Atpadi ( ) is an administrative town and Taluka in of Sangli district in the Indian state of Maharashtra.

History

In 16th century Atapdi was part of Adilshahi kingdom of Bijapur. Later it was a part of princely state of Aundh as well as a palace city, hence it was called as Atpadi Mahal. After Indian independence and merging of Aundh into republic of India, Atpadi was in Khanapur Taluka in Satara district till new district, Sangali was formed. After formation of new district, Atpadi was separated from Khanapur Taluka and made a Taluka place itself. Prominent Marathi writers like G.D. Madgulkar, B.D. Madgulkar, Shankarrao Kharat are from this place.

Geography

Atpadi is a Taluka (Sub division of District) in Sangali District, Located at Latitude: 17° 25' 0 N, Longitude: 74° 57' 0 E.

Population: Approximately 25000.

Language: Marathi

Atapdi is old styled town where town is divided into Galli's of different caste people, making it perfect Indian self-Dependent village.

• Galli in Atpadi Town
• Wani Galli
• Brahman Galli
• Navhi Galli
• Kosthi Galli
• Kasar Galli
• Deshmukh Galli
• Kumbhar Galli
• Parit Galli
• Other newly formed residence colonies
• Choundeshwari colony
• Vidya Nagar
• Sathe Nagar
• Phule Nagar
• Vithal Sampat Nagar
• Dr.Ambedkar Nagar

Agriculture

• Jowar, Locally called as Jwari, jawar (ज्वारी, जवार).
• Maize, Locally called as Makaa (मका ).
• Pomegranate, Locally called as Daalimb(डाळिंब). Arakt(आरक्त), Bhagawaa(भगवा), Ganesh(गणेश) are the verities grown in Atpadi.
• Cotton, Locally called as Kaapus
• Bajari, Locally called as Bajari
• Wheat, Locally called as Gahu

Cattle

• Khillari bull (Atpadi Mahal)- The breed is well adapted to the tropical and drought prone conditions present in this part of the world and are favoured by the local farming community due to their ability to handle the hardships of farming pretty well. In spite of this lately the breed is showing a steady decline in numbers mostly due the low milk yield which forms an alternate stream of income for the farming community. The Khillari is between 4½ to 5½ feet tall and weighs between 800 and 1000 lbs.

http://images.google.co.in/imgres?imgurl=http://www.moocow.com/info/breedsofcows/breedimages/krishnavalley/krishnavalley-01.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.moocow.com/info/breedsofcows/k.breedsofcows.shtml&usg=__TO3DGpKaTcLCkFzYjFe47EVyuZE=&h=325&w=300&sz=18&hl=en&start=4&um=1&tbnid=v0_wCaS_C1HhqM:&tbnh=118&tbnw=109&prev=/images%3Fq%3DAtpadi%2BMahal%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26hs%3DQDP%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1

• Buffalo, sheep, Goat

Season

Summer, Mansoon rain and Winter. Region falls under rain-shadow area resulting less rain.

Water resources

• Lakes: Atapdi has a lake dedicated for drinking water.
• Rivers and Water Canals: Shukra Odha and Manganga River flows near to Atpadi. Various water canals are projected through Atpadi Taluka under Khrishna Khore Vikas Mahamandal.
• Bel River of Shetphale.

Forest Area

Atpadi has a forest office, near Swatantrapur. Dubai Kuran (डबई कुरण) is reserved forest area.

Surrounding area and villages

• Bhingewadi:Bhingewadi is small Grampanchat Village 3 kilometers from Atpadi Town situated at north-west. Bhingewadi consists of farms of people whose surname is Bhinge, so the name Bhingewadi.Bhingewadi is a small village of 2000 people and farms in and around houses. Wheat, Jowar, Bajara, and pomegranate is main produce from the farm lands. Its adjacent to swatantrapur.
• Deshmukhwaadi: Situated at south-east of Atpadi.
• Ya.Pa. Wadi: Located on Atpadi-Sangola road
• Mapate Mala: Located on Atpad-Nimbawade road, south-west
• Sonarsiddhnagar: Located on Atpadi-Kauthuli road.
• Swatantrapur: It is located in between Atpadi lake and Bhingewadi, it is a free custodian colony built in 1939. The Hindi cinema, 'Do ankhe baraah haath' is based on Swatantrapur.

