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	== See also ==		== See also ==
	~~{{Portal\|India}}~~
	* [[William James Wanless\|Sir William James Wanless]] - Founder of Wanless Hospital.		* [[William James Wanless\|Sir William James Wanless]] - Founder of Wanless Hospital.
	* [[Dargah of Meerasaheb Avalia]]		* [[Dargah of Meerasaheb Avalia]]

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{{Hatnote group|1=
{{Distinguish|mirage}}
{{For-multi|the Night Journey taken by the Islamic prophet Muhammad|Isra and Miraj|the state constituency|Miraj (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|the mythical creature|Al-Mi'raj}}
}}
{{Copy edit|date=December 2022}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Miraj
| other_name =
| settlement_type = City
| image_skyline = Mirajmarketnorth.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Laxmi Market Miraj
| nickname =
| image_map =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = India Maharashtra
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|16.83|N|74.63|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = India
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Maharashtra]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Sangli district|Sangli]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type = Municipal corporation
| governing_body =Sangli-Miraj and kupwad municipal corporation (SMKMC)
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Mr. Digvijay suryavanshi (NCP RASHTRAVADI)
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 =
| area_rank =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_total =455,786
| population_as_of =
| population_footnotes =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_rank =
| population_demonym = Mirajkar
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 416410
| area_code = 0233
| area_code_type = Telephone Code
| registration_plate = MH-10
| website =
| footnotes =
| demographics1_info1 = [[Marathi Language|Marathi]]
}}

'''Miraj''' (Pronunciation: [[Help:IPA/Marathi|[miɾəd͡z]]]; {{audio|Miraj.ogg|listen}}) is a city in Sangli District and also in [[Maharashtra]], India, that was founded in the early 10th century. It was an important [[jagir]] of the [[Adil Shahi dynasty|Adil Shahi]] court of [[Bijapur district, Karnataka|Bijapur]].

[[Shivaji Maharaj ]] stayed in Miraj for two months during his South India Campaign. Because of its location, Miraj has been held as a strategic bastion. It was the capital of [[Miraj Senior]] and is an important junction on the central railway network. The Pathwardhan family were the hereditary rulers of Miraj until independence.

The city is part of the [[Sangli-Miraj & Kupwad|Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad]] Municipal Corporation formed in 1999. The city is recognised for [[Hindustani classical music]] and medical services. Miraj is an emerging medical hub in India. The City has an unbelievable{{what|date=December 2022}} doctor patient ratio. Some of the doctors and institutions are well known all over India. Many medical tourists visit from the adjoining districts of North Karnataka and Goa, as well as all over India and from Arab countries. The [[Ganesha]] festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm. The annual Ganesh Visarjan procession is an attraction that lasts for an average of twenty hours. Miraj also finds its mention in [[Ashi Hi Banwa Banwi]] and popular musical play and movie [[Katyar Kaljat Ghusli]].

==History==

=== Early history ===

=== Shilahara (1000 to 1216) ===
At the end of the 9th century, the [[Silahara]]s of [[Kolhapur]] gained rule of Miraj.In 1024 AD, Miraj was ruled by [[Narsimha]] of the Silahar dynasty. From 1216 to 1316, the [[Yadava]]s of [[Daulatabad Fort|Devgiri]] ruled the town. II (circa 1000-1020 AD),{{what|a name seems to be missing here|date=December 2022}} the fourth ruler of Silahar dynasty, appears in the records of his son, Narasimha (circa 1050 to 1075 AD). Jattiga II was succeeded by his son, Gonka who has been described in inscriptions as the conqueror of Karahata (Karhad), Mirinj Miraj and [[Konkan]]. The Shilaharas were able to retain the rule of Miraj despite nearby military action by Chavan-raja, the general of [[Chalukya]] Jayasirhha II.

===Yadavas and Bahmanis (1216 to 1347)===
In 1216, Miraj, along with other territories of Silaharas, was conquered by the [[Yadavas of Devagiri|Yadavas]]. In 1318, the [[Bahmani Sultanate|Bahmanis]]<ref>http://ignca.gov.in/Asi_data/74093.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=April 2022}}</ref> gained control. Historian, Tazkirat-ul-Mulk, reported that Hasan, the founder of the [[Bahmani Sultanate|Bahmani]] dynasty, was in the employ of the Shaikh Muhammad Junaidi at Gangi near Miraj. Hasan found a treasure with which he raised an army, marched on Miraj. He defeated and imprisoned Rani Durgavati, the [[subedar]] of Miraj and captured the town's fort. At the behest of Shaikh Muhammad, the name of the town was changed to Mubarakabad in 1347 (748 Hijri). In 1395, the [[Bahmanis]]<ref>http://ignca.gov.in/Asi_data/74093.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=April 2022}}</ref> conquered Miraj. Between 1391 and 1403, Miraj was affected by the [[Famine in India|Durgadevi famine]]. From 1423, Malik Imad Ul Mulk ruled Miraj. 1494 was the year of Bahadur Khan Gilani's rebellion. For two months of 1660, [[Shivaji]] and Adilshah battled for control of Miraj.

