Dewas district General information
Dewas is a district of Madhya Pradesh state in central India. The town of Dewas is the district headquarters. The district has an area 7,020 km², and a population 1,306,617 (2001 census), an increase of 26% since 1991.
Dewas District in Ujjain Revenue Division, is situated on the Malawa plateau in the West-central part of Madhya Pradesh and lies between 20º17' and 23º20' North latitude and 75º54' and 77º08' East longitude. The district is bounded by Ujjain district in the north, Indore district in the west, West-Nimar district in the south-west, East Nimar district in the south, Hoshangabad district in the South East, Sehore district in the east and Shajapur district in the North-East. The tropic of cancer passes through the district near Nemawar village south of Khategaon town.
The district gets its name from the district headquarters town, Dewas which is said to have been derived on the basis of two traditions. One is that Dewas lies on the foot of a conical hill, known as Chamunda hill about 300 ft. above the ground level on top of which the shrine of Chamunda is located. The image of the Goddess is cut in rocky wall of a cave. It is, therefore, known as Devi Vashini or the Goddess's residence. From this. the name Dewas (dev-vas) seems to have been derived. The other view of the probable origin is from the name of the founder of the village Dewasa Bania.
The present Dewas district broadly corresponds to the twin treaty States in Malwa Political charge of the Central India Agency, divided into a Senior and a Junior branch of the early twentieth century with some adjustments of other territories. There were two district chiefships with separate administrations, acting independently in most matters, sharing the same capital town of Dewas. Consequent upon the merger of princely States and the formation of Madhya Bharat State in 1948 there was reconstitution of boundaries and thus the district in the present form was constituted. The reconstituted district was, however, formed by merging 242 villages of the two tahsils of Dewas of the former Senior and Junior State, 452 villages of Sonkatch tahsil and of 99 villages of Ujjain tahsil of former Gwalior state, 99 villages of Nimanpur tahsil of former Dhar state, one village of Jawar tahsil of former Bhopal State, and then the existing tahsils of Kannod and Khategon of former Holkar State. With the reorganization of States on linguistic basis on 1st November 1956, Madhya Bharat, with other territories got merged to form the New state of Madhya Pradesh and thus Dewas continues to be one of the districts in it.
The district is now divided in to 6 tahsils viz. Sonkatch, Dewas, Bagli, Kannod, Tonk-Khurd and Khategaon. Dewas tahsil is situated on the north-western part of the district, Sonkatch on the north-eastern part, Bagli on the south, Kannod on the south-central part and Khategaon on the South-east. All the tahsil head quarters are connected by all weather roads. The Head-quarters of Dewas tahsil which is also the district headquarters is situated on The Bombay-Agra National Highway No.3 and is also connected by broad-gauge railway line of western Railway.
Tourist Place
CHAMUNDA TEKRI: The town lies at the foot of a conical hill known as the Chamund Tekri or hill of the Goddess Chamunda, which rises sum 300 feet above the general level. The town derives its name from the hill which owing to the shrine upon it, was known as Devivasini (the goddess residence). The Chamunda hill is mounted by a broad flight of stone steps, at the summit is an image of the goddess cut in the rocky wall of a cave. There are mainly two shrine of goddess called as Choti Mata (Chamunda Mata) and other Bari Mata (Tulja Bhavani Mata).
MAHAKALESHWAR (BILAVLI): Bilavali village is situated on A. B. road about 3 K.M. North of Dewas. There is a temple of Lord SHIVA called Mahakaleshwar. The "SHIVLING" has an unique feature that it is increasing in size every year. A fair is organized every year on the occasion of "Maha Shivratriya".
SHRI KELA DEVI: "KELA DEVI" temple is the biggest one in M.P. Originally the Kela Devi temple is situated in Karoli at Rajasthan. At Dewas Kela devi temple is situated at Mishri Lal Nagar (Agra Bombay Road). Its white marble gate is one of the attractive part of the temple which is built by South Indian artists.Every year during Chaitra Navaratri a big Mela (exhibition) is held which is also a part of attraction for all the disciples.
