The Princely State of Sangli was amongst the 11 gun salute princely states that were administered by native rulers or Indian princes under the indirect control of the British Government of India. The Sangli State was amongst main states during the rule of the British Empire in India. During the early 19th century, the region was appointed as one of the princely states of India under the indirect rule of the British administration. The territory was under the Kolhapur Dekkan Residency in the Bombay Presidency. Later it was reassigned to the Deccan States Agency. The princely state of Sangli was one of the southern Maratha Jagirs. Its territory was extensively spread among other princely states of India and British districts as well.
The city of Sangli adopted its name from Saha Galli, which literally means Six Lanes in Marathi language. Sangli city is also known as Natyapandhari, which is the birthplace of Marathi drama and has a rich cultural influence of Marathi drama and music. The territory has a historic Ganapati temple that was constructed by the ruling Patwardhan dynasty of Sangli state during the 18th century. The princely state of Sangli was formerly known as Southern Satara.
History of Princely State of Sangli
In 12th century AD, the region of Kundal, a small village located near the city of Sangli, was the capital of the Chalukya Empire in medieval India. Sangli was part of the Maratha Empire, but there are no references related to the mention of the region before 1801. Sangli and other regions like Miraj, seized from the Mughal Empire during the period of Shivaji. Sangli was included in Miraj Jahagir till the year 1801. The First Chintamanrao Appasaheb Patwardhan founded a different principality with Sangli city as the capital.
The principality of Sangli was scattered over a total area of 2942 sq km. the total population of the princely state in the year 1901 was 226,128, where as the population of the town was 16,829 in the same year. The state of Sangli also enjoyed lumpsum revenue during that decade. Captain His Highness Shrimant Raja Saheb Sir Chintamanrao II Dhundirajrao Appasaheb Patwardhan was the last ruler of the princely state of Sangli. After the British withdrawal and the Indian independence, the ruler acceded his state to the Union of India, also known as Dominion of India on 8th March 1948. The region is presently a part of the state of Maharashtra.
