Mehsana

Gate of Toranwali Mata Temple

Mehsana was established by Mehsaji Chavda, Rajput heir of the Chavda dynasty. He constructed the Torana (arc gate) of the city and a temple dedicated to Goddess Toran in Vikram Samvat 1414, Bhadrapad Sud 10 (1358 AD).[6] It is described by Jaisinh Brahmbhatt in poems from 1932 AD,[7][8] and corroborated by Manilal Nyalchand, an author of Pragat Prabhavi Parshvanath of Samvat 1879 (1822 AD). He also states that Mehsaji built the temple dedicated to Chamunda. It inconclusively establishes that the town was founded during Rajput period. Another legend says that Mehsaji established it in Vikram Samvat 1375 (1319 AD). The town is named after him.[9]

Gaekwads conquered Baroda and established Baroda State in 1721. They expanded their rule in north Gujarat and established Patan as its administrative headquarters. Later the headquarters was moved to Kadi and subsequently to Mehsana in 1902. The Gaekwad dynasty connected the city by Gaekwar's Baroda State Railway which was opened on 21 March 1887. Sayajirao Gaekwad III built Rajmahal palace in 1904 (Vikram Samvat 1956) at a cost of 443,532 rupees by the British architect Stevens. Intended for his son, Fatehsinhrao, who died shortly afterwards in 1908, the palace was then handed over to municipal authorities.[10] It is being used as a district court.[8][9]

Baroda State merged with the Union of India after independence in 1947. It was merged into Bombay State as Mehsana district in 1949. Later it became part of Gujarat in 1960 after the division of Bombay state into Gujarat and Maharashtra. Mehsana is headquarters of Mehsana district in north Gujarat.[7][9]

Mehsana has an average elevation of 265 feet (81 m) above sea level.

Mehsana Municipality (Nagar Palika) was established in 1919–20. Following the merger of Baroda state with Bombay State on 1 August 1949, it was governed by Bombay District Municipal Act, 1902. Since 1 January 1956, it is governed under Gujarat Nagar Palika Act, 1963.[8] It falls under Mehsana Metropolitan Region.

As of the 2011 India census, the population of Mehsana was 184,991, of which male and female were 97,440 and 87,551, respectively.[2] Its urban-metropolitan population was 190,753 of which 100,558 were males and 90,195 were females.[11]

The sex ratio was 894 females to 1,000 males.[1] Mehsana had an average literacy rate of 84.26%, higher than the national average. Male literacy was 91.88%, and female literacy was 76.12%.[1] 9.4% of Mehsana's population was under 6 years of age.[1]

At 762,[1] Mehsana had the lowest child sex-ratio among the urban centres in India.[12]

Hinduism is the majority religion in Mehsana with 88.18% of the population being followers. Islam is the second-most-popular religion in the city at 9.26%, followed by Jainism at 1.62%, Sikhism 0.28%, Buddhism 0.28%, and Christianity at 0.27%. Around 0.01% identified with other religions and approximately 0.36% were of no particular religion.

Jain Temple in Mehsana

Boter Kotha ni Vav

Persian and Devnagari inscriptions in Vav

Boter Kotha ni Vav, also known as Interi Vav, is a stepwell located opposite the crematorium in the Ambaipara area. Though folklore associates it to Lakha Vanzara, it was constructed of bricks and sandstone during the reign of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. An inscription dating from Samvat 1731 (1674 AD) in Persian and Devnagari scripts states that it was commissioned by Shah Gokaldas of Shrimali caste, Laghu Shakha, and his mother Manabai for public welfare. It is 14 to 15 metres (45 to 50 ft) long and eleven floors deep and has unique twin wells. Repaired during the Gaekwad era, it is now neglected and polluted.[9][15][16][17][18][19]

There is another stepwell known as Badiyashi Vav in Biladi Baug.[8]

Other historical monuments include Rajmahal, Yoshovijayji Jain Sanskrit Pathshala, T. J. Highschool, Kesharbai School, Mehsana district local board office.[8]

Para Lake, officially Swami Vivekanand Lake, was excavated during the Gaekwad rule. It was redeveloped and opened in 2019.[20] Nagalpur Lake is proposed for development as a public space.[21]

Dudhsagar Dairy plant is a postmodernist building designed by Achyut Kanvinde.[14]

T. J. Highschool, established in 1889

Mehsana has several facilities offering education to graduation and post-graduation. The Municipal Arts and Urban Bank Science College is affiliated by Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University.[24] Ganpat University,[25] located in Kherva village which is 10 km (6.2 mi) from the city. Gujarat Power Engineering and Research Institute[26] and Saffrony Institute of Technology[27] offer courses in engineering and management. B. S. Patel College of Pharmacy offers courses in pharmacy, and is affiliated with Gujarat Technological University.[28] Sarvajanik Kelvani Mandal Trust offers education in the fields of pharmacy, nursing, and homeopathy.

There are many primary and higher-secondary schools affiliated with Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) or Gujarat Board including: Kendriya Vidyalaya ONGC Mehsana, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) Vadnagar, and N.G. International School. T. J. Highschool operated by Nagrik Kelvani Mandal was established in 1889. Gurukul English Medium School started in 2012. Sarvajanik Kelvani Mandal Trust also runs many schools in north Gujarat. Other schools include Sabari Vidya Vihar, run by Dharma Sastha Seva Trust, and Bethany Mission School.