Ashoknagar district


Ashoknagar District is a district of Madhya Pradesh state in central India. The city of Ashoknagar is the administrative headquarters of the district. Ashoknagar district was formed in 2003.

Geography

The district has an area of 4673.94 km². It is bounded on the east by the Betwa River, which separates it from Lalitpur District of Uttar Pradesh and Sagar District of Madhya Pradesh. Vidisha District lies to the south. The Sindh River forms the western border of the district, which separates it from Guna District. Shivpuri District lies to the north.
The district has a population of 688,920. It is divided into six tehsils: Ashoknagar, Chanderi, Issagarh, Mungaoli, Shadora and Bahadurpur. The district was created on August 15, 2003 when it was split from Guna District. Shahdora a town 15 km from Ashoknagar had been given tehsil status in September 2008. Ashoknagar also has a great historical importance. The details of the Block wise population and area is shown in the table below:
Name of BlockArea in Square KMPopulation--
Chanderi1035.50130532--
Ashoknagar1237.48227404--
Mungaoli1229.04182497--
Issagarh1078.35138160--
Shahdora------------------
Piprai------------------
Nai saray---------------Bahadurpur

History

The region was ruled as a part of Isagarh District of the Indian princely state of Gwalior but Chanderi was part of Narwar district. It is believed that King Ashoka on his return from Ujjain victory did a night halt on pachhar land, hence the name Ashoknagar.

Demographics

In 2001 census, Ashoknagar had a population of 67,705.
In 2011 census, Ashoknagar had population of 845,071 of which male and female were 443,837 and 366,632 respectively. There was change of 22.65 percent in the population compared to population as per 2001. In the previous census of India 2001, Ashoknagar District recorded increase of 23.20 percent to its population compared to 1991.
The initial provisional data suggest a density of 181 in 2011 compared to 147 of 2001. Total area under Ashoknagar district is of about 4,674 km2.
Average literacy rate of Ashoknagar in 2011 were 67.90 compared to 62.26 of 2001. If things are looked out at gender wise, male and female literacy were 80.22 and 54.18 respectively. For 2001 census, same figures stood at 77.01 and 45.24 in Ashoknagar District. Total literate in Ashoknagar District were 480,957 of which male and female were 299,409 and 181,548 respectively. In 2001, Ashoknagar District had 344,760 in its total region.
With regards to Sex Ratio in Ashoknagar, it stood at 900 per 1000 male compared to 2001 census figure of 879. The average national sex ratio in India is 940 as per latest reports of Census 2011 Directorate.
At the time of the 2011 Census of India, 98.61% of the population in the district spoke Hindi, 0.69% Punjabi and 0.59% Urdu as their first language.
In the south, about 35 km from Ashoknagar, is the 'Karila Mata Mandir', which is known to be the birthplace of Luv and Kush, sons of Lord Rama and Sita Mata. A huge fair is organized every year on Rangpanchmi in which Rai Dance is performed by Bedni Women. Tumen is also a historical pilgrim centre situated at Triveni known for Mata Vindhyavasini temple. There are many more places of religious importance in the district of Ashoknagar.
Chanderi is a tehsil of Ashoknagar district and is a historical & tourist palace. The main occupation of the people of Chanderi is handicraft.
Chanderi sarees are known all over the world. These are made by cotton and silk by hand through Khatka. Khatka is a self made machine for preparing sarees.
Another place in Ashoknagar district is Sri Anandpur, the world headquarters of Sri Advaith Paramhansa Sect. Disciples from across the globe visit Anandpur twice a year during Baisakhi and Guru Purnima to seek blessings from the gurus.
Kadwaya, a small village in the district is also known for the ancient Shiv Mandir, Garhi and Mata Mandir.
Chiniya cave near Nanon Village in Piprai Tehsil is a site of cave paintings by prehistoric man.

Tourism

Chanderi

Chanderi fort is situated on a hill 71 meter above the town. The fortification walls were constructed mainly by the Muslim rulers of Chanderi. The main approach to present fort is through a series of three gates the uppermost of which is known as Hawa Paur and lowermost is called the Khuni Darwaja or the gate of blood.
The peculiar name is derived from the fact that criminals were executed at this point by hurling them from the battlements above and thus dashing their bodies into pieces at foot. Within the fort there are only two ruined buildings the Hawa and Nau-Khanda Mahals built by Bundela Chiefs.

Chanderi Fort

To the south west of the fort there is a gateway called katti-ghatti made through hill side. It is 59 meter long 12 meter broad and 24.6 meter high in the middle of its portion of the rock has been view into the shape of a gate, with a points arch, flanked by a slopping towers.

Kaushak Mahal of Chanderi

The Kaushak Mahal of Chanderi is referred to in Tawarikh-i-Ferishta. It is recorded in it that, in A.H. 849. Mehmood Shah Khilji of Malwa was passing through Chanderi. He ordered a seven storied palace to be built there. Kaushak Mahal is outcome of that order. It is an imposing building - though standing in a half ruined condition. To the south, east and north of the town are the palaces of Ramnagar, Panchamnagar and Singhpur respectively. All are built by Bundela Chiefs of Chanderi in the 18th Century.

Issagarh

Kadwaya a small village of Ashoknagar tehsil contains a number of temples. One of these temples has been constructed in the 10th century in Kachhapaghata style of architecture. It has its garbha-griha, antaral and mandapa.
The temple contains short pilgrimis records of A.D. 1067 and 1105. Another old temple of Kadwaya is known as Chandal math. The village possesses a ruined monastery, from a very old record was picked up which it is stated that to monestor was built to house some members of Shaiva sect known as Matta Mourya. During Akbar's reign Kadwaya was the headquarters of a mahal in the Gwalior's sarkar of the subah of Agra.

