Dewas district

Dewas District is a district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The town of Dewas is the district headquarters.

This article is about the district in Madhya Pradesh, India. For its headquarters, see Dewas.
For other uses, see Dewas (disambiguation).

Dewas district
District
Location of Dewas district in Madhya Pradesh
Coordinates (Dewas):
CountryIndia
StateMadhya Pradesh
DivisionUjjain
HeadquartersDewas
Tehsils8 (Sonkatch, Dewas, Bagli, Kannod, Tonk Khurd, Khategaon, Hatpipliya and Satwas)
Area
 • Total7,020 km2 (2,710 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total1,563,715
 • Density220/km2 (580/sq mi)
Demographics
 • Literacy70.53%
 • Sex ratio943:1000
Time zoneUTC+05:30 (IST)
Vehicle registrationMP 41 [2]
Lok Sabha constituencyDewas
Vidhan Sabha constituencies5 (Dewas, Sonkatch, Hatpipliya, Bagli and Khategaon)
Websitehttp://dewas.nic.in

Dewas District roughly corresponds to the territories of the twin princely states of Dewas. The district straddles the Vindhya Range; the northern portion of the district lies on the Malwa plateau, while the southern portion lies in the valley of the Narmada River. The Narmada forms the southern boundary of the district. The district is bounded to the east by Sehore District, to the south by the Harda and Khandwa districts, to the west by the Khargone and Indore districts, and to the north by the Ujjain and Shajapur districts. Dewas District is part of Ujjain Division. Devsaal Rawats of Uttarakhand are said to have their origins in Dewas at the time of legendary king Vikramāditya.[3] Dewas is about 152 kilometres (94 mi) from Bhopal and 40 kilometres (25 mi) from Indore by road.

Etymology

The district takes its name from the district headquarters town, Dewas, which is said to have been derived on the basis of two traditions. One is that Dewas lies at the base of a 300-foot (91 m) conical hill, known as Chamunda hill, on top of which the shrine of Chamunda is located. The image of the goddess is cut into the wall of a cave, known as Devi Vashini or the goddess's residence. From this, the name Dewas (dev-vas) seems to have been derived. The other view of the probable origin is from the name of the founder of the city, Dewasa Bania.[4]

History
Main article: Dewas State

Dewas was formerly two separate princely states of British India (Dewas Senior and Dewas Junior). The original state was founded in the first half of the 18th century by the brothers Tukaji Rao (senior) and Jivaji Rao (junior), from the Puar clan of Marathas. They had advanced into Malwa with the Maratha Peshwa, Baji Rao, in 1728. The brothers divided the territory among themselves and their descendants ruled as the senior and junior branches of the family. After 1841, each branch ruled its own portion as a separate state, though the lands belonging to each were intimately entangled. Both Dewas states were in the Malwa Agency of the Central India Agency.

After India's independence in 1947, the Rajas of Dewas acceded to India, and their states were integrated into Madhya Bharat, which became a state of India in 1950. Later, in 1956, Madhya Bharat was merged into Madhya Pradesh state.[5]

Geography

Dewas district lies in west Madhya Pradesh on the level plains of the Malwa plateau. To the south, the land rises gently to the Vindhya Range, which is the source of the Chambal and Kali Sindh rivers that flow north through the district on their way to the Ganges.

Climate

Due of its high elevation and inland location, even during the hottest months of the year, the nights are relatively cool, which is known as Shab-e-Malwa.[6] Three distinct seasons are observed: summer, monsoon and winter. Dewas gets most of its rainfall during July–September due to the southwest monsoon.