===Fortress===
The builder of the [[Miraj fort]] is unknown. It probably predates the [[Bahmani Sultanate|Bahmani]] sultans, although they may have repaired it and increased its fortifications. They used the fort as a base for military expeditions against [[South Konkan]] and [[Goa]]. [[Firishta]] mentions the fort in an account of the rebellion of [[Bahadur Gilani]] in 1494, which was quelled by [[Sultan Muhammad II]] (1452–1515). Muhammad II took the fort from its governor, Buna Naik, who acquiesced to the new ruler. Gilani's troops were offered the option of joining Muhammad's army and being treated with leniency or leaving. About 2000 soldiers left the fort to join Gilani's rebel forces.

The main entrance of the fortress was a huge gate about {{convert|30|ft|m|abbr=on}} high but it has been demolished in recent times.

===Fall of the Bahmani Empire===
The power of the [[Bahmani Sultanate|Bahmani ]] rulers waned under the influence of powerful provincial governors. In 1490, the rule of Miraj passed to the Sultanate of [[Bijapur]]. During the later years of his reign, [[Ibrahim Adil Shah I|Ibrahim Ali Shah I]] (1534–1558) kept his son, [[Ali Adil Shah I]] (1558–1580), under house arrest in Miraj. On Ibrahim's death in 1580, Miraj became a [[point d' appui]] (an assembly point) for Ali's troops in his assuming the throne. Subsequently, the troops of Miraj fought with Ismail against [[Ibrahim Adil Shah III]].

===Rise of the Maratha Empire===
On 28 November 1659, (within 18 days of Afzal Khan's, the Bijapuri sardar's, death at Pratapgad, Panhala), the western Adil Sahi district was surrendered to Annaji Datto (Shivaji's finance minister). Unlike other towns, the Miraj fort resisted. Shivaji, who was encamped at Kolhapur, sent Netaji Palkar to besiege Miraj. In January 1660, Shivaji arrived to personally command the three-month-long ongoing siege. However, news of attacks by Siddi Johar and Fazal Khan caused his return to Panhala. The siege of Miraj was abandoned and negotiations began. Under the rule of [[Sambhaji]], Maratha generals ([[Santaji]] Ghorpade and Dhanaji Jadhav) chose Miraj as a safe place for their families while they were conducting guerilla actions against the invading Aurangzeb forces of the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] emperor.

===Mughals===
In 1687, Bijapur fell to the [[Mughals]]. In 1680, Santaji Ghorpade became Deshmukhi of Miraj and six years later, the town was captured by Aurangzeb. In 1730, Chatrapati Shahu of Satara instructed Pant Pratinidhi to attack the town.Miraj remained under Mughal rule until 3 October 1739. On that day, it was captured by
Shahu after a military campaign of two years, reflecting the fall of the last defences of the Mughals. Shahu gains power in Miraj on 3 October 1739 and brings Maratha rule. In 1761, Harbhat Patwardhan's son, Gopalrao, took the Miraj Jagir from Peshwa Madhavrao.

===British Raj===
The [[Patwardhan dynasty]] ruled Miraj as the capital of a principality, overseen by [[British India|British]] rule. Miraj was part of the southern division of the [[Bombay Presidency]] which in turn was part of the southern [[Maratha Empire|Mahratta]] [[Jagir]]s, and later the [[Deccan States Agency]].
In 1820, the state of Miraj was divided into [[Miraj Senior]] and [[Miraj Junior]]. The territory of both regions was distributed among other native states and British districts. The area of Miraj Senior was
{{convert|339|sqmi|km2}}. In 1901, its population was 81, 467. Its revenue was £23,000 and the tax paid to the British was £800. The population of the town of Miraj in 1901 was 18, 425. It lay on a junction on the [[Southern Mahratta Railway]].

===Independence===
On 8 March 1948, Miraj Senior acceded to the [[Dominion of India]] & Princedom of Miraj becomes part of the Republic of India. At the present day, it is a part of the [[Maharashtra]] [[States and territories of India|state]].

