Satara
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please discuss this issue on the talk page or replace this tag with a more specific message. This article has been tagged since January 2007. |
|
Satara
Maharashtra, India |
|
  Satara
|
|
| District(s) | Satara |
| Coordinates |
|
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Area · Elevation |
10,484 km² (4,048 mi²) · 742 m (2,434 ft) |
| Population (2001) · Density |
27,96,906 · 266.77/km² |
| -Municipal commissioner | - |
| -Mayor | |
| Codes · Postal · Telephone · Vehicle |
· 415 xxx · +02162 · MH-11 |
| Website: www.satara.nic.in | |
Satara pronunciation (Marathi:सातारा) is a town located in the Satara District of Maharashtra state of India. The name is derived from the seven (sat) hills (tara) surrounding the town. The town is 2320 ft. above sea-level, near the confluence of the Krishna River (Kistna) and its tributary the Venna, 56 mi south of Pune.
Contents |
[edit] History
History Inscriptions as old as 200 B.C revels that probably the oldest known place in Satara district is Karad (mentioned as Karhakada). It is also believed that the Pandavas stayed in Wai then known as 'Viratnagari' in the 13th year of exile.
The empire of Chandragupta II known as Mahendraditya Kumargupta I, extended as far as Satara district in Deccan when he ruled between 451 AD to 455 AD. The Mauryan empire in the Deccan was followed by the rules of "Satvahans" for about two centuries between 550 A.D. to 750 AD.
The first Muslim invasion of the Deccan took place in 1296 and their rule extended until 1707. In 1636 the Nijam Shahi dynasty came to an end. In 1663 Shivaji conquered Parali & Satara fort. After the death of Shivaji, Aurangjeb conquered Satara fort later won by Parshuram Pratinidhi in 1706. In 1708 Shahumaharaj crowned on the Satara fort.
After their victory in the Third Anglo-Maratha War in 1818, the British Empire annexed most of the Maratha territory to Bombay Presidency, but restored the titular Raja Pratap Singh, and assigned to him the principality of Satara, an area much larger than the present district. As a result of political intrigues, he was deposed in 1839, and his brother Shahji Raja was placed on the throne. This prince, dying without male heirs in 1848, Satara was annexed by the British government, and added to Bombay Presidency.
During the independence struggle Satara was known for Prati Sarkar (Parallel Government). During Quit India moment this parallel government replaced British in rural areas for 4.5 years from August 1943 to May 1946. This type of parallel government was also seen in Midnapur, West Bengal. Krantisingh Nanasaheb Patil was the leader to run this government.
[edit] Geography
Satara is located at .[1] It has an average elevation of 742 metres (2434 feet).
Satara is located in the western part of Maharashtra.The whole of Satara district falls within the Deccan area. It is bounded by Pune district to the north, Solapur district to the east, Sangli district to the south and Ratnagiri district to the west. Raigad district lies to its north-west. Satara District has an area of 10,480 km², and a population of 2,796,906 (2001).
The Sahyadri range, separates the district from Ratnagiri on the western side The balck rock Mahadeo range starts about 10 m. north of Mahabaleshwar and stretches east and south-east across the whole of the district
The main rivers of Satara district are Koyna and Krishna. The Krishna is one of the three largest sacred rivers of southern India. Approx. 172 kms.of the river course falls inside the district. The Krishna river begins on the eastern brow of the Mahabaleshwar plateau and the source is about 4500 ft. above sea level. Kudali, Urmodi, Venna and Tarali are small feeder rivers of Krishna. Koyna is the largest tributary of the Krishna in the district. Neera and Manganga rivers are the two representative of the Bhima drainage in the north and north-eastern parts of the district respectively.
[edit] Demographics
As of 2001 India census,GRIndia Satara had a population of 108,043. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Satara has an average literacy rate of 80%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 84%, and female literacy is 76%. In Satara, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.