Climate data for Dewas
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 26.5
(79.7)		 29.3
(84.7)		 34
(93)		 38.1
(100.6)		 40.4
(104.7)		 36.3
(97.3)		 29.7
(85.5)		 28.5
(83.3)		 29.7
(85.5)		 31.7
(89.1)		 29.3
(84.7)		 27.1
(80.8)		 40.4
(104.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) 18.3
(64.9)		 20.5
(68.9)		 25.1
(77.2)		 29.7
(85.5)		 33
(91)		 30.6
(87.1)		 26.3
(79.3)		 25.4
(77.7)		 25.6
(78.1)		 24.7
(76.5)		 21
(70)		 18.7
(65.7)		 24.9
(76.8)
Record low °C (°F) 10.2
(50.4)		 11.8
(53.2)		 16.2
(61.2)		 21.3
(70.3)		 25.6
(78.1)		 24.9
(76.8)		 22.9
(73.2)		 22.3
(72.1)		 21.5
(70.7)		 17.7
(63.9)		 12.7
(54.9)		 10.4
(50.7)		 10.2
(50.4)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 9
(0.4)		 2
(0.1)		 7
(0.3)		 3
(0.1)		 7
(0.3)		 122
(4.8)		 327
(12.9)		 274
(10.8)		 240
(9.4)		 30
(1.2)		 13
(0.5)		 5
(0.2)		 1,039
(41)
Source: climate-data.org [7]

Places of interest

Pushpgiri Tirth, Sonkatch

Shri Digambar Jain Teerth Kshetra, Pushpagiri is located 4 km (2.5 mi) west of Sonkatch, in the area of the Songiri Hills.[8][9] The temple here is dedicated to Lord Mahavir. This Jain kshetra is a sprawling 250-acre complex housing Jain Sthanaks, schools, hospital, museum, cottages, shopping center and a 108-foot-tall (33 m) idol of Bhagwan Paraswanath in an Yogic (Padmasan) posture, one of the tallest Jain idols.

Kheoni wildlife Sanctuary
Main article: Kheoni Sanctuary

Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary straddles Kannod tehsil of Dewas district and Sehore district[10] It is spread over an area of 132 square kilometres (51 sq mi). According to a bird survey done in April 2018, Kheoni has around 125 species of birds, including the state bird of Madhya Pradesh, the Indian paradise flycatcher.[11]

Kavadia Hills
Basaltic columns at Kavadia hills

These are a series of hills, situated next to Potla and Pipri villages in Bagli Taluk of Dewas district.[12] There are total seven mountain-like formations of shaped, interlocking, basalt columns that were probably created simultaneously as a result of volcanic eruption millions of years ago. These rock columns are arranged in a pattern that gives an appearance of a man-made structure. Most of the columns are hexagonal and interlocked with similar rocks on all the edges that emit a musical sound when struck.[13] Most visible columns are 8 to 10 feet long but there can be longer rocks further deep inside the mountain. Although basalt columns are not unique and are found at several places around the world (including St. Mary's Islands in Karnataka, India), the quality, quantity, geometrical arrangement and location (far from an ocean) of this place is unique. [14]

Gidya Khoh

Situated on the Indore-Nemawar road, Gidya Khoh or Gidiya Khoh lies in the Dewas District, and has a waterfall surrounded by a valley. The waterfall cascades from a height of 500–600ft. Khudel devta temple is located here. Gidya Khoh is located about 48 km south of Dewas and 42 km east of Indore, and Double Chowki is the nearest junction from which Gidya Khoh is 9 km away.[12]

Dewas' water management programs

The United Nations awarded Dewas district's community water management works the 3rd place under the category of "Best Water Management Practices" for 2011–2012.[15] The United Nations also praised Bhagirath Krishhak Abhiyan of Dewas district, started by district administrator Umakant Umrao.[15] A documentary film made by Public Service Broadcasting Trust about Dewas water revolution was featured on Lok Sabha TV.[16]

Divisions
Tehsils of Dewas district

Dewas District is divided into eight tehsils: Sonkatch, Dewas, Bagli, Kannod, Tonk Khurd, Khategaon, Hatpiplya and Satwas. Dewas tehsil is situated on the north-western part of the district, Sonkatch on the north-eastern part, Bagli on the south, Kannod on the south-central part and Khategaon on the South-east. Dewas, the headquarters of Dewas tehsil, and the district headquarters, is situated on National Highway and is also connected by broad-gauge railway line of western Railway.[17]

The district contributes 5 seats to the Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha: Dewas, Sonkatch, Hatpipliya, Bagli and Khategaon.

