Mandsaur

Epigraphical discoveries have brought to light two ancient royal houses, who call themselves as Aulikaras and ruled from Dashapura (present-day Mandsaur). The first dynasty, who ruled from Dashapura from the beginning comprised the following kings in the order of succession: Jayavarma, Simhavarma, Naravarma, Vishvavarma and Bandhuvarma. Bandhuvarma was contemporary of Kumaragupta I. There is an inscription about Bandhuvarma at Mandsaur. The silk workers had constructed a Sun temple here which was repaired by Bandhuvarma in Samvat 493 (436 CE). This indicates that he was present there till 436 CE. The Risthal stone slab inscription discovered in 1983 has brought to light another Aulikara dynasty, which comprised the following kings in the order of succession: Drumavardhana, Jayavardhana Ajitavardhana, Vibhishanavardhana, Rajyavardhana and Prakashadharma. After Parakshadharma, the ruler of Mandsaur was Yashodharma, who is identified with Vishnuvardhana, who erected a pillar of victory at Bayana due to which Bayana's name became Vijaygarh. In all probabilities, he was the son and immediate successor of Prakashadharma.[2] Yashodharma Vishnuvardhana assumed the title of Samrat after he occupied the territories of Bandhuvarma. It is also mentioned that Yashodharma Vishnuvardhana had assumed the title of ‘Maharajadhiraja’ or Emperor.

Victory pillar of Yashodharman at Sondani, Mandsaur

Info of Victory pillar of Yashodharman at Sondani, Mandsaur

Sondani (सोंधनी) is a small village at a distance of about 4 km from Mandsaur situated on Mahu-Nimach Highway towards Mahu. Two monolith pillars were erected here by King Yasodharman in 528 AD with inscription which describe his exploits including victory over Hunas (Alchon Huns).[3][4] In a part of the inscription Yasodharman praises himself for having defeated king Mihirakula:[5]

"He (Yasodharman) to whose two feet respect was paid, with complimentary presents of the flowers from the lock of hair on the top of (his) head, by even that (famous) king Mihirakula, whose forehead was pained through being bent low down by the strength of (his) arm in (the act of compelling) obeisance"

— Sondani pillar inscription[6]

Excavations by the Indian Archaeology Department show that these pillars are lying at their original site. Nearby was discovered a double head of stone with two faces of lions looking in opposite directions. It was probably the crowning piece of one of the pillars. Each pillar is of height 40 feet, girth 3.5 feet and weighs 200 ton.,[3][7] The inscription bears verses composed by the poet Vasula, the son of Kakka. This eulogy has been engraved by Govinda. The composition is in Sanskrit language and script is north Indian brahmi.,[8][9] Nagappa and Dasappa were two south Indian artisans who gave shape to these pillars. These pillars were discovered by British officer Sulvin in 1875. John F. Fleet discovered their other pieces. In 1921 Shri V.S. Garde, Director Archaeology Gwalior state, made a terrace and put these pillars over it.[8]

The Gurjara Pratihara empire was extended up to Mandasor during the reign of Mahendrapala II.[10]

The Mandsaur city is situated on the border of Malwa and Mewar and as such is strategically very important. After the attack of Timur, the Delhi Sultanate became weak. Dilawar Khan Ghauri was governor of the Malwa province of central India during the decline of the Delhi Sultanate. Dilawar Khan declared himself Sultan of Malwa in 1401, and passed the kingdom to his son Hoshang Shah upon his death. Thus he had practically come to Mandu in 1401 as the first sultan of Malwa. Dilawar had also shifted the capital from Dhar to Mandu, renaming it Shadiabad, the city of joy. The successor of Dilawar Khan Gauri was Hushang Shah Gori (1405–1435), who constructed fort at strategically important Mandsaur city to strengthen his north-west boundary.[11] In 1519 Rana Sanga occupied the fort and appointed Ashokmal Rajput as its Kiledar. In 1535 Humayun also stayed here for few months during his Malwa expedition. During Sher Shah period Sadar Khan was appointed its Kiledar.[12] During the reign of Akbar Mandsaur got the status of sarkar. In 1733 the Malwa subedar of Mughals Sawai Jaisingh attacked the fort but was defeated by Marathas and the fort went to Marathas.[13] The historically most important event in the fort was the treaty of 1818 between Tantiya Jog senapati of Malhar Rao Holkar II and Sir John Malcum under which Malwa came in occupation of British rule.[14][15] There are two gardens in which there is a pillar of torandwar. It is believed to be pillar of Surya Mandir of the inscription of Bandhu Varma. There is a Shiva statue also in the garden.[15]

