitable for agriculture.

The physical settings of Sangli district shows a contrast of immense dimensions and reveals a variety of landscapes influenced by relief, climate and vegetation. The climate ranges from the rainiest in the Chandoli (Shirala) region, which has an average annual all of over 4000 mm to the driest in Atpadi and Jath tehsils where the average annual rainfall is about 500 mm. The vegetal cover too varies from the typical monsoon forest in the western parts to scrub and poor grass in the eastern parts.

[edit] Municipal Corporation

The Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad City Municipal Corporation is the local self-government body which looks after the development of the Sangli-Miraj twin cities. This is the largest municipal corporation in South Maharashtra and serves a population of 0.65 million.

The Sangli Municipal Corporation has carved a name for itself as the best municipal corporation of South Maharashtra. The corporation has planned and constructed a number of wide roads in the city, thereby reducing traffic density on the crowded streets of Sangli-Miraj.

The municipal corporation has come up with several unique ideas for city beautification, lake development, shopping centers, sanitation, slum eradication and waste management, ideas that have been widely recognized throughout the country.

Sangli Miraj Kupwad Municipal Corporation

[edit] Trade and industries

[edit] Food

[edit] World-famous turmeric of Sangli

The country's sole turmeric exchange in Sangli city boasts secrets gained through a centuries-old practice — storing turmeric in pits. These pits stretch far out in the open fields of the villages of Haripur and Sangalwadi. It is possibly the most unusual agricultural commodity-storage system in the country.

After clearing the loose soil covering the pit, it is left open for about two to three hours. One cannot enter the pit until one finds out if there is any oxygen within. To ascertain this, a lantern is lowered into the pit. If the lantern does not go out, it is safe to enter the pit.

It was this ingenious storage system, devised over 200 years ago, that turned Sangli into a major trading centre for turmeric. Raw turmeric sold by farmers is stored in these pits, eighteen to twenty feet (five to six metres) deep, for three to four years. The pits provide the best storage facility for turmeric, as the quality of the commodity remains unchanged. The turmeric hardens and matures while in storage.

Today, more than 90% of the turmeric trade in India takes place in Sangli.

[edit] Sangli Turmeric Commodity Exchange

Spices and Oilseeds Exchange, Mahavir Nagar, Sangli

[edit] Sangli: Sugar Belt

The Sangli region is known as the "Sugar Belt of India". This region houses over thirty large sugar factories. Vasantdada Patil, who served as chief minister of Maharashtra for four terms, started the co-operative movement which helped Maharashtra become the most developed state in India. Most of the sugar factories of the Sangli sugar belt work on the co-operative basis.

Vasantdada Sugar Factory near Sangli city was the time largest sugar plant in Asia till late 90s.

[edit] Krishna Valley Wine Park

The Sangli district has recently entered into wine industry, and has achieved some success in producing classic vintage categories.

Wine producers in Sangli make distinctive, classic wines using imported root stocks. The fertile soil of the Sahyadri hills region, and the long sunny days and dry climate make for an excellent product. The government of Maharashtra has set up a specialized state-of-the-art wine park at Palus, 30 km from Sangli city. This 142-acre (575,000 m²) park, is located close to Tasgaon, which produces one of the best-quality grapes in the world.

Krishna Valley Wine Park has an International Quality Wine Institute which has been set up in association with the Bharati Vidyapeeth, a leading university of India. The institute carries out research in wine manufacturing.

Krishna Valley Wine Park of Sangli has been recognized as an Agri-Export Processing Zone by the Indian government.

[edit] Sangli Food Park

The park is being planned on a 305-acre (1.2 square kilometre) plot at Mane-Rajuri near Sangli city. Cebeco (India) is the consultant for the project.

The location is best suited for processing grapes, turmeric, mangoes, pomegranates, citrus fruits and custard apple.

Common facilities planned are cold-storage, effluent treatment and social infrastructure.

[edit] Sangli IT Park

The city now has an Infotech Park with state-of-the-art facilities waiting for Infotech companies to start operations. Sangli Infotech Park has state-of-the-art modern facilities for software companies. The park is located in an attractive locality surrounded by greenery.

[edit] Tourist Places

There are numerous spots of scenic beauty near Sangli. Many Hindu and Jain temples attract large numbers of devotees.

Tourist and religious attractions in the Sanglie area include Sagareshwar wildlife Sanctuary, Chandoli Wild life Sanctuary, Gokak waterfalls, Bahubali Hill Temples, Audumbar, Narsobawadi, Koyna, Mahabaleshwar and Bijapur.

There are various beautiful places in Sangli District. The Museum of Sangli includes various old coins and different things. Places like Battishirala is a very famous place and tourist comes from all around the world during Nag panchami.

Waterpark is also situated in Sangli district which is 19 k.m. from Miraj.

