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Miraj | |
---|---|
City | |
Coordinates: 16°50′N 74°38′E / 16.83°N 74.63°E | |
Country | India |
State | Maharashtra |
District | Sangli |
Government | |
• Type | Municipal corporation |
• Body | Sangli, Miraj and Kupwad City Municipal Corporation (SMKC) |
• Mayor | Digvijay Suryavanshi (NCP) |
Demonym | Mirajkar |
Languages | |
• Official | Marathi |
Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
PIN | 416410 |
Telephone Code | 0233 |
Vehicle registration | MH-10 |
Miraj (Pronunciation: [miɾəd͡z]; ) is a city that is part of the Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad metropolitan region in Sangli district, Maharashtra. Founded in the early 10th century, Miraj was an important jagir of the Bijapur Sultanate.
Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha Empire, 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 a vital junction on the central railway network. The Patwardhan family were the hereditary rulers of Miraj until independence.
Miraj is known for Hindustani classical music and medical services. It is an emerging medical hub in India. The city has an unbelievable[clarification needed] doctor-to-patient ratio. The low cost of medical treatment, treatment facilities, and adjoining medical facilities attract patients to Miraj. The language is a key factor as most of the Kannada-speaking staff attract many patients from North Karnataka.[1] Many medical tourists visit from the adjoining districts of North Karnataka and Goa, as well as all over India and from Arab countries. The annual Ganesh Visarjan procession is an attraction that lasts for an average of twenty hours.