Ganj Basoda

Ganj Basoda
गंज बासोदा
town
Ganj Basoda

Location in Madhya Pradesh, India

Coordinates: 23°51′N 77°56′E / 23.85°N 77.93°ECoordinates: 23°51′N 77°56′E / 23.85°N 77.93°E
Country  India
State Madhya Pradesh
District Vidisha
Government
  Member Of Assembly Mr. Nishank Jain
  Mayor Mrs. Madhulika Rajendra Agrawal (Rajjan)
Elevation 400 m (1,300 ft)
Population (2011)
  Total 78,265
Languages
  Official Hindi
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 464221
Telephone code 91-7594
Vehicle registration MP-40

Ganj Basoda (Hindi: गंज बासोदा), sometimes simply referred as Basoda, is a municipality in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Ganj Basoda is one of the ten tehsils in Vidisha district.[1]

History

The princely state of Basoda was founded in 1753.[2][3] The rulers belonged to the Kurwai dynasty and Muhammadgarh dynasty were titled Nawab.[4]

Earlier there was a very prestigious oil and flour mill named "standard flour and oil mill".which also got opportunity to fulfill the need of food in world-war 2,due to some unknown reasons it burnt into ashes because of this reason only now the townsmen call it "jali mill". It is located near railway station and opposite railway goods shed.Today also the burnt building of it stands in the standard flour and mill campus. "The name of Ganj Basoda is the only have reason that large production of "Ganja" in this region by farmers. Ganj: A common suffix/prefix meaning market place or "neighbourhood" in Hindi, Bengali and Urdu, used in names of neighbourhoods and towns in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Examples include:Daryaganj,Ganj Basoda,etc.[5]

Geography

Basoda is located at 23°51′N 77°56′E / 23.85°N 77.93°E. It has an average elevation of 399 metres (1309 feet). The Parasari river divides the town into two parts. Another river Betwa also flows at west end, very close to the town.

Economy

Ganj Basoda's economy mainly depends on agriculture and Stone Mines. It has one of biggest Grain Mandi of Asia.It's Sandstone is very popular in foreign countries like UK, Italy etc. Main crops are wheat, gram, lentils, soyabean and ground nuts. Wheat of Ganj Basoda is famous all over the country. Ganj Basoda is also famous for its stone market. Stones mined from Ganj Basoda or near places exported to international market via Kandla port (Gujarat). It has sound trade market and increasing. One can reach Ganj Basoda by following route. By Rail - 93 km from Bhopal Junction towards Jhansi (203 km) and 604 km from New Delhi Jn. By Road - 106 km from Bhopal via Vidisha (60 km), and 106 km from Sagar (M.P.) Pincode - 464221, Railway Station Code- BAQ. Trains like - Bhopal-HNizammuddin exp, Dadar-Asr exp, Firozpur-CSTM Punjab mail, Indore- Jammmu Malwa exp, Rewa-Bhopal exp, Varanasi-LTT Kamayani exp, Hwh-Indore Shipra exp, Jabalpur-Somnath exp, Hyderabad-Nizammudin Southern -exp, Vindyachal exp, Amritsar-Bilaspur Chhattisgarh-exp,Gondwana express,G.T.Express,Patalkot Express,Gorakhpur-Mumbai Kushinagar exp, Bhopal-Damoh Rajya Rani Express exp -Jawalpur-New-Delhi Shree-dham exp. halts at BAQ station.

Politics

Ganj Basoda is a politically sensitive area in Madhya Pradesh. It comes under Vidisha parliamentary constituency. The former prime minister of India, Atal Bihari Bajpayee had fought and won elections from Vidisha. The current Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mr. Shivraj Singh Chauhan was a member of parliament from Vidisha for 3 times. Former President Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma mother Srimati-Subhadra Sharma hails from Ganj Basoda. At Present the External Affairs Minister of India Smt. Sushma Swaraj is the M.P. from vidisha constituency. Two major political parties BJP and Congress has strong hold in this area. Till date BJP score card is at edge. in 2014 Municipality election Smt. Madhulika Rajendra Agrawal (Rajjan) becomes Mayor of Ganj Basoda city.

Tourist attractions

Ganj Basoda in Naulakhi Temple. This is Big Temple Of Vidisha District Naulakhi Temple. Udayeshwara Temple is an 11th-century lord Shiva temple located in village Udaipur of tehsil Basoda. The temple was built by Udayeshvar, brother of Parmar King Bhoj.[6] It is a beautiful example of Indian architecture which resembles Bhojpur temple and Mahamaya temple. It is 13KM from the town of Ganj Basoda, and connected by bus service. Another old Shiva temple is in village Gamaker which is 9 km from Ganj Basoda. A large fair is organised on Shivaratri in both Udaipur and Gamaker. It may not be out of place to mention that of late the name "Basoda" has become rather well known in Urdu literature reading public as its name of the place occurs in the title of the story, "Basodai ke Mariam" by the well-known writer Asad Mohammed Khan - the main character Mariam is supposed to be a resident of Ganj Basoda.Pathari located at a road distance of 30 km from Basoda is an ancient site of historical importance for believers of Jainism and Buddhism. Temples (Jain 24 Thirtankars, Gadrmal temple, BHIM Gaja approx-50 ft height of single stone piece) of 10-11 th century are situated here at Pathari. 18 km from Basoda near village Udaipur is another village Muradpur, where one can see unique statue of Varah (Lord Vishnu avatar)only of it,s kind in world. To visit Udaipur, Muradpur and Pathari(badoh)one can follow motorable road from Basoda, following given route—Ganj Basoda (0 km)- Bareth (10 km)- Udaipur (16 km)-Pathari (30 km. For Muradpur (3 km from Udaipur on branch route). You may visit Modern temple of Goddess Sheetala Mata in the heart of town Basoda.

Not to be confused with a city in Indian state of Rajasthan with similar name, see Udaipur

References