Ratlam

Ratlam City
city
Ratlam City
Coordinates: 23°20′02″N 75°02′13″E / 23.334°N 75.037°E / 23.334; 75.037Coordinates: 23°20′02″N 75°02′13″E / 23.334°N 75.037°E / 23.334; 75.037
Country India
State Madhya Pradesh
Region Malwa
District Ratlam
Government
 • Body Ratlam municipal corporation
Area
 • Total 50 km2 (20 sq mi)
Elevation 480 m (1,570 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 275,000
 • Rank 9th in Madhya Pradesh
 • Density 5,500/km2 (14,000/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Ratlami
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 457001
Telephone code 07412
Vehicle registration MP-43
Climate Humid subtropical climate (Köppen)
Precipitation 937 millimetres (36.9 in)
Avg. annual temperature 24 °C (75 °F)
Avg. summer temperature 28 °C (82 °F)
Avg. winter temperature 16 °C (61 °F)
Website www.ratlam.nic.in

Ratlam  pronunciation  known historically as Ratnapuri (lit. gem city) is a city in the northwestern part of the Malwa region in Madhya Pradesh state of central India. The city of Ratlam lies 480 metres (1,575 feet) above sea level. It is the administrative headquarters of Ratlam district, which was created in 1947 after the independence of India.[2] The most famous Jain tirth Bibrod Tirth and also Kalika Mata Temple, Isarthuni, Satrunda Mataji Temple, Bilpank Mahadev Temple Kedareshwar Temple(Sailana), Cactus Gardan (Sailana), and Hussain Tekri(Jaora) is situated here.

Early history

The state was founded in 1652 by a great grandson of Raja Udai Singh of Jodhpur, namely Raja Rattan Singhji, son of Mahesh Das of Jalor. The latter, father and son, had performed important military services for the Emperor Shah Jahan. In reward for their services and in recognition of their great deeds of valour, large territories in the south-western districts of Rajputana and northern Malwa were conferred on them. Their capital became Rattram named after Raj Rattan Singh and his first son Ram Singh as "Ratram", which later got translated to Ratlam.

Maharaja Rattan Singh 1652/1658, courageous in youth, he gained Padshah Shah Jahans notice by calming the Emperors favourite elephant which had run amok in the Agra Palace Garden, fought for the Emperor against the Persians in Kabul and Qandahar, later in 1652, the Emperor substituted Jalore for the pargana of Ratlam and many other areas, and he became the first Raja of Ratlam, in 1658 a false rumour of the death of the Emperor resulted in a frenzied scramble for succession to the throne amongst his sons. Dara Shikoh who was officiating for his father, sent a combined army of Rajputs and Muslims under the command of Maharaja Jaswant Singh of Jodhpur, against his brother Aurangzeb. The Maharaja, as head of the Rathore clan, was persuaded to hand over command of the Imperial army to Maharaja Ratan Singh. Non-cooperation by the Muslim commanders resulted in the army sustaining heavy losses in the fierce battle at Dharmat, as well as the death of Ratan Singh (said to have sustained 80 sword wounds on his body), he married (amongst others), Maharani Sukhroopde Kanwar Shekhawat Ji Sahiba, daughter of Kunwar Purshottam Das of Jhajhar [Shekhawati], and had issue. He died 1658 in battle at Dharmat near Ujjain.

Commercial history

Founded by Captain Borthwick in 1829, Ratlam was one of the first commercial cities established in Central India. The city quickly became known for trading in opium, tobacco, and salt, as well as for its bargains called "Sattas". Before the opening of the Rajputana State Railway to Khandwa in 1872, there was no better place to trade than in Ratlam.

The city is known for its love of food, its taste particularly the world popular salty snack 'Ratlami Sev'. Purity of Gold Jewellery and Saree Market of Ratlam outshines in India.

Princely history

Ratlam was part of the Malwa Agency of Central India during the British Raj.