== Climate ==

{{Weather box
| location = Miraj (1981–2010, extremes 1968–2010)
| metric first = Yes
| single line = Yes
| Jan record high C = 36.1
| Feb record high C = 40.0
| Mar record high C = 42.3
| Apr record high C = 43.0
| May record high C = 42.9
| Jun record high C = 41.6
| Jul record high C = 35.8
| Aug record high C = 34.8
| Sep record high C = 36.5
| Oct record high C = 39.2
| Nov record high C = 35.1
| Dec record high C = 34.4
| year record high C = 43.0
| Jan high C = 31.8
| Feb high C = 34.1
| Mar high C = 36.8
| Apr high C = 38.5
| May high C = 37.3
| Jun high C = 31.5
| Jul high C = 28.9
| Aug high C = 28.4
| Sep high C = 30.5
| Oct high C = 32.1
| Nov high C = 31.7
| Dec high C = 31.0
| year high C = 32.7
| Jan low C = 14.4
| Feb low C = 15.7
| Mar low C = 18.8
| Apr low C = 21.5
| May low C = 22.4
| Jun low C = 22.2
| Jul low C = 21.6
| Aug low C = 21.2
| Sep low C = 20.9
| Oct low C = 20.3
| Nov low C = 17.4
| Dec low C = 14.7
| year low C = 19.2
| Jan record low C = 7.0
| Feb record low C = 8.6
| Mar record low C = 11.1
| Apr record low C = 14.2
| May record low C = 15.5
| Jun record low C = 18.5
| Jul record low C = 9.7
| Aug record low C = 17.4
| Sep record low C = 14.1
| Oct record low C = 13.3
| Nov record low C = 8.7
| Dec record low C = 6.5
| year record low C = 6.5
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 0.3
| Feb rain mm = 0.2
| Mar rain mm = 6.5
| Apr rain mm = 21.6
| May rain mm = 51.9
| Jun rain mm = 137.9
| Jul rain mm = 108.1
| Aug rain mm = 89.2
| Sep rain mm = 124.0
| Oct rain mm = 115.6
| Nov rain mm = 22.2
| Dec rain mm = 4.5
| year rain mm = 681.8
| Jan rain days = 0.0
| Feb rain days = 0.0
| Mar rain days = 0.5
| Apr rain days = 1.5
| May rain days = 2.8
| Jun rain days = 7.6
| Jul rain days = 9.7
| Aug rain days = 9.2
| Sep rain days = 7.0
| Oct rain days = 5.5
| Nov rain days = 1.5
| Dec rain days = 0.4
| year rain days = 45.6
|time day = 17:30 [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| Jan humidity = 39
| Feb humidity = 31
| Mar humidity = 30
| Apr humidity = 31
| May humidity = 45
| Jun humidity = 68
| Jul humidity = 75
| Aug humidity = 76
| Sep humidity = 69
| Oct humidity = 56
| Nov humidity = 49
| Dec humidity = 45
|year humidity = 51
|source 1 = [[India Meteorological Department]]<ref name=IMDnormals>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205040301/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| archive-date = 5 February 2020
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| title = Station: Miraj (Sangali) Climatological Table 1981–2010
| work = Climatological Normals 1981–2010
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = January 2015
| pages = 497–498
| access-date = 10 April 2020}}</ref>
|source 2 = Government of Maharashtra<ref>
{{cite web
| url = http://cultural.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/SANGLI/gen_climate.html | title = Climate
| publisher = Government of Maharashtra
| access-date = 10 April 2020}}</ref>
|date = June 2012
}}

== Demographics ==
As of the 2011 census, the population of the Miraj area is as follows.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Religion !! Total !! Percentage
|-
| Muslim || 245,890 || 50.0%
|-
| Hindu || 195,678 || 44.7%
|-
| Jain || 21,727 || 4.32%
|-
| Christian || 6,930 || 1.38%
|-
| Buddhist || 6,953|| 1.38%
|-
| Not Stated || 1,235 || 0.25%
|-
| Sikh || 691 || 0.14%
|-
| Others || 526 || 0.10%
|}
Marathi is the official and most widely spoken language of the city. A unique kind of Hindi (Dakhini hyderabadi type) blended with Marathi is also spoken and Kannada Also spoken and Understand most of the People because of business with the Karnataka people and most of the Hospital borad in Miraj Written In Three languages, Marathi , English and Kannada.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16_Town.html|title = Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India}}</ref>

==Hindustani classical music==
Miraj is a popular place for artists to perform at Urus. The administrative office of the [[Gandharva Mahavidyalaya]] is at Miraj. The city is known for its finesse in playing and manufacturing [[sitar]]s.

