Mahidpur

Mahidpur City is a town and a municipality in Ujjain district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The modern town of Mahidpur is situated on the bank of river Shipra. It is located in the Malwa region. At present, the town is a tehsil place of Ujjain district.

Mahidpur City Mehidpur City Mehidpoor City
City
Mahidpur City Location in Madhya Pradesh, India
Coordinates: 23°29′14″N 75°39′26″E
Country	India
State	Madhya Pradesh
District	Ujjain
Population  (2011)
• Total	34,365
Languages
• Official	Hindi
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	456443

Several chalcolithic remains have been excavated in this town. The Battle of Mahidpur between the Marathas and the British was also fought in this location.

Geography

Mehidpur Road Railway Station, A station nearest to Mehidpur City

It is situated at a distance of 56 km southwest of Ujjain town by bus and 18 km from Mahidpur-Road Railway station on Delhi-Mumbai line of Western Railway. The town is well connected by road to Ujjain, Ratlam, Nagda, and Agar.

History

Mahidpur or mehidpur during British India was in Indore state of Central India, on the right bank of the Kshipra, 1,543 feet (470 m) above sea level, and 24 metres (79 ft) north of Ujjain, which in 1901 had a population of 6,681. Mahidpur belonged to Rajewagh (Now Waghraje).Though of some antiquity and frequented by Hindu pilgrims, it is best known for the battle fought in the neighbourhood on 20 December 1817 (Battle of Mahidpur), in which Sir John Malcolm defeated the army of Holkar. The result was the Treaty of Mandasor and the pacification of Malwa. Mahidpur was again the scene of fights during the Indian Mutiny. The British cantonment, placed here in 1817, was removed in 1882.[1]

Located at the bank of river Kshripra, city still has dilapidated old fort. Remnants of the war could be seen at a place named "Bhasmi Tekri" (Ashes Hill). City also has one of the oldest Mahalakshmi temples in the battlefield. Tala Kunchi ki Bawdi (Lock & Key Well) near the battlefield is supposedly the underground link to flee Mahidpur fort.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,[2] Mahidpur had a population of 34,365. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Mahidpur has an average literacy rate of 62%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 70%, and female literacy is 52%. In Mahidpur, 17% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Industry

A major chunk of the population is employed in the agricultural and related sectors, dealing directly or indirectly with the agricultural produce. Major crops grown are wheat, chick pea, pigeon pea, soybean, and corn. Mahidpur is known for agricultural produce such as ghee, mawa (thickened milk) and namkin.

Bibliography

• Chalcolithic site of Ujjain region, Mahidpur: excavation report. Sharada Pub. House. 2004. ISBN 978-81-88934-23-2.

References

1.  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Mehidpur". Encyclopædia Britannica. 18 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
2. "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.

Zen