The state's capital was Ratlam town in modern Ratlam district of Madhya Pradesh. Ratlam was originally a huge state, but the then ruler Ratan Singh opposed Auranzeb in the Battle of Dharmatpur and was killed after a brave fight. The state was then reduced and the title of Maharaja was eventually stripped away; the title was later restored by the British during Maharaja Sajjan Singh's rule. On 5 January 1819 Ratlam State became a British protectorate

The state had an area of 902 sq mi, which was closely interlaced with the territories of the princely states of Sailana, Semaliya, Kachhi-baroda, Amleta, Baloda and Kanwas. In 1901, Ratlam State had a population of 83,773,[3] with the city population of 36,321. The state had an estimated revenue of INR34,000 and paid a INR2,850 tribute.

Geography

Ratlam is located at coordinates: 23°19′0″N 75°04′0″E / 23.31667°N 75.06667°E / 23.31667; 75.06667 (23.316667, 75.066667). The city has an area of 22.0 square miles (50.0 km²). It is very close to the borders of Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Climate

Ratlam, like most of Madhya Pradesh, has humid subtropical climate (Cfa) zone. Three distinct seasons are observed: summer, monsoon and winter. Summers start in mid-March and can be extremely hot from April through June. Highs can reach 112 °F (44 °C), although the humidity is extremely low. The monsoon season starts in late June, with temperatures averaging around 100 °F (38 °C), with sustained, torrential rainfall and high humidity. The average rain fall is 37 inches (937 mm). Winters start in mid-November and are dry, cool and sunny. Temperatures average about 39–46 °F (4–8 °C), but can fall close to freezing on some nights.[4] Ratlam gets moderate rainfall of 35 to 38 inches (890 to 970 mm) from July through September, due to the southwest monsoon.

Climate data for Ratlam, India (December 2010 - December 2011)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 91
(33)		 97
(36)		 103
(39)		 112
(44)		 112
(44)		 111
(44)		 100
(38)		 97
(36)		 102
(39)		 104
(40)		 99
(37)		 91
(33)		 112
(44)
Average high °F (°C) 75
(24)		 82
(28)		 91
(33)		 99
(37)		 101
(38)		 93
(34)		 84
(29)		 81
(27)		 86
(30)		 88
(31)		 83
(28)		 78
(26)		 87
(31)
Average low °F (°C) 42
(6)		 48
(9)		 60
(16)		 68
(20)		 74
(23)		 77
(25)		 74
(23)		 72
(22)		 71
(22)		 67
(19)		 52
(11)		 45
(7)		 62.5
(16.9)
Record low °F (°C) 32
(0)		 33
(1)		 45
(7)		 48
(9)		 59
(15)		 59
(15)		 52
(11)		 52
(11)		 55
(13)		 50
(10)		 39
(4)		 33
(1)		 32
(0)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.3
(8)		 0.1
(3)		 0.1
(3)		 0.1
(3)		 0.6
(15)		 5.4
(137)		 11.7
(297)		 12.2
(310)		 7.3
(185)		 1.4
(36)		 0.7
(18)		 0.3
(8)		 36.2
(919)
Source: Weatherbase.com[4]

Demographics

According to the 2011 Census, the city of Ratlam has a population of 2,64,810, of which 1,35,007 are male and 1,29,803 are female. The population density was 107 people per square mile (277/km²).[5]

Transportation

Railways

Ratlam Junction is a major junction on Delhi-Mumbai and Ajmer-Khandwa Rail routes and rail division of Indian Railways on broad gauge lines on Western Railways Zone. Ratlam junction is Divisional headquarters of Western Railway Zone.[6] There are four major railway tracks passing through Ratlam City, leading to Mumbai, Delhi, Ajmer and Khandwa.

Ratlam is also the first ever clean train station of Indian Railways network. Under this scheme, Indian Railways has introduced cleaning of coaches of a train en route while it halts at a particular station for 15 to 20 minutes. The entire train is cleaned with vacuum cleaners and toilets are washed with handheld portable HP cleaners.[7]

Ratlam station is believed to be one of the busiest railway stations in India.[8]

Ratlam Junction is referred in 2007 Hindi romantic comedy film Jab We Met.[9] though the shooting had not happened actually in Ratlam and the places and locations mentioned in the film doesn't exist in the city.

Roads

Ratlam is connected to Indore and Neemuch via National Highway no. 79. This four-lane highway runs from Indore to Chittorgarh to join the Golden Quadrilateral.