===Musicians===
* [[Vishnu Digambar Paluskar]]
* [[Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande]]
* [[Hirabai Badodekar]]
* [[Vinayakrao Patwardhan]]
* [[Bal Gandharva]] made his debut performance at Hans Prabha Theatre, Miraj. In the same location, the Balgandharva Natyagruha was named for him.
* [[Ustad Abdul Karim Khan]], a doyen of the [[Kirana Gharana|Kirana gharana]], lies interred within the Hazrat Khawaja Shamna Mira RH and Hajrat Mira Saheb RH Dargah. An annual music festival at the [[dargah]] takes place in his memory.
* [[Ram Kadam (composer)]], Marathi flm musician

==String instruments==
Miraj supplies Indian string instruments such as the [[sitar]], [[sarod]], and [[tanpura]]. These are made of wood and specially treated gourds. The art of instrument making was developed by [[Faridsaheb Sitarmaker]] in the 18th century, and his descendants follow this tradition. The small area of Miraj is responsible for creating sitars and are renowned for their craftsmanship. The traditional craft of making this instruments is passed down generation to generation instilling the vitality of the small markets of Miraj.

== Transportation ==

=== Railway ===
[[Miraj Junction railway station]] is an important junction on the [[Central Railway (India)|Central Railway]]. It was the only junction to have all three [[rail gauge]]s - [[broad gauge]], [[narrow gauge railways|narrow gauge]] and [[narrow gauge railways|metre gauge]]. The last [[narrow gauge railways|narrow gauge]] train departed on 1 November 2008. Miraj now has only [[broad gauge]] railway tracks. Miraj is connected by railway to [[Pune]] on the north, [[Kurduvadi]] via [[Pandharpur]] on north-northeast and [[Belgaum]] and [[Goa]] in the south. In February, 2011, passenger trains from [[Kolhapur]] to [[Solapur]] began running on the converted Miraj-[[Pandharpur]]-[[Kurduvadi]] broad gauge track.

Prestigious trains of South Western Railways <u><big>'''Rani''' '''Chennamma Express'''</big></u> bound to '''Bengaluru city''' originates from '''Miraj Jn'''.

=== Road ===
Miraj lies off the [[Mumbai]]-[[Pune]]-[[Bangalore]] highway, [[National Highway 48 (India)|NH 48]].
* Exit [[National Highway 48 (India)|NH 48]] at Peth Naka while driving from north (from [[Mumbai]] and [[Pune]]).
* Exit [[National Highway 48 (India)|NH 48]] at Shiroli Naka while driving from south (from [[Goa]], [[Belgaum]] or [[Bangalore]]).
The two exits from [[National Highway 48 (India)|NH 48]] form a triangle with [[Sangli]] and Miraj which lie about 50 km from each exit. Though the time taken to travel from Miraj is variable, depending on speed and other factors, [[Mumbai]] is about 7 hours and [[Bangalore]] is about 11 hours drive away.

=== Bus ===
The [[Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation]] operates a bus station a Miraj. Approximately 400 buses are estimated to arrive and depart from the terminus. Buses of the [[Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation]] also pass through the bus station.
Buses bound for [[Satara (city)|Satara]], [[Karad]], [[Belgaum]], [[Kolhapur]], [[Hubli]], [[Ratnagiri]], [[Chiplun]], [[Pune]], [[Palus, Maharashtra|Palus]] [[Sangli]], [[Mahabaleshwar]], [[Bhor|ichalkaranji]], [[Pandharpur]], [[Tasgaon]], [[Ichalkaranji]], [[Gargoti]], [[Gadhinglaj]], [[Ajara (India)|Ajara]], [[Shirala]], [[Uran Islampur|Islampur]], [[Vita, Maharashtra|Vita]], [[Jath]], [[Wai, Maharashtra|Wai]], [[Mumbai]], [[Thane]], and [[Solapur]] leave from the Miraj ST station.

=== City Bus ===
here [[Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation]] operates a bus station a Miraj city stand. Approximately 100 buses are estimated to arrive and depart from the terminus.
Buses bound for entire Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad city and also Near by villege like Malgaon,Shubhasnagar,Maishal,Vaddi,Dhavali,Khanderajuri,Dongarwadi,Vishrambug,Shirol,Kurundwad,Bhose and many more.

== See also ==
{{Portal|India}}
* [[William James Wanless|Sir William James Wanless]] - Founder of Wanless Hospital.
* [[Dargah of Meerasaheb Avalia]]
*[[Shri Ayyappa Mandir, Miraj]]
*[[Ambedkar Udyan, Miraj]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.smkc.gov.in The Municipal Corporation home page - Marathi language only as of 2006/10/09]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100818065812/http://uqconnect.net/~zzhsoszy/ips/m/mirajsnr.html The List of the rulers of Miraj Senior]
* [http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/SANGLI/places_Miraj.html Original article in the district Gazetteer]

{{Sangli district topics}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities and towns in Sangli district]]
[[Category:Princely states of India]]
[[Category:Talukas in Maharashtra]]

Miraj - Revision history

TeresaBrousseau at 13:08, 18 November 2025

CleanupBot II: Removed empty portal template using script

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