Other villages in Atpadi Taluka

• Shetphale: 12 km from Atpadi town, birth place of G.D. Madgulkar, renowned Marathi poet.
• Dighanchi: 12 km from Atpadi town
• Madgule:
• Nimbawade:
• Viththalapur:
• Karagani:
• Kouthuli:
• Balewadi:
• Kharsundi: Place of Lord Siddhanath.
• Banpuri:
• Tadawale:
• Gomewadi:
• NelKaranji:
• Shukachari: Hill, believed to be of epic sage Shukamuni.
• Hiwatad:
• Valvan:
• Gharniki:
• Kamat:
• Avalai:
• Rajewadi: Rajewadi Talaw built in Victorian time.
• Pimpri Budruk:
• List of grampanchat villages in Atpadi taluka

Political system

Atpadi town has a gram panchayat administration for town, while Panchayat Samiti is to administer the entire taluka.Atpadi is part of Atpadi-Khanapur constituency of Vidhan Sabha, Maharashtra State Sangli Constituency for Loksabha.

Recently old building of Atpadi Grampanchayat is under construction to renovate it, though original design of Grampanchayat building is not changed.

Education

Atpadi has schools and college to fulfill the education requirements. Higher Education is possible till bachelors degree in science, arts and commerce.

• Colleges:1. Atpadi College, Atpadi ( Arts, science and Commerce), 2. Kala Vidyan Mahavidyalay affiliated to Shivaji University, Kolhapur.
• Schools : 1.Shree Bhavani Highschool, Atpadi, 2. S.V.D.D. Girl's Highschool, Atpadi, 3. Rajaram Bapu Highschool, Atpadi. Affiliated to SSC/HSC board Kolhapur.
• Professional courses:
• Industrial Training Institute, Atpadi (ITI college); Various D.Ed. Colleges and Agriculture Diploma College, Bhingewadi.
• Sriram society's Engg. Diploma college
• Engineering college (Degree)
• Atpadi Education Society

Industry

• Sugar Factory:Manganga Sugar Factory
• Cotton Mill: Babasaheb Deshmukh Shetkari Sahakari Sutgirani
• Domestic industry of woolen blanckets (Gongade/Kambal घोंगडे /कंबळ)
• Khadi Gramodyog
• Food packaging (Pomegranate)
• Zep Soap Company (Zep Trade Tech)

Banks and Finance Institutes

• Saraswat Co Op Bank
• Bank of India
• Bank of Maharahstra
• Sangli District Co. Bank
• Dr. Babasaheb Deshmukh Co. Bank
• Vita Merchants Co. Bank
• Virshaiv patpedhi
• Youth Development Co. Bank
• Manmandir Co. Bank
• Bhskararao Deshpande Co OP Society
• Coming soon-State Bank Of India (SBI)

Hospitals

• Government Primary Hospital, Nimbavade Road.
• Sawant Hospital
• Shinde Hospital, Chaundeshwary Colony
• Padalkar Hospital, Nimbavade Road.

Art and culture

Literature

Atpadi had given four presidents of Marathi Sahitya Sammelan.The great Marathi author & adhunik walmiki, popularly known as GaDiMa (गदिमा) G M Madgulkar is from nearby village madgule. His younger brother Venkatesh Madgulkar, Shankar Rao Kharat and Na.Sa.Inamadar are other three authors from Atpadi.