[edit] MIDC industrial areas in Sangli

Sangli-Miraj
Islampur
Palus (Tasgaon)
Kadegaon
Vita

An Ancient City today is Taluka capital

Kavathemahankal
Shirala or Battis Shirala
Jath
Vasantdada
Marathe

[edit] Specialised industrial parks and export zones

Krishna Valley Wine Park, Palus
Sangli Food Park, Mane-Rajuri
Sangli Infotech Park
Textile Park, Kadegaon
Readymade Garments Park, Vita

[edit] Chamber of Commerce and civic associations

Krishna Valley Chamber of Commerce & Industries, MIDC, Kupwad, Sangli
Sangli Chamber of Commerce, Mahavir Nagar, Sangli
Sangli Miraj Manufacturers Association, MIDC, Miraj
Deccan Manufacturers Association, Madhavnagar Road, Sangli
Engineers and Architects Association, Gulmohar Colony, Sangli

[edit] Travel information

[edit] Railway stations:

SANGLI (Central Railway, India) m.com/railwaytimetable.html
MIRAJ Junction (Central Railway, India) m.com/railwaytimetable.html
Bhilavadi (Central Railway, India)
Kirloskarwadi (Central Railway, India)
Takari (Central Railway, India)

[edit] Distances from major cities

Mumbai (Bombay) 390 km.
Pune 220 km.
Bangalore 630 km.
Goa 190 km.

[edit] Tourist sites around Sangli City

Historic Ganesha Temple
Sagareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary
Chandoli Wildlife Sanctuary
Gokak waterfalls
Dandoba Hills Forest Preserve
Bahubali Hill Temples
Historical Prachitgad Fort
Audumbar
Narsobawadi
Panhala Fort
Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary
Mahabaleshwar Hill Station
Bijapur Historical Site
Famous Tasgaon Ganesh Temple
Sangameshwar Shiva Temple, Haripur
Bagetil Ganapati Temple, Haripur
Revansiddhanath temple , Vita
Mahatma Gandhi Vachnalay (Only Building in India Who's Stone Is Kept By Mahatma Gandhi)
Dandoba a beautiful temple

[edit] Clubs and swimming pools

Rotary Club Swimming Pool
Krishna Valley Club Swimming Pool
Sangli district Sports Complex Swimming Pool
Engineers & Architects Association Swimming Pool
Sangli Gymkhana
IMA Club
Khare Housing Complex Swimming Pool, Dhamani Road

[edit] Educational institutes in Sangli:

[edit] Engineering colleges

Walchand College of Engineering, Vishrambag
Padmabhushan Vasantraodada Patil Institute of Technology,Budhgaon
Rajarambapu Institute of Technology, Islampur
Annasaheb Dange College of Engineering & Technology, Ashta
Bharati Vidyapeeth Institute of Technology, Palus
Lathe Education Society Polytechnic, MIDC, Kupwad
Government Polytechnic, Miraj

[edit] Medical colleges

Government Medical College, Miraj
Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College, Wanlesswadi
Bharati Vidyapeeth Dental College, Wanlesswadi
Vasantdada Patil Ayurvedic Medical College, Kawalapur
Annasaheb Dange Ayurvedic Medical College, Ashta
Rajarambapu Patil Ayurvedic Medical College, Islampur
Vasantdada Patil Dental College, Kawalapur
Gulabrao Patil Homeopathy Medical College

Miraj and Sangli together has more than 800 hospitals, density wise its the highest in Country.

[edit] Management institutes

Bharati Vidyapeeth Institute of Management, Rajawada Chowk
Deccan Education Society Institute of Management, Vishrambaug
V.P.Institute of Management Studies & Research, Wanlesswadi, Sangli
Rajarambapu Patil Institute of Management, Islampur
CSM Institute of Management, KWC College
Balwant College, Vita

[edit] Pharmacy colleges

Appasaheb Birnale College of Pharmacy
Govt. College of Pharmacy, Miraj
Miraj Medical Center College of Pharmacy, Miraj
Gulabrao Patil College of Pharmacy

[edit] Law colleges

Law College
Bharati Vidyapeeth New Law College

[edit] Other Colleges

Appasaheb Birnale College of Architecture
Willingdon College
Kasturbai Walchand College
SNDT Women's College
Garware Women's College
Chintamanrao Commerce College
Patangrao Kadam College
GA College of Commerce
Shantiniketan College
Rani Saraswati Kanyashala
Miraj College
Vidyamandir Prashala, Miraj
LGR Purohit Kanya Prashala, Sangli
Arts, Science & Commerce College, Ramanandnagar, Kirloskarwadi
City highschool sangli.

[edit] External links

[edit] Education

Coordinates: 32°34′N 74°56′E

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Categories: Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica | Cities and towns in Maharashtra | Indian Princely States