Dewas is also spread across 3 Lok Sabha constituencies: Dewas (Sonkatch, Dewas, Tonk Khurd and Hatpipliya tehsils), Khandwa (Bagli and Satwas tehsils) and Vidisha (Khategoan and Kannod tehsils)

Transport

In terms of roadways, NH-47 passes through the southern parts of the district and NH-52 passes through Dewas city. In addition, there are State Highways and other district highways within the district. The district has 3 railway stations, of which Dewas Junction (DWX), gets the most passenger traffic. It is a part of Ratlam Division of the Western Railway Zone.

Demographics
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1901228,938—    
1911274,986+1.85%
1921268,396−0.24%
1931306,975+1.35%
1941326,221+0.61%
1951345,306+0.57%
1961446,901+2.61%
1971594,336+2.89%
1981795,309+2.96%
19911,033,807+2.66%
20011,308,223+2.38%
20111,563,715+1.80%
source:[18]

According to the 2011 census Dewas District has a population of 1,563,715,[1] roughly equal to the nation of Gabon[19] or the US state of Hawaii.[20] This gives it a ranking of 319th in India (out of a total of 640).[1] The district has a population density of 223 inhabitants per square kilometre (580/sq mi) .[1] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 19.48%.[1] Dewas has a sex ratio of 941 females for every 1000 males,[1] and a literacy rate of 70.53%.[1]

Languages

As of the 2011 census, 92.82% of the population in the district spoke Hindi, 2.13% Bhili, 1.90% Urdu, 1.31% Gondi, 0.68% Marathi and 0.66% Gujarati as their first language.[21]

Other languages spoken include Maalvi, Bengali, English, and Bareli Rathwi language, a Bhil language with approximately 64,000 speakers in the world.[22]

References
  1. "District Census 2011". Census2011.co.in. 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  2. "MP 41 Dewas city Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Madhya pradesh". rtocode.com. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  3. http://dic.mp.nic.in/dewas/default.aspx
  4. "Geography". dic.mp.nic.in. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  5. "History Of Dewas". dic.mp.nic.in. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  6. Omkareshwar and Maheshwar: Travel Guide. Goodearth Publications. 2011. p. 79. ISBN 9789380262246. Archived from the original on 8 October 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  7. "Dewas climate: Average Temperature, weather by month, Dewas weather averages - Climate-Data.org". Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  8. "Pushpgiri Teerth, Sonkutch, Dist. Dewas (M.P.), India". Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  9. http://jinaagamsaar.com/tirth/pushpgiri.php
  10. "Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary". WildTrails Recent Sightings.
  11. "Four new species found in first Malwa bird count". The Times of India. 9 April 2018.
  12. http://dic.mp.nic.in/dewas/Dewas/html/tourist.htm
  13. http://www.dewasonline.in/city-guide/dewas-tourism
  14. "Madhya Pradesh: Rare rock formation found in Dewas district". The Times of India. 24 December 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  15. "'Water for Life' UN-Water Best Practices Award: 2012 edition: Finalists". Retrieved 21 May 2015. 3rd ranked: Bhagirath Krishhak Abhiyan, Water Conservation for Food Security
  16. "Umakant Umrao "Dewas Ke Bhagirath"". Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  17. http://dic.mp.nic.in/dewas/Dewas/HTML/genrel.htm
  18. Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901
  19. US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". Retrieved 1 October 2011. Gabon 1,576,665
  20. "2010 Resident Population Data". U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2011. Hawaii 1,360,301
  21. 2011 Census of India, Population By Mother Tongue
  22. M. Paul Lewis, ed. (2009). "Bareli, Rathwi: A language of India". Ethnologue: Languages of the World (16th ed.). Dallas, Texas: SIL International. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
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