Sangli district is an administrative district of Maharashtra state in west-central India. The district headquarters is located at Sangli, which forms part of the twin urban agglomeration of Sangli–Miraj–Kupwad. The district lies in the southern part of Maharashtra, in the basin of the Krishna river, and is known for its sugar industry, turmeric trade, and viticulture.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Maharashtra |
| Region | Western Maharashtra (Desh) |
| Division | Pune Division |
| Headquarters | Sangli |
| Major river | Krishna |
| Principal language | Marathi |
Sangli district is situated in the southern Deccan Plateau and is bounded by Satara district to the north, Solapur district to the north-east, the state of Karnataka to the south and east, Kolhapur district to the south-west, and Ratnagiri district to the west. The terrain ranges from the hilly Sahyadri spurs in the west, around the Shirala and Shahuwadi area, to the drier plains and plateau country in the east in talukas such as Jath, Atpadi and Kavathe-Mahankal. The Krishna river is the main waterway, joined within the district by the Warana and Yerala rivers.
The district is divided into ten talukas (tahsils):
Sangli district falls within the Pune revenue division. Local self-government is exercised through the Sangli Zilla Parishad and the Sangli–Miraj–Kupwad Municipal Corporation, along with several municipal councils in towns such as Islampur, Vita, Tasgaon and Jath.
Before the reorganisation of Indian states in 1956, much of the present district formed part of the princely state of Sangli ruled by the Patwardhan dynasty, alongside parts of the former Satara and Kolhapur jurisdictions. After the formation of Bombay State following independence, the area was organised as South Satara district. It was renamed Sangli district on 21 November 1960, after the formation of Maharashtra state on 1 May 1960 under the States Reorganisation framework.
The district has a predominantly agrarian economy, with sugarcane being the dominant cash crop along the Krishna and Warana basins. Sangli is one of the largest centres for the trade and processing of turmeric in India, and the Sangli market yard is a major price-setting hub for the spice. Tasgaon and the surrounding belt are noted for grape cultivation and raisin production, supporting a significant viticulture and wine industry. Cooperative sugar factories and dairy cooperatives are widespread, in keeping with the wider cooperative movement of western Maharashtra.
The district is served by National Highway 166 (Ratnagiri–Solapur) and other state highways linking it with Pune, Kolhapur and Karnataka. Miraj Junction is a major railway junction on the Central Railway, with broad-gauge lines radiating towards Pune, Kolhapur, Hubballi and Latur, historically making it one of the key railway nodes in the Deccan.
Sangli is associated with the development of Marathi theatre; the town hosted some of the earliest performances of Sangeet Natak under the patronage of the Patwardhan rulers in the 19th century. Important places of pilgrimage and tourism in the district include the Ganapati temple at Sangli built by the Patwardhans, the Audumbar shrine on the Krishna, the Sagareshwar wildlife sanctuary near Kadegaon, and the Dandoba hills. The district has produced several figures in politics, sport and the arts, and is home to a strong wrestling (kusti) tradition.
The population is predominantly Marathi-speaking, with significant Kannada-speaking communities in talukas bordering Karnataka such as Jath. Hinduism is the majority religion, with notable Muslim, Jain, Buddhist and Lingayat populations. Major urban centres include Sangli, Miraj, Kupwad, Islampur, Vita and Tasgaon.