Ganj Basoda

Ganj Basoda
गंज बासोदा
Ganj Basoda
Location in Madhya Pradesh, India
Coordinates: 23°51′N 77°56′E / 23.85°N 77.93°E / 23.85; 77.93Coordinates: 23°51′N 77°56′E / 23.85°N 77.93°E / 23.85; 77.93
Country  India
State Madhya Pradesh
District Vidisha
Government
 • Member Of Parliament Mrs. Sushma Swaraj
 • Member Of Assembly Mr. Nishank Jain
 • Mayor Mrs. Madhulika Rajendra Agrawal
Elevation 416 m (1,365 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Total 78,289
 • Density 700/km2 (2,000/sq mi)
Languages
 • Official Hindi
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN 464221
Telephone code 91-7594
Vehicle registration MP-40
Website https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009354935946

Ganj Basoda (Hindi: गंज बासोदा), sometimes called Basoda, is a city of municipality in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Ganj Basoda is one of the ten tehsils in Vidisha district.[1]

History

The princely state of Basoda was founded in 1753.[2][3] The rulers belonged to the ruling dynasty of Kurwai State and Muhammadgarh and were titled Nawab.[4]

Earlier there was an oil and flour mill named "Standard Flour and Oil mill" which also got the opportunity to fulfill the need of food in World War II. Owing to unknown reasons it burnt into ashes and because of this reason now the townsmen call it "jali mill". The site of the mill is located near the railway station, opposite the railway goods shed. Today the burnt building stands in the former standard flour and mill area.

Etymology

Ganj is a common suffix/prefix meaning market place or neighbourhood in Hindi, Bengali and Urdu, used in names of neighbourhoods and towns in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan such as Daryaganj.[5]

Geography

Basoda is located at 23°51′N 77°57′E / 23.85°N 77.95°E / 23.85; 77.95. It has an average elevation of 399 metres (1309 feet). The Parasari river divides the town into two parts. Another river Betwa also flows at west end, very close to the town.

Economy

Ganj Basoda's economy mainly depends on agriculture and Stone Mines. It has one of biggest Grain Mandi of Asia. Its Sandstone is very popular in foreign countries like UK, Italy etc. Main crops are wheat, gram, lentils, soybean, and ground nuts. Wheat of Ganj Basoda is famous all over the world. Ganj Basoda is Known for its Quality wheat production. Ganj Basoda is also famous for its stone market. Stones mined from Ganj Basoda or near places exported to international market via Kandla port (Gujarat). It has sound trade market and increasing.

Transport and connectivity

  • Rail network : Ganj Basoda railway station is 93 km from Bhopal Junction towards Jhansi (203 km) and 604 km from New Delhi Junction.
  • By road : 106 km from Bhopal via Vidisha (60 km), and 106 km from Sagar (M.P.)

Politics

Ganj Basoda comes under Vidisha parliamentary constituency. A number of political stalwarts have fought elections from here. The former prime minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee had fought and won elections from Vidisha. The current Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was an MP from Vidisha for three terms. Former President Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma's mother Subhadra Sharma hails from Ganj Basoda. At Present the External Affairs Minister of India Sushma Swaraj is the M.P. from Vidisha constituency.

Educational Institutions

Krishi Mahavidyalaya (JNKVV), LBS college, SGS College, Bharat Mata Convent School, Kendriya vidyalaya, Scholars' Public School, Navankur Vidhya Pith, T. T. Jain Hr. Sec. School, are some famous education institutes in the city.

Tourist attractions

Udaipur Nilkantheshwar Temple

The most important attraction near Ganj Basoda is the Shiva temple at Udaipur (Madhya Pradesh).[6] It is a beautiful example of Indian architecture. Two inscriptions of Hijri 737 and 739 are mentioned in the time of Muhammad Tughlaq and in the Hijri 856 during the reign of Islam Shah Suri, the mosque was constructed and in the inscription of Hijri 894, mosque was built during the time of Muhammad Shah Khaliji of Mandu. The outer walls of the main Nilkantheshwar Temple have been broken during the time of the rulers of the architectural Muslim rule of UtraKin Devi Deities, whose remains are currently available in the Temple Pragnan.

The main temple has been built in the middle and it has three entrances. Shivalinga is installed in the sanctum in which only rays of sun rising on the day of Shivratri falls. In the sanctum sanctorum of the main temple, the shape of the shivaling is about 8 feet, which is covered with bronze which is only thrown on Shivratri day. Presently Lord Shiva is worshiped on the temple Archana. The construction of Shivling is similar to the Shivlinga located in the Bhojpur Shiva temple situated near Bhopal.

The idol of various gods and goddesses on the outer wall of the temple has been engraved on stone, most of the idol is equipped with various forms of Lord Shiva. In the important sculpture craft, there is a statue of Mahatmasur Mardini, Kartikeya, etc. in the dance form Natraj Murthy of Lord Shiva. And in addition the woman displays beauty.

Another great ancient Shiva Temple is located at Gamakar Village, about 10 Km from Basoda Town. The temple is of Natural origin cave temple. Hundreds of pilgrims visit this temple daily. A large fair is also organised at Maha Shivratri. Thousands of people visit this place on this day. In the Village Gamakar about 500 years old Garhis ( small Forts where Jagirdars lived) are present which are residents for Raghuwanshi community. The village is well connected with the Basoda Town by road.

Pathari located at a road distance of 30 km from Basoda is an ancient site of historical importance for believers of Jainism and Buddhism. Temples (Jain 24 Thirtankars, Gadrmal temple, BHIM Gaja approx-50 ft height of single stone piece) of 10th-11th century are situated here at Pathari. 18 km from Basoda near village Udaipur is another village Muradpur, where one can see unique statue of Varah (Lord Vishnu avatar) only of its kind in world. To visit Udaipur, Muradpur and Pathari(badoh)one can follow motorable road from Basoda, following given route—Ganj Basoda (0 km)- Bareth (10 km)- Udaipur (16 km)-Pathari (30 km. For Muradpur (3 km from Udaipur on branch route). You may visit Modern temple of Goddess Sheetala Mata in the heart of town Basoda.


† Not to be confused with a city in Indian state of Rajasthan with similar name, see Udaipur

References

  1. ↑ "Vidisha Statistics". Retrieved 27 August 2011.
  2. ↑ http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V07_111.gif
  3. ↑ http://members.iinet.net.au/~royalty/ips/b/basoda.html
  4. ↑ Princely States of India
  5. ↑ Ganj
  6. ↑ "Places to visit in Udaypur". Retrieved 27 August 2011.

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