Sehore district General information
Sehore is 39 Km away from state capital Bhopal towards south and on Bhopal-Indore highway. Its height from the sea level is 1500 ft. to 2000 ft. It is also connected to Western Railway from Bhopal to Ratlam. District area is 6578 Km. Sehore is surrounded by six districts i.e. Bhopal, Raisen, Hoshangabad, Dewas, Shajapur and Rajgarh. Sehore District extends between the parallels of Latitude 22031'to 230 40' North and between the meridians of Longitude 76022' and 78008' East. The lacquer bangles of the district are a coveted adornment of the Gond , Bhiala Nad Korku tribes of the region. Bhavai, the traditional dance of these tribes is an excellent example of their artistic proclivities .In tribal area of Sehore the Bagoria dance, with its vigorous drum beating , is still performed around the Holi festival. This dance is occasion for tribal girls& boys to have run away marriage.
History
Sehore stands in the foothills of Vindhyachal Range in the middle of Malwa region. Sehore has a long and glorious past.Shaiva , Shakta, Jain, Vaishnav, Budhists and Nath priests made Sehore a significant seat of their deep meditation. Sehore was a part of Bhopal estate. After formation of Madhya Pradesh, the state capital Bhopal was a part of the Sehore district. It was bifurcated in 1972 and a new district Bhopal was formed.
Ancient lores indicate that Maharshi Patanjali, the illustrious founder of Yoga sect also spent some time here in prayers & worship . Folklore also indicate to the visits of Lord Rama, Laxman nad Sita to its different places. Sehore has so many temples, Mathas, Shrines, Mosques, Churches of great historical and religious antiquity. In that sense, Sehore boasts of its glorious tradition of communal harmony and homogeneous culture.
Origin of Name
"Sidhhapur" is the old name of Sehore. According to a rock- edict found from the river Seevan, it got its name from "Sidrapur". According to an old document Sehore has got its name from the Anglo- Indian perversion of "Sher" or Lion as pronounced by the Britishers, since lion or "Shers" were in the great numbers in the nearby jungles.
Sehore has been an integral part of Awanti. Later on it was under the tutelage of Magadh dynasty, Chandragupta Ist, Harshavardhan, Ashoka the great, Raja Bhoj, Peshwa chiefs, Rani Kamlawati and the Nawabs of Bhopal dynasty. Sehore remained the headquarters of the political agent and resident of the British.
River
Rivers big and small abound the landscape of Sehore. Narmada , Parwati, Dudhi, Newaj, Kolar, Papnas, Kulans, Seewan, Lotia, and other rivers tell the sad tale of their lost splendour in the form of scattered idols. Idols of Lord Vishnu, Ganesha, Shiva, Parvati, Nandi, Garuda, Lord Mahavira,Gautam Buddha, Apsaras and fairies have been found in different forms and postures.
Tourist Place
Ganesh Mandir: Sidhha Ganesha Mandir is established in the village Gopalpur in the N-west direction , 3km from from the District Headquarters. As per legend, it dates back to Vikramaditya of Ujjain and renovated by BajiRao I the Maratha Peshwa. Each Wednesday, large Nos of devotees throng here. Ganesha Chaturthi festival is also popular here .
Cenotaphs of Kunwar Chain Singh: Cenotaphs, samadhies and tombs of Kunwar Chainsingh are 2 KM away in Dashahra wala Maidan on the bank of river Lotia on Sehore - Indore Road . These cenotaphs remind the historic fight between patriot Chainsingh of Narsingh Garh estate and political agent Mr.Medhank.
Jama Masjid: Jama Masjid Built by Mugis Uddin Shah in 732 Hijri & renovatial by Beghum Siknadar Jahan in 1281. It is said to posses once a picturesque Bawadi (water tank).
Jain Mandir: It is situated in Kasba (sehore) .Two thirthankar idols are dated 1335 ,and 1548 Vikram Samvat.
Hanuman Phatak: An emphatic temple of Lord Hanuman on a Garhi on the bank of river Seewan in a far flung corner of the city, provides aesthetic ambience as well as a prominent seat of devotion. Navratra festival in Ashwin and Chaitra are very popular for its religious importance.
Church: The Sehore Church which was built by a British political agent who belonged to Scotland in 1838. The building is an Exact replica of a church in Scotland and even the surrounding greenery, comprising mainly tall Bamboo trees, was designed to match the original .To traverse the Sehore soil is to tread upon centuries of colorful history .The best time of the year to visit Sehore and its sprawling teak forests is November with its autumn ripeness and March with its spring finery. Climatically , these two may be said the opportune time to visit Sehore.
Gurudwara: The Gurudwara is in Gnga Ashram, Sehore and it renovated in 1936 by Sikh Militarymen , it holds Langer & Path of Gurunanak Saheb.
Ramlala Mandir: Ramlala Mandir is Situated 1 Km from Sehore in Badia Khedi, it is revered amongst 84 Mathas of India.
Salkanpur Durga Temple: It is on a 800 Feet high hillock, in the village Salkanpur, 70 KMs from Bhopal . The deity, Ma Durga Beejasan is held in high esteem by her followers & local.
Saru-Maru caves: Caves, rock edicts and stupas on Hoshangabad road, this place is said to be visited by Ashoka, his son Mahendra & daughter Sanghamitra.
Higher Secondry School Sehore: There is Higher Secondary School in Sehore the building of which is equally old. It is one of the four Vernacular school opened by the Britis around .It is this school which boasts of such alumni as Sir Hidayatullah and justice Wanchoo. The Nizamat building where the Nizam (Administrator) of the eathwhile Bhopal state held court is also worth.