Sangola - Taluka

Sangole is a city and a municipal council in Solapur district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is situated near the border of Satara and Solapur districts. Traditionally, in many historic records this area comes under "Mandesh" region. The name is derived from the "Maan" river. This place is famous for Pomegranate (पोमेग्रेनेट - डाळिंब) production. "Chopadi" is a big producer of pomegranates. This is 28 km from Sangola.
Demographics
India census, Sangola had a population of 28,103. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Sangola has an average literacy rate of 68%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 75%, and female literacy is 61%. In Sangola, 14% of the population is under 6 years of age.
   Sangola is famous for Pomegranate production. Near Sangola there are some historical places such as Buddihal Bunglow (Bunglow made by the British) and Golghumat. Also Native place of Mr.GM Madgulkar Gitramayankar is 4km from Chopadi. Sangola Municipality is the second oldest town in Maharashtra, India, dating back to 1857. There was a time this place was used to be called as 'Sonyache Sangole' meaning Sangola with abundance of gold. Legend goes that the town was named after six Ingole [surname] abodes which went on to become known as saha ingole [sixingole] or Sangole. The town, presently, has one of the finest cotton spinning, named, 'Sangole Taluka Sahakri Sut Girni' which was awarded best spinning mill in Asia for few years.
    A good harmony is seen in Sangola between all communities.
   Sangola is also well known for computer education. The "Sangola College Sangola & Vidnyan Mahavidyalaya Sangola" are the famous institute for computer education. Students from districts like Kolhapur, Solapur, Sangli, Satara come to Sangola for getting graduation and post graduation degrees in computer science programs.
   Sangola is also well known for "Mata Balak Utkarsh Pratisthan" http://www.matabalak.org/, a NGO run by women headed by Dr.Kelkar. It is a transformational movement generated for the rural society by the women of drought prone region of Sangola for the past three dacades. Their work areas include women upliftment, school, aarogya doot, child development & many more.
Demographics
Sangola / e is also famous mainly for pomegranates. Sangola / e has an average literacy rate of 73%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 85%, and female literacy is 69%.
   The pomegranates from Sangola / e are exported to US, London, Dubai and Middle East countries. For the convenience of the public the municipality conducts primary schools and maintains a dispensary with ten beds. There are stone-lined gutters.
   The fort at Sangola is said to have been built by a Bijapur king. The town that grew up around the fort was so prosperous that it was locally called the Golden Sangola or Sonyache Sangola until it was sacked by Holkar's Pathans in 1802.
History
It is believed that Sangola as a town established around 11th century to 12th of century. Dhangars, Walmiki Koli, 96 Kuli Marathas and Yajurvedi Brahmins believed to be one of the first communities to settle in this region. People from Mangalvedha, Pandharpur, Mhaswad migrated to this area. Soon due to availabity huge high-quality land, farming and dairy business flourish around the area. Kharip season from August September to December produces maximum output. The main advantage Sangola gave is less population density that's why it was less severely impacted during 'Durga Devi's' famous drought in 14th century. Failure of Yadav kingdom of Deogiri in hands of Alllaudin Khilji doesn't had any impact on Sangola and Muslim people started coming in city during 15th century. Turki-origin Ali Adilshah has visited this place in 15 th century but significance growth of Muslim population happened in the town only during 1690-1702 when the surrounding area was camped by Aurangzeb and Moguls.
History during Maratha Empire
After death of Afzalkhan Shivaji Maharaj captured entire region fromWai to Kolhapur, Netaji Palkar believed to be raided Sangola on 14 th November 1659, But this land fort was again recaptured by Adishahi forces during 1663. In 1665 December, Shivaji Maharaj and Mirza Jaisingh won this town from Adilshah. Later Shivaji Raje granted this town to Mane of Mhaswad, however during 1679 after fall ofBhupalgad fort this area was transferred in hands of Dilerkhan Pathans but mere in 7 months Hambirrao Mohite recaptured this town from Moguls. After 1690, this town came under nominal control of Moguls because entire rule remained in hands of Nagoji Mane. Many Maratha Soldiers like Santaji Ghorpade, Dhanaji Jadhav, Jagdale, Moreshwar Pingale camped in this region when they carried attacks on Moguls during 1692-1703.