[edit] Tourist spots in & around Satara City
Panchgani
Panchgani, often referred to as the Mecca of Maharashtra, is a small hill-station in the state of Maharashtra, India. It is located amidst five small hills, from which it derives its name (panch in marathi means five). All these 5 hills are topped by a volcanic plateau which is the second highest in Asia after the Tibetan plateau. These plateaus are known in the local term as "Table Land". These plateau's are part of the Deccan plateau and were raised by the pressure between the earth plates. Because of this it is also an area of high seismic activity with epicenter near Koynanagar which is famous of the Koynanagar dam and hydroelectric power plant. It is located about 265 km from Mumbai and has breathtaking valleys, winding rivers, scenic mountains and scattered hamlets. It attracts many tourists throughout the year, and many Mumbaites visit it as a weekend escape. Some go further, opening resorts which they themselves own, but rent out during certain seasons. There is a Ganesh Temple at Wai, which is located close by. The temperature in Panchgani is around 16 C during the winter and can soar up to 35 C during the summer. There are many elite boarding schools in Panchgani and it has been used as a location to film a number of Bollywood movies. The British set up numerous tuberculosis sanitoriums in Panchgani due to the presence of silver oak trees, which were considered therapeutic. The main attractions are: Table land, Parsi point, Sydney point. [1]Panchgani now faces immense environmental pressures due to commercial activities, opening of illegal hotels, vehicles and temperature inversion (due to humidity) from various new dams built to store water in the vicinity. Freddie Mercury attended St Peter's school in Panchgani where he formed his first band, The Hectics (1958-1962.)
Mahabaleshwar
Mahabaleshwar is one of the few Evergreen Forests of the world, is a hill station located in the Satara District in the Western Ghats range of Maharashtra, India. Located about 120 km from Pune and 285 km from Mumbai, Mahabaleshwar is a vast plateau measuring 150 km², bound by valleys on all sides. Many tourists also visit nearby Panchgani. After the construction of a new highway, it is only a five hour drive from Mumbai. It reaches a height of 1438 m (4710 ft) at its highest peak above sea level, known as Wilson/Sunrise Point. Mahabaleshwar, "The Queen of Hill Stations", served as the summer capital of Bombay province during the British Raj, and today is a popular holiday resort and honeymoon spot. The area is also an important pilgrimage site for Hindus, and is the site of the Mahabaleshwar Temple. Mahabaleshwar comprises three villages, Malcolm Peth, Old "Kshetra" Mahabaleshwar and part of the Shindola village. The first historical mention of Mahabaleshwar dates back to year 1215 when the King Singhan of Deogiri visited Old Mahabaleshwar. Present Mahabaleshwar came into existence in the year 1829-30 and from old records is mentioned as Malcolm Peth, but in practise today it is known as Mahabaleshwar.
Ajinkyatara
Satara city is situated on the slope of this hill fort. The Temple of Mangalai Devi is on the fort. Other temples are of Hanuman & Shiv. Apart from temple you can find Television & Radio broad casting towers on this fort. You can drive up to the main gate and can see a beautiful view of Satara city & Parali from here. You can also see Sajjan gadh.
Yawateshwar
A famous and old shiv temple on the east side of satara city. Many people do pilgrimage on Monday's of marathi month Shravan. It is about five km away from Satara. You can walk from Satara or get there by road. You can have Sai Baba temple on the road. You can take bird eye view of Satar city & Kanher Dam while on the road to temple.
Kaas Lake
Further going eastward from Yawateswar, Kaas Lake is situated on Kaas Platau. It is about 26 km away from Satara city and accessible by road. Built in 1875 the lake provides most supply of drinking water to old city. This is also famous picnic spot for rainy season.
Bamnoli
Bamnoli is about 36 km from Satara city and is situated on the bank of Koyana Dam backwater. Though there is nothing at Bamnoli, it is basically a last road stop for people who want to go Koyana Sanchury from satara city. From here you can take motor boat to see Tapola which is famous for water sport.
