Sangli

Sangli is a district in the state of Maharashtra and also one of the popular tourist locations, which is spread over an area of 8,578 sq km. It is surrounded by Vijapur District to the east, Satara and Solapur districts to the north, Ratnagiri District to the west and Kolhapur and Belgaum districts to the south.

The headquarters of the district is the city by the same name, Sangli, which is one of the biggest cities. The name Sangli is derived from the word 'Sangam', which defines its origin as the destination is located at the confluence of Warna and Krishna rivers. Another myth behind the name of the destination is that there were six lanes on the banks of River Krishna; hence, the name provided to this place is Sangli.

Sangli holds a glorious past with rulings of the Maratha Empire and the British. During 1659, Adil Shah lost Miraj and Sangli to Sarnobat Netaji Palkar, a ruler in the clan of Shivaji Maharaj. Known as Kundal till 1801, Sangli was a part of Miraj Jahagir. In the pre-independence period, the royal family of the Patwardhans ruled the city until 1946. After India got her independence, Sangli state was merged into the Republic of India during 1948.

Shri Ganapati Mandir is the prominent tourist attraction of Sangli. Under the ruling period of Rajasaheb of Sangli, Appasaheb Patwardhan started the construction of the temple in 1811, which was completed in 1844. Another historical fact associated with the temple is that Mahatma Gandhi and Lokmanya Tilak held meetings at the temple during the freedom struggle of the country.

The destination is famous for its Marathi drama, which originated here. Lavani is a popular traditional song and a folk dance of Sangli. Besides, Ganesh puja is the main festival celebrated here. Battis Shirala or Nag-panchami festival is also celebrated with numerous competitions among Nag-mandals for the best Cobra snake.

Travelling to Sangli is convenient with the presence of flights, trains and buses. The closest airport to the destination is Kolhapur Airport, which is located at a distance of about 50 km. However, tourists travelling from international destinations can board flights to Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai.

Sangli Junction and Miraj Junction are the two major railway stations connecting the destination to various towns and cities of the country. State buses are available from cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Nasik, Aurangabad, Goa, Kolhapur and Hyderabad.

The best time to visit Sangli is during the months of June to October, when the destination attracts thousands of devotees for its famous Nag-panchami festival. Moreover, the weather conditions are also pleasant during these months.