Magazine

MaanDarshan - Editor/Publisher - Sunil H. Gidde

Folk dance, songs and Sports

• Kusti: Indian form soil wrestling.
• Dhangari Dance, Gaji

Temples and Festivals

Temples in Atpadi town

• Nath Baba (Bhingewadi Road)
• Jotiba (Bhingewadi Road)
• Sai Mandir (Bhingewadi Road)
• Vitthal Mandir (Near ST Stand)
• Kalleshwar (Center)
• Vitthal Mandir (Near Post Office)
• Ram mandir (Brahman Galli)
• Datta mandir (Brahman Galli)
• Ramnath Buwa mandir (Peth)
• Uttareshwar (bajar Patangan)
• Kala Maruti (bajar Patangan)
• Khandoba (bajar Patangan)
• Yellama (bajar Patangan)
• Math (Wani Galli)
• Laandaa Maruti (Prakashwadi)
• Tambada Maruti (Deshmukh Galli)
• Maruti (Sathenagar (Annabhau Sathe Chawk)/Prakashwadi)
• Vetal (Prakashwadi)
• Parmeshwar Mandir (Shukra Odha)
• Sonarsiddha Mandir (Sonarsiddhwadi)
• Narsoba Mandir located at various places in town. (Five in number)
• Ganesh Mandir (Ambabai Odha)
• Ambabai mandir (Ambabai Odha)
• Tulajapurche Thanake (Karkhana Road)

Famous Temples in Atpadi taluka

• Siddhanath Mandir - Kharsundi
• Ram Mandir - Karagani
• Shukachari Cave - Shukachari
• JakaiDevi Mandir - Nelkaranji
• Jotiba Mandir - Madgule
• Khandoba Mandir - Madgule
• Marimata Mandir - Avalai
• Siddhanath Mandir - Shetphale
• Bhaktabai Mandir - Shetphale
• Jogeshwari Mandir - Shetphale.
• Choundeshwari Mandir - Atpadi
• Masoba Mandir - Banpuri
• BhavaniTemple - Dighanchi
• Hanuman Mandir,sidhatnath temple for snake bite -pimpri budruk
• Jotirling Mandir - Tadawale

Festivals

• Akhand Harinam Saptha(Jotiba Mandir,Madgule)in Month of April'
• Paravarcha Melava (G. D. Madgulkar Janma divas ) Shetphale.
• Ashtami Yatra Shetphale.
• Town Festival/Fair: Uttareshwar jatra - Atpadi
• Khandoba Jatra - Madgule
• Marimi Aai Yatra - Tadawale
• Marimata Jatra - Avalai
• Paush yatra - Kharsundi. This festival is famous for its khillari cattle trade in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra.
• Chaitra yatra - Kharsundi (Saasan/Shaasan Kaathi)
• Jakai yatra-Nelkaranji
• Masoba Jatra-Banpuri
• Hanuman Jatra- pimpri budruk

Travel and Stay and Entertainment

Atpadi is well connected by road and falls on state highway between Solapur and Karad. It has well connectivity to Solapur, Sangli, Kolhapur, Karad, Pune and Mumbai and adjacent towns through state transport buses as well as private buses. Atpadi has MSRTC bus stand and depot. Atpadi has couple of lodges and number of hotels and road side dhabas. Siddhanath Chitrmandir is only cinema theater.

What to see

• Swatantrapur
• Datta Mandir/Aai saheb mandir( wife of shri gondavalekar maharaj)
• Atpadi Lake ( Atpadi Pazar Talav / Atpadi Tale)
• Rajewadi talaw
• Sonarshiddh Temple
• Siddhnath temple, Kharsundi
• Ram Mandir, Karagani
• Shukachari Hills: Place of ancient sage Shukmuni, son of Vyas.
• Manganga Sakhar Karkhana
• Ga.Di.Ma Smarak, Shetphale
• Jakai Mandir, Nelkaranji
• Jotiba Mandir - Madgule
• Ga.Di.Ma Smarak, Shetphale
• siddhanath mandir y.p.wadi
• Banpuri Lake ( Banpuri Pazar Talav / Banpuri Tale)

Miscellaneous

• Gruha Nirman Sanstha:Siddharth Magaswargiya Gruha Nirman Sanshta is project of Maharashtra Government.Social Welfare departments one of best project for the people.
• Bachatdham: Public Hall

External links

• Atpadi Education Society
• Maharashtra Pomegranate Growers research Association
• MaanDarshan [439711]