Sajjangad
Sajjangad is place of great saint Samartha Ramdas Swami. Ramdas Swami is famous for his message of mental and physical exercise. He established temples of god Hanuman all across Maharashtra and India. These temples was meant for exercise known as 'Talim'. He was Chatrapathi Shivaji's spiritual guru. His writings 'Manache Shlok'-Thouhghts of Mind, and Dasbodh teaches pronciples of life through simplest way.You can see Saint Ramdas Swami's tomb here. This is also a Hill fort visited by thousands of pilgrims and trekking entusiasts. You can reach by road almost up the fort followed by climbe of 100 steps to reach on top. Accommodation can be availed from charity trust. Fort gives great views of scenic beauty, most watchfull is view of Urmodi Damn, windfarms of Chalkewadi. And apart from all gives sense of menatl peace because of its unmatchable climate, beauty and spirituality.
Thoseghar Waterfall
To reach this waterfall you have to drive little further on same road of Sajjangadh from Satara. This fall is approximately 100 m high.
Chalkewadi
Satara is put on international map of renewable energy source due to over 100 windmills build on Chalkewadi plateu. Installed capacity of windmill project is around 350 MW second largest in India until 2006
Chhatrapathi Shivaji Maharaj Museum
Charbhinti or Hutatma Smarak
Natraj Temple
Shri Kshetra Mahuli
Pedhyancha Bhairoba
Kuraneshwar or Khinditla Ganapati
Dholya Ganapati
Phutaka Talav or Talyatla Ganapati
jawaharlal neharu udyan and koyana dam
priti sangam karad
[edit] School & colleges in Satara
Sainik School, Satara
Satara is also home to the first Sainik School of India. It was inaugurated on 23 June 1961 and today serves as a famous landmark in the town. It has sent hundreds of students to the National Defence Academy. Interestingly quite a few of its ex-students have landed up in Bollywood. Prominent among them are producer-director Rakesh Roshan, music director Anu Malik, late Mukul Anand, Sunil Sharma (who was also associated with the children's serial Tele Tubbies) and Pramod Khanna, brother of actor Vinod Khanna.
Nirmala Convent High School
Dr. J. W. Airan Academy ( formarly known as Narmada Education Academy)
Anant Eglish School
New English School
Kanyashala
Abasaheb Chirmule School
Maharaja Sayajirao Vidyalaya
Annasaheb Kalyani Vidyalaya
Satara English Medium School
Yashwantrao Chavhan Institute of Science
Chhatrapati Shivaji Arts College
Dhananjay Gadgil Vanijya Mahavidyalay
Azad College Of Education
Ismailsaheb Mulla Law College
K.B.P. Engineering College & Polytechnic
Saint paul School
Mona School
Shri Bhavani Vidya Mandir
[edit] Education
Founder Dr Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil's birth anniversary will be celebrating on 22 September, 2006.
[edit] Hydroelectricity
Among other things that Satara is well known for are the 3 dams located her. They are Koyna dam, Kanher dam and Dhom dam. Satara is well known for hydroelectricity.
[edit] External links
[edit] Newspapers
[edit] Maps
[edit] Pictures
[edit] Watercolors
[edit] Further reading
- Valunjkar, T. N. Social Organization, Migration & Change in a Village Community, Deccan College Poona 1966.
- Malik, S.C. Stone Age Industries of the Bombay & Satara Districts, M. Sayajirao University Baroda 1959.
- Selections from the Historical Records of the Hereditary Minister of Baroda. Consisting of letters from Bombay, Baroda, Poona and Satara Governments. Collected by B.A. Gupte. Calcutta 1922.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Paul H. von Tucher: Nationalism: Case and crisis in Missions - German Missions in British India 1939 - 1946. Diss. Erlangen 1980. Author's edition Erlangen/Germany 1980. [1], [2] and [3] in Satara 1940-1946.
- Wilhelm Filchner: Life of a Researcher (chapter XXIII). Wilhelm Filchner was interned from September 1941 until November 1946 in the Parole Camp in Satara. Later on he lived in Poona in the Maharashtra state of India.
This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