Avra excavations (Chambal river)

Avra is place where the Madhya Pradesh Archaeology Department excavated during 1960 and 1961 under the direction, of Dr. H. V. Trivedi, is located in the Garoth Pargana of the Mandsaur District of Madhya Pradesh. It is about six miles west of Chandwasa a small town which has a Rest House and which is connected by a metalled road of fourteen miles from Shamgarh, a Railway Station between Ratlam and Kota on the Western Railway.

The village is situated about half a mile east of the Chambal. Between the river and the modem habitation there is a series of mounds, high and low, the top of two which nestled the village until about 10–12 years back when its inhabitants shifted to a safer place nearby because of the threat of the river, the mounds are separated from each other by small and broad depressions and rain gullies, some of which might represent old streets. The chain of mounds, however, creates an impression that they contain the remains of an extensive and populous city which grew along the bank of the river rather than at right angles to it as has been the case with most of the ancient cities in India, like Ujjain and Maheshwar in this State and Hastinapura, Pataliputra and Kausambi outside.

The old name of appears to be Apara, as we find on a terracotta seal recovered in the excavation. The name Apara was probably later on corrupted into Avra.

In 19th century before India's independence in 1947, Mandsaur was part of the princely state of Gwalior. It gave its name to the treaty with the Holkar Maharaja of Indore, who concluded the Third Anglo-Maratha War and the Pindari War in 1818. At the turn of the 20th century it was a centre of the Malwa opium trade.

Mandsaur is situated on Ajmer-Lebad (Indore) NH-79 as well as Mhow-Neemuch SH-31 4 Lane road.

Mandsaur railway station is situated on Chittaurharh-Ratlam track of Indian Railways and is under Ratlam rail division of WR. Currently It has a no electrified track. The work for Ratlam- Chittorgarh electrical track has been started, which is in progress. Currently there are 12 trains available from Mandsaur. Mandsaur has direct trains for Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Jaipur, Nathdwara, Okha, Ajmer, Udaipur, Agra, Kota, Indore, Ujjain, Bhopal, Harda, Ratlam, Chittaurgarh,Puna, Bengaluru city, Mysore, Surat, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Rameswaram, vijayawada, Chennai, Indore, Mhow. The major trains passing from Mandsaur are:-

• Mandsaur - Meerut City Link Express
• Mandsaur - Kota Passenger
• Mandsaur - Udaipur Passenger
• Ratlam - Udaipur City Express
• Indore - Bikaner Mahamana Express
• Indore–Jaipur Express via Ajmer
• Veer Bhumi Chittaurgarh Express
• Bandra Terminus Udaipur Superfast Express
• Jodhpur - Indore Express
• Jaipur - Hyderabad Weekly Express
• Jaipur – Hyderabad SF Express
• Jaipur - Yesvantpur Suvidha Express
• Bhopal–Jaipur Express
• Bandra Terminus Udaipur Express
• Ajmer Bandra Terminus Express
• Okha - Nathdwara Express
• Haldighati Passenger
• Mhow - Bhilwara DMU
• Mhow - Chittorgarh DMU
• Haldighati Passenger
• Udaipur - Mysore Humsafar Express
• Rameswaram - Ajmer Humsafar Express

Auto and Nager Seva are main source of local transport in Mandsaur

Bahi-Parshvanath Temple, Mandsaur

Shree Bahi Parshwanath Digambar Jain Atishay Kshetra is situated 12 km from Mandsaur. This place is constructed with the blessing and inspirations from Acharya Shree Kalyan Sagar Ji Maharaj, also known as "Namokar Mahamantra Sadhana Kendra, Vahi Parshavanatha Chaupati". Moolnayak of this temple is a 58 cm high, black-colored idol of Parshvanath in the Padmansana posture. Since this tirth is in Vahinagar, the idol is called Vahi Parshvanath.

