Vidisha

Vidisha is a district in the State of Madhya Pradesh in India. It extends between Latitude 23° 21' and 24° 22' North and Longitude 77° 15' 30" and 78° 18' East. The district derives its name from its headquarters town of the same name.

Its greatest length from North-West to South-East is about 133.6 km and the greatest width from North-East to South-West is about 96 km. It is bounded in the North by Guna District in the South by Raisen District and in the East by Sagar District. The area of the district is 7371 Sq Km.

Population of this district is 1214857 (CENSUS - 2001).

There are seven tehsils in this district.

History

Vidisha or Besnagar as it is called in the Pali scriptures, once the prosperous capital of the western dominions of the Sungas, contains some remarkable antiquities that throw light on the considerable architectural development of the period.

In the 6th and 5th centuries BC, it rose to become an important trade centre and a bustling city under the Sungas, Nagas, Satvahanas and Guptas. The Emperor Ashoka was governor of Vidisha, and it finds mention in Kalidasa's immortal Meghdoot. Deserted for three centuries after the 6th century, it was renamed Bhilsa by the Muslims who built the now ruined Bija Mandal, a mosque constructed from the remains of Hindu temples. It later passed on to the Malwa Sultans, the Mughals, and the Scindias.

Politics

Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) constituencies and their areas after delimitation order of 2008

144 Vidisha Vidhan Sabha Constituency - 1).Vidisha and Work Load R. I. Circles of Vidisha Tehsil, 2). Vidisha (MUN)-MUN and 3). Gulabganj R. I. Circle of Gyaraspur Tehsil.

145 Basoda Vidhan Sabha Constituency - 1). Basoda and Tyonda R. I. Circles of Basoda Tehsil, 2). Basoda (MUN)-MUN and 3). Gyaraspur R.I. Circle of Gyaraspur Tehsil.

146 Kurwai Vidhan Sabha Constituency (SC) - 1). Kurwai Tehsil 2). Deepnakheda and Siyalpur R. I. Circles of Sironj Tehsil and 3). Ambanagar R. I. Circle of Basoda Tehsil.

147 Sironj Vidhan Sabha Constituency - 1). Lateri Tehsil, 2). Sironj, Bhagvantpur and Mugalsarai R. I. Circles of Sironj Tehsil and 3). Sironj (MUN)-MUN.

148 Shamshabad Vidhan Sabha Constituency - 1). Nateran Tehsil and 2), Pipalkheda R. I. Circle of Vidisha Tehsil.

Places of interest

Vidisha town, Udaigiri Caves, Holiodorous Pillar, Bijamandal or Vijayamandira Temple, Gyaraspur, Maladevi Temple, Hindola Torana, Bajramath Temple, Udaypur, Udayeshwara Temple, Badoh Pathari, Gadarmal Temple, Dashavtar Temple, Sola Kambi Temple, Sironj