The city has regular bus services to Udaipur, Banswara, Mandsaur, Nimach, Indore, Bhopal and Bagh. Ratlam is almost half way point on Mumbai Delhi Highway

Ratlam has local city transport in the form of Auto Rickshaws, Tata Magic and coming up city bus.

Business

Ratlam has several industries which manufacture copper wire, plastic ropes, chemicals and artificial oxygen, among other products. Ratlam is also very well known for Gold, Ratlami Sev, Ratlami Saari and its people.

The People can be seen pouring from distant places for gold purchase owing to the purity of gold here. Ratlam gold markets bloom during festive and marital seasons.

Ratlami Sev is a very popular food product throughout the country. Made of gram flour and pepper, the taste has become famous over the years and Ratlami sev is now exported to foreign countries including Americas and Gulf. One of ratlam's businessmen patent "Ratlami sev" word for ratlam city only, it means whoever belong to ratlam and manufacturing or making sev and namkeen in ratlam with following all the fssai rules.

Ratlam is a shopping centre for people of nearby areas and has markets well planned in terms of traffic handling capacity and road layout. Traditional Rajasthani and Gujarati handwork and kitchen wares can be seen throughout the market.

Ratlam has five shopping mall Pakiza, Vishal Mega Mart, D-Mart, Choupal Sagar, Sarvanand Bazar and many branded showrooms.

Ratlam city has many cinema hall and a multiplex (Gayatri Cinemas with 3D Gaming zone).

On a broader base, markets are rooted in the good old traditional Indian culture. There are some international fast food restaurant and ice cream parlour like Domino's, Baskin Robbins, Sam's pizza, laziz pizza. [10][11]

Education

Ratlam has fair school level education with numerous English and Hindi medium schools. The city has three government schools and Top Rated private schools namely Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Academy, St. Joseph Convent school and Morning star school as the ruling schools in studies. The city has three government colleges in Commerce, Science and Arts. The city also boasts of a homeopathic college, two engineering colleges and is coming up with a medical college.[2]

Jain Temple

Shri Nageshwar Parshwanath Tirth

This Temple is a Shwetambar Jain Temple dedicated to Parshvanatha, the 23rd tirthankar of Jainism. This temple is situated at the junction line of border of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan State. This temple is considered very miraculous. Moolnayak of this temple is a green colored Parshwanath with hood of 7 cobra. This 13½ feet idol is carved from a single emerald stone. The idol is around 2850 years old. It is believed that this statue was crafted by Dharnendra. Near the Lord's idol there are also other idols of Lord Shri Shantinath Swami & Lord Shri Mahavir Swami. On the wall, behind the 7 faces of the snake that is spread over the idol's head as a shelter, is a hole which houses a snake, The snake is rarely seen coming out from its hole. A lucky person can only have a glimpse of it. It is either seen in black or white color.[12]

Bibrod Tirth

Idol of Adinath at Bibrod Tirth

Bibrod Tirth is a 13th-century Temple. This temple is dedicated to Adinath, the 1st tirthankar of Jainism. Moolnayak is a 2.5 ft black-colored idol of Bhagawan Adinath in the Padmansana posture. The inscription on his idol belongs to a period earlier than even the thirteenth century.

References

  1. ↑ "Census of India Search details". censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  2. 1 2 Ratlam District Information, ratlam.nic.in. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
  3. ↑ http://censusindia.gov.in/Census_And_You/old_report/Census_1931n.html
  4. 1 2 Indore, India Weather (closest to Ratlam), weatherbase.com, 15 March 2012.
  5. ↑ Ratlam City 2011 Census Data, Census-2011.co.in. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  6. ↑ Ratlam Junction http://ratlam.nic.in/profile.html#TRANSPORT
  7. ↑ Clean Train Station http://relyoncts.com/service-location-ratlam.php
  8. ↑ Western Railway - Ratlam, indianrailways.gov. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  9. ↑ Jab We Met
  10. ↑ "District Ratlam - Madhya Pradesh India". Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  11. ↑ "Ratlamwala website".
  12. ↑ http://nageshwartirth.org/about_the_temple_idol.php
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