Astha Municipal Council

The town of Ashta is located in Walva Tehsil of Sangli District. The Ashta Municipal Council set up in 1853 is one of the oldest in the state. Though classified as a ‘C' Class Municipal Council it is more of like a large village with most of the land under agriculture use. The reason for it being established as council during the British Rule was to create an office for the collector and other senior officers of the Government and facilitate collection of taxes from Ashta. The town paid substantial agriculture tax owing to very good production of crops. Ashta is located in the fertile valley of the Krishna River at an altitude of approximately 500 m. Sangli district. Ashta is a small town having a population of 33203. Uran-Islampur a larger urban centre is about 30km north of Ashta within Walva tehsil. The district shares its southern boundary with Belgaum district of Karnataka State. The town has a mythological history and is said to derive its name from “Ashta” meaning eight “Lingas”. These eight “Lingas” are said to be established by Lord Rama on his way south during his exile. Ashta town is located at 17 0 15 ' North Latitude 74 0 25'East Latitude. It is well connected by road to Sangli (21 km) Kolhapur (260 km), Pune (337 Km) and Mumbai (497 Km). Ashta does not have a direct rail connection. Sangli is the nearest railway station which falls on the Mumbai – Bangalore route via Miraj. Sangli is well connected to Mumbai and other parts of the state and country. Sangli has very good road connectivity as well.