Sangli, a Home to Temples in Maharashtra

Sangli is a town located in the Sangli district of Maharashtra, in India. The town is featured with several sugar factories and is placed on the banks of the Krishna River.
The name of this place is derived from ‘Saha Gali’, which means ‘six lanes’ in Marathi language. It is one of the prominent towns of the state as the place is regarded as the birthplace of Marathi drama. The ancient Ganesh temple of this place is its historical landmark, which is visited by thousands of devotees throughout the year. Over the years, the place has become one of the top tourist destinations in Maharashtra.

Attractions

Sagareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary- The sanctuary is located at a distance of about 47 km and is regarded

as a popular attraction of the place. It is spread over an area of about 10.87 sq km and its vegetation mainly comprises of forest areas and grassland. The wildlife sanctuary is inhabited by a diverse range of wild animals, including rabbits, cheetal, hyenas, wild cows, peacocks, porcupines, sambar etc. Besides these, the place is also home to a variety of birds, insects and reptiles.

Ganapati Temple- The holy shrine is located on the eastern bank of Krishna River and is regarded as one of the top religious sites in South Maharashtra. The Ganapati temple was structured in the honor of the guardian deity of Sangli, by Thorle Chintamanrao Patwardhan in 1843. The chief attraction of this place is its stunning architecture, as the temple is made out of black stones that were brought from the hills of Jyotiba. Its doors have been stunningly carved out of differently colored natural wood.

Sangli Fort- It is one of the most ancient structures found at the centre of the town. At present, the fort has been transformed into a revenue and collector’s office and it also has a Marathi school. The Rajwada palace and a museum can also be visited within the premises of the Sangli fort. 

Sangli Bridges- Sangli is also known for its bridges that are associated with the Krishna River. Among the list of bridges found in this town, the most popular ones are the Ankali Bridge, Krishna Bridge and Irwin Bridge. Among these three well known bridges, the Krishna Bridge is the oldest one, which was constructed by the British. On the other hand, Irwin Bridge is the largest bridge built over the Krishna River. Ankali Bridge is another ancient bridge, structured during the British period.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit the place is during the months of June to October.

Accommodation

As the place is one of the major tourist destinations of the state, you will find plenty of options for accommodation at this place. The place is dotted with several numbers of budget and luxury hotels that provide excellent services for staying.

How to Reach

By Air: The nearest airport to this place is at Kolhapur, which is located at a distance of about 48 km. The airport is well connected with various major parts in India. Taxi services are available from the airport to get to the place.

By Train: There are 2 main railway stations in Sangli, which receives trains from different parts in the country.

By Road: The place has a very good network of roads that connects the town with various major places like Karnataka, Goa, Pune, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Indore and Ahmadabad. Regular government buses and private buses are available from these places to reach Sangli.