Thubonji Sidhdha Kshetra

Here are a group of 26 temples. This sacred place Thuvonji came to knowledge during the period of the businessman Shri Padashah. It is said that Shri Padashah was dealing in Metal Tin and when he put his Metal Tin here it got converted into Silver. There are a group of 26 temples with many idols. Temple No. 15 is the main among them known as big temple here, with 28 feet high colossus of Lord Adinath in standing posture, installed in Vikram Samvat 1672. Atishay: It is said that sound of various musical instruments is heard in the night as the gods from heaven come here for prayers & worship. It is also said that after completion of this high colossus, so many devotees were unable to install this in standing posture, at that night Head of the function saw a dream and in the next morning he according dream worshiped the colossus and then he alone placed the high colossus standing. Temples: Lord parsvanath Jain Temple – There is a 15 feet high colossus of Lord Parsvanath installed in V.S. 1864 with a serpent hood over the head; this hood is made by different serpents and may be seen in both the sides of colossus. Lord Shantinath Jain temple: 18 feet high standing posture of Lord Shantinath. Ajitnath Jain Temple. Adinath Jain: Temple is also vast with 16 feet high colossus of Lord Adinath. This was installed by Shri Savasingh of Chanderi in V.S. 1873. He also completed the Choubeesee Mandir of Chanderi Chandraprabhu Jain Temple is new modern temple with principal deity Lord Chandraprabhu, 1.5 feet in height in sitting posture. Museum: Some ancient idols are kept there, in them a standing 12 feet high idol.

Employment

The occupation of the people there is mostly agricultural. Many people are engaged in grain merchandise. Business in the field of textiles and provisions is also quite active over there. In recent times, Commodity Exchange Market has also grown along with logistics business.

Financiers and banks

  1. State Bank of India
  2. State Bank of India
  3. Axis Bank
  4. Bank of India
  5. Punjab National Bank
  6. Union Bank of India
  7. Oriental Bank of Commerce
  8. Jila Sehkari Bank
  9. ICICI Bank
  10. HDFC Bank
  11. Central Bank of India
  12. Madhya Bharat Gramin Bank
  13. Madhya Bharat Gramin Bank
  14. Bank of baroda
  15. Punjab & sindh Bank
  16. Dena Bank
  17. Kotak Mahindra
  18. IDBI
  19. ICICI
  20. Corporationbank
  21. Muthut Finance

    Institutions

Ashoknagar has many English and Hindi medium schools:

Schools

Ashoknagar is situated at the average elevation of 507 metres above sea level. It is in the plateau region. It has an agricultural topography. The plateau is an extension of the Deccan Traps, formed between 60 and 68 million years ago at the end of the Cretaceous period. In this region, the main classes of soil are black, brown and bhatori soil. The volcanic, clay-like soil of the region owes its black colour to the high iron content of the basalt from which it is formed. The soil requires less irrigation because of its high capacity for moisture retention. The other two soil types are lighter and have a higher proportion of sand. The year is popularly divided into three seasons: summer, the rains, and winter. Summer extends over the months of Chaitra to Jyestha. The average daily temperature during the summer months is 35 °C, which typically rises to around 46 °C on a few days. The rainy season starts with the first showers of Aashaadha and extends to the middle of Ashvin. Most of the rain falls during the southwest monsoon spell, and ranges from about 100 cm in the west to about 165 cm in the east. Ashoknagar and surrounding areas receive an average of 140 cm of rainfall a year. The growing period lasts from 90 to 150 days, during which the average daily temperature is below 30 °C, but seldom falls below 20 °C. Winter is the longest of the three seasons, extending for about five months. The average daily temperature ranges from 15 °C to 20 °C, though on some nights it can fall as low as 5 °C. Some cultivators believe that an occasional winter shower during the months of Pausha and Maagha—known as Mawta—is helpful to the early summer wheat and germ crops.

Climate

The climate of Ashoknagar is sub-tropical. In summers, the temperature reaches 47 °C, while dropping to 4 °C in the winter. Rainfall is adequate and sometimes less.

Myth

A myth which is associated with Ashoknagar city and which is very popular among the residents is that if the Chief Minister of a State visits Ashoknagar, soon after the visit, he loses his position. Many CMs like Dwarka Prasad Mishr, Shri Sundarlal Patwa, Arjun Singh, Digvijay Singh, Uma Bharti, Babulal Gaur, and even Mr. Lalu Prasad Yadav have become victims of this myth. So now CMs have started avoiding any visit to Ashoknagar. Current MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has never visited Ashoknagar.

Transportation Facility

Ashoknagar has good transport facilies. It is connected to main cities of the state as well as the cities around India by Railways and Roadways. It is situated on the Kota-Bina railway section of Western Central Railway.
Ashoknagar is situated on the State Highway. It is Well connected with its surrounding district namely Guna, Vidisha and Shivpuri The length of state highways in the District is about 82.20 km.
Ashoknagar is situated on the Western-Central Railway 's broad gauge line of the Kota-Bina Section. Another rail link, viz., The total rail length in the district is about 141 km and the route kilometrege per 100 square KM is 1.27. Recently The trains are available for Kota, Bina, Ujjain, Indore, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Ahamdabad, Bhopal, Sagar, Damoh, Jabalpur, Durg, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Delhi, Deharadoon, Darbhanga and Gwalior.