A source of the utility water supply for the city pupils and also famous as a tourist attraction. This particular lake known as Teliya Talaab has developed into more of a family and friends gathering place with a park and a temple near by. Inhabitants including people of every caste and age often spend their time here in the evenings and or the holidays.

Main article: Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary

River Chambal in Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary The Gandhi Sagar Dam is the first of the four dams built on the Chambal river. It is located in the Mandsaur district of Madhya Pradesh. It is a 64 metre high masonry gravity dam, with a live storage capacity of 6,920 million cubic metres and a catchment area of 22,584 km2. The dam was completed in 1960. The hydro-power station comprises five generating units of 23 MW capacity each. The water released after power generation is used for power generation at Rana Pratap Sagar Dam, then for power generation at Jawahar Sagar Dam and then is used for irrigation through Kota Barrage.

Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary is wildlife sanctuary situated on the northern boundary of Mandsaur and Nimach districts in Madhya Pradesh, India. It is spread over an area of 368.62 km squire adjoining Rajasthan state in India. It was notified in 1974 and more area was added in 1983. The Chambal River passes through the sanctuary and divides into two parts. The western part is in Nimach district and eastern part is in Mandsaur district.

Mandsaur or Dashpur Fort

Main article: Mandsaur Fort

Mandsaur Fort, also known as Dashpur Fort, is situated in Mandsaur city in Mandsaur district in Madhya Pradesh state of India.[16] The Mandsaur city is situated on the border of Malwa and Mewar and as such is strategically very important. After the attack of Timur, the Delhi Sultanate became weak. Dilawar Khan Ghauri was governor of the Malwa province of central India during the decline of the Delhi Sultanate. Dilawar Khan declared himself Sultan of Malwa in 1401, and passed the kingdom to his son Hoshang Shah upon his death. Thus he had practically come to Mandu in 1401 as the first King of Malwa. Dilawar had also shifted the capital from Dhar to Mandu, renaming it Shadiabad, the city of joy. The successor of Dilawar Khan Gauri was Hushang Shah Gori (1405–1435), who constructed fort at strategically important Mandsaur city to strengthen his north-west boundary.[11] He is also remembered for his wonderful taste in architecture.

Shree Khade Balaji

An old temple of Shree Khade Balaji (Hanuman ji). It is very old Hindu temple with interiors done with stones. A worth visit place. It is near to Gandhi Chauraha, in heart of Mandsaur.

A Temple with Glass interiors. Bandi Ji Ka Baag is a 120 Yrs old Jain temple with interiors done with Glass. A worth visit place. It is very near to Main Bus Stand. The temple currently has a "Maan Stambh", built when temple celebrated 100 years of establishment.

• School:

Dexter Global School

1. Karni International School

(http://www.karniinternationalschool.com)

1. Lotus Valley School, Mandsaur (http://lvsmandsaur.com/)
2. Subhash English School
3. Kamla Nehru Bal Mandir
4. Mandsaur International School
5. St. Thomas Sr. Sec. School (http://www.stthomasschool.co.in/)
6. Dashpur Vidhya Mandir
7. Vatsalya Public School (http://www.vatsalyapublicschool.com/)
8. Kendriya Vidyalaya Mandsaur (http://kvmandsaur.org.in/)
9. Dashpur Vidyalaya (http://www.dashpurvidyalaya.org)
10. Saraswati Shishu mandir, Keshav Nagar
11. Saraswati Vidya Mandir, Sanjeet Marg(http://www.saraswatividyamandir.in/)
12. School Of Excellence, Mandsaur
13. Bhartiya Vidhya Mandir, Choudhary Colony
14. Jhalani Mahila Vidyapeeth.
15. NS Sanghvi School Mandsaur

• Engineering University: Mandsaur Institute of Technology (http://mitmandsaur.brnss.org/)
• Pharmacy Colleges:

1. B.R.Nahata College of Pharmacy (http://www.brncop.org/).
2. Mandsaur Institute of Pharmacy.

• Law college: JL Nehru Law College.
• College of Horticulture, Sitamau Road, Mandsaur