Vidisha
Vidisha
Bhelsa | |
|---|---|
City | |
 | |
  Vidisha | |
| Coordinates: 23°32′N 77°49′E / 23.53°N 77.82°ECoordinates: 23°32′N 77°49′E / 23.53°N 77.82°E | |
| Country | India |
| State | Madhya Pradesh |
| District | Vidisha |
| Elevation | 424 m (1,391 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 155,959 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Hindi |
| Vehicle registration | MP-40 |
Vidisha (विदिशा, formerly known as Bhelsa and known as Besnagar in ancient times) is a city in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is located 62.5 km northeast of the state capital, Bhopal. The name "Vidisha" is derived from the nearby river "Bais", mentioned in the Puranas.[1]
The district was created as "Bhilsa District" in 1904 by joining the tehsils of Vidisha (also known as Bhilsa) and Basoda, but not Basoda State, which were then part of Gwalior state. After India's independence in 1947, the former princely state of Gwalior became part of Madhya Bharat state, which was formed in 1948.
Vidishā was the administrative headquarters of Bhelsa, or Bhilsa, during the Medieval period. It was renamed Vidisha in 1956.[2]
Demographics[]
As of 2011 India census,[3] Vidisha had a population of 155,959. Males constitute 53.21% of the population and females 46.79%. Vidisha has an average literacy rate of 86.88%, higher than the national average of 74.04%: male literacy is 92.29%, and female literacy is 80.98%. In Vidisha, 15% of the population is under 6 years of age.
History[]
Besnagar[]
The town is situated east of the Betwa River, in the fork of the Betwa and Bes rivers, 9 km from Sanchi. The town of Besnagar, 3 km from present-day Vidisha on the west side of the river, became an important trade centre in the 6th and 5th centuries BCE, under the Shungas, Nagas, Satavahanas, and Guptas, and was mentioned in the Pali scriptures. The Emperor Ashoka was the governor of Vidisha during his father's lifetime. His Buddhist Empress Vidisha Devi who was also his first wife was brought up in Vidisha. It finds mention in Kalidasa's Meghaduuta.
The ruins of Besnagar were inspected by Alexander Cunningham in 1874–1875.[4] Remains of a large defensive wall was found on the western side of the city.[4] Ancient Buddhist railings were also found just outside of the city, which had probably adorned a stupa.[4] Numerous coins were found, including nine coins of the Western Satraps.[4]
The Heliodorus Pillar is a stone column, which was constructed in 110 BCE. This stone column was erected by the Greek ambassador of the Indo-Greek King Antialcidas, who came to the court of Bhagabhadra, a possible Sunga king. Dedicated to Lord Vāsudeva, this column was constructed in front of the temple of Vāsudeva. The pillar is situated about four kilometers away on Vidisha-Ganj Basoda SH-14, from District Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh and located on the Northern Bank Of The Vais River. It is 20 feet and 7 inches tall stone Pillar, which is commonly known as Kham Baba.[4] The script used in the inscription is Brahmi but the language is Prakrit which describes that Heliodorus erected this pillar as a Garuda Stambha to pay homage to Lord Vasudeva, who was later integrated as a manifestation of Lord Vishnu.
Archaeological plan of the old city of Besnagar
Archaeological layers at Besnagar: the Temple of Vāsudeva in the forefront, and the Heliodorus pillar in the back
Besnagar pottery Period V
Besnagar silver punch-marked coins.
Besnagar Yakshini
Besnagar Kalpadruma
Besnagar Buddhist railings
Besnagar Buddhist railings
Besnagar pillar capitals
View of Heliodorus pillar
Besnagar Ganga statue
Emergence as Bhelsa[]