   After the death of Chhatrapati Shahu in 1749, Balaji Bajirao, the Peshwa, decided to take charge of the entire state administration. As part of this plan, Fattehsing Bhosle, Shahu's adopted son, was confirmed in possession of his estate, in various minor claims or shares of revenues and in the title of Raja of Akkalkot, which excepting the detached claims, his descendants enjoyed till the merger of the state in the Indian Union after independence. In 1750, Balaji Bajirao was opposed by Yamaji Pant Shivdev, a partisan of Tarabai, who threw himself into the fort of Sangola and raised the standard of rebellion. Sadashivrao Bhau, the cousin of Balaji Bajirao, marched to Sangola to put the rebellion down. Sadashivrao Bhau was accompanied by Ram Raja, the Satara chief, so that Yamaji might have no excuse for resistance. Yamaji's uprising was soon suppressed. During his stay at Satara, Ram Raja agreed to give up all power and to lend his sanction to whatever measures the Peshwa might pursue, provided a small tract round Satara was assigned for his own management. Though Balaji Bajirao agreed to these conditions, they were never carried out and Ram Raja was taken under a strong escort from Sangola to Satara. The town was attacked and looted by Holkar's Pathans in 1802 and so severe was the death blow given that the town has never recovered since the ruin it suffered from that attack in 1802.
Economy of Sangole
Sangola's economy is Agri-driven, with sometextile mills are present in area, certain food processing industries like Grape processing has been found in region. Pomegranate of region are popular, provides huge export revenues from Middle-east and Europe. There are many Sugar factories in region.
Tourist places
The only objects of some interest in the town are the fort and a temple of Ambika Devi in the town. The fort was a centre of action at the time of the rebellion of Yamaji Shivdev against Peshwa Balaji Bajirao in 1750 and also at the time of the attack by Holkar's Pathans in 1802. In the fort are now housed the public offices. In the temple of the goddess Ambika Devi every year a fair is held in honour of the goddess in Magha (January-February). Between 5,000 and 10,000 people assemble at the time of the fair. Kadlas is also a small village, with a population around 11,000. It is about 7 km from Sangola on Jath Road. The village is small in size but bifurcates in small areas nearby.
   Sangole is also well known for the Khillari bullocks, specially found in the regional village called Wadhegoan. NAZARE NAZARE is the very famous village in Sangole district. The famour marathi Poet Sirdhar Swami was from this village. He wrote many religious granth like Pandav Pratap, HAri vijay, Hari Amrut and so on. He also transletted Ganesh STrotra written by NArad Muni. That is the reason why we called sentence "Naradane rachile, marathit pathanya sridharswamine anuvadile.) There is very beautiful temple of sridharswami on the banks of the river maan.It is assumed that Sridharswami used to go to pandharpur by Yog marga from this temple
   Balwadi is famous village in Sangole tehsil. The sidheshhwar temple famous in the Balwadi. Balwadi has approximately 5,000 population. Balwadi is one of the abundance producer of pomegranates. In Balwadi Dhaygude (patil) fort (Gadi) is oldest fort, which was built during the reghin of Raja shivaji Maharaj. Balwadi is one of the famous village in tehsil sangola for lowest crime rate due to good administration. There are living many communities people for example Bara balutedar and Muslim Community. One special thing in Balwadi is complete eradication of touchability between high class and Dalit. This all thing due to maintain mutual understanding and good administration of village.
   Around 0.5 KM from Sangola on Wadegaon road, you can find the "Dhyanmandir of Brahma Chaitanya Gondavalekar Maharaj". This monument was built around 5 years back. Daily many followers of Maharaj visit this place to perform Namsadhana.
Notable resident of Sangola / Maandesh (Past and Present)
1] Santaji Ghorpade (Loyal Senapati of Maratha Empire-who defeated at least 15 Mogul Generals)
   2] Yamaji Pant Shivdev (Administrator of region, loyal supporter of Tararani, opponent of Peshwa)
   3] Ga Di Madgulkar and Vynaktesh Madgulkar (Great writer and Poet)
   4] Pr. Suresh Nawale (Founder of Sinhagad Institute of Education-a great institute having many Institutes in and around Pune)
   5] Dr. Sanjeevani Kelkar (Founder of Mata Balak Utkarsh Pratishtan, many State / National award winner for Social Service)