SIDDHESHWAR MAHADEV (Nemavar): On the bank of river Narmada consists of a Shrine, Sabha-Mandapa and porch. Spire one shrine adorned with cluster of miniature Shikaras. Paramedical roof over mandapa which and the porch probably added to or repaired later. Built in the time of the Parmaras of Malwa.
MAHADEV TEMPLE (Shankar Garh): In the year 1942 the Dewas Ruler Shrimant Sadashive Rao Maharaja (Khase Saheb) was the founder of GIRIJESHER TEMPLE. The approachable road of this temple is built after cutting the hills at that time. A numbers of great Hindu religious personalities "Sant and Mahatmas" were stay here time to time and preach the people of Dewas.
DHARAJI: Dharaji is a place of religious, historic and of tourist interest. Which is located on the bank of Narmada, situated in the Dharaji village of Bagli tahsil. Narmada creates a beautiful waterfall hear. Lacks of people gather hear two times a year on Amawasya , with a faith in their mind that this place has mystical power to relieve a person from Evil powers. The pindies of lord Shiva (Shivlings) are found hear are considered so pious that it does not require ‘Pran Pratishtha’ before installing in a worship place.
KITTY FALL: Kity is a beautiful picnic spot 7-8 k.m. away from village Bizwara. Here river Narmada divides in seven streams, between these streams there is dense forest, after some distance all these streams come together to form single stream. There is a Fategarh Fort, 8 to 9 K.M. away from Kity, which was built by Shershah Suri. There is a Forest Rest House to stay, the visitors may contact for reservation to District Forest Officer, Dewas.
KAVADIA HILLS: These hills are made of lacks of stone pillars which are of various shapes i.e. triangular, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal etc. There are seven hills of the same type. It appear that these stones are man made, because they appear to be minutely carved by human being, but in reality it is a creation of Volcano irruption. It may be vary well considered as eighth wonder of the World. On striking these stone pillars sounds like a metal pillars. According to the Hindu mythology, it is considered that during Mahabharat period these structures were created by the "Greate Bheem" to check the way of river Narmada to fulfill a vow with in a day, but Bheem could not do it and since then these stones pillars are lying there. It is about 10 k.m. from Bagli H.Q. near Dharaji.
PAWAR CHATTRIES: The Chattries of Dewas impress us with its massive, powerful presence of Maratha architecture near the Meetha talab looks very attractive. This Chattries is indeed a statement of Pawar kings. What is more, the artifice, variety, esoleric and antique elusion in the place do suggest a successful baroque attempt to boost royal and civic pride.The faced of Chateries influences us overwhelmingly with its massive, powerful presence, while inside we are transported into a decorative world of muted extravagance and fantasy. The overbearing impression, as we leave Chattries, is of a gentle phenomenal with a serve, rather forbidding external presence, concealing a jubilant, ever-playful heart within.
GIDYA KHOH: Malwa region is full of natural beauty and historical places. It is colorful, cultural and environment always attracted the scholar, historian and tourists.The villages and natural places of Dewas is making a way for peaceful forest journey. There is an ancient place in tribal area, known as Khudel Devta. On every Poornima (Full moon) and Amawasya (Lunar Conjunction) the tribes gather here to pay homage to the idols of KHUDEL DEVTA and to enjoy fall. Gidya Khoh is a beautiful combination of man and nature. It is situated on Indore-Nemawar road and 9 K.M. away from Double Chowki. There is a spectacular waterfall surrounded by a attractive green valley. From the top of the hill, 600 feet smoky fluent flow of water is just recall the memory of Bheraghat of Jabalpur. A number of tourists come here in the rainy season for enjoying natural beauty, which is free from pollution.
Temples: In Datia City there are lot of beautiful temples. Datia is known as "Laghu Vrandaban" some of these are "Avadh Bihari Temple", "Shivgir Temple", "Vijay-Raghav Temple", "Govind Temple", and "Bihariji Temple".
Pancham Kavi Ki Toriya: This natural and beautiful place is located 4 Km from Datia and is famous for "Bhairav Temple".
Udnu Ki Toriya: This place is famous for "Hanuman Temple" and is located 8 Km from Datia on the very high Place having about 350 steps.