Sagar

Sagar
Sagar Location of Sagar in Madhya Pradesh
Coordinates	23°50′N 78°43′E / 23.83°N 78.71°E / 23.83; 78.71
Country	India
State	Madhya Pradesh
District(s)	Sagar
Population • Density	232,321 (2001[update]) • 150 /km2 (388 /sq mi)
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Area • Elevation	6,375 km2 (2,461 sq mi) • 427 m (1,401 ft)
Codes • Pincode • 470001,2,3,4 • Telephone • +91 (0)7582 • Vehicle • MP-15

Sagar (Saugar), (Hindi: सागर, Urdu: ساگر), called the city of lakes, is a city in Madhya Pradesh state of central India. in a picturesque situation on a spur of the Vindhya Range and 1758 ft. above sea-level, Sagar is a handsomely built university town with great natural beauty and cultural heritage. Hindi is the official language of the city, while Bundelkhandi is the local dialect. Sagar is well known for its contribution to Hindi literature, and hosts a number of writers, poets and other artists leading in their respective fields.

The region is popular on India's tourism scene, due to its cultural heritage and diversity. Some very good places of interest in and around Sagar are Rahatgarh Waterfalls, Garhphra Mountains and Temples, and Khimlasa Forts. Sagar is developing into an industrial area with many new corporate industries setting up their plants within the city. Sagar has its own hospital and medical research centre called Bhagyoday Tirth, as well as an army cantonment unit. The city known as the Heart of Madhya Pradesh has a very good transportation network with the railway system Indian Railways and national highways National Highways Authority of India connecting it with all major cities across India. The nearest airport from the city is at Bhopal, the capital of the state of M.P.

Sagar region is served by various media networks. Regional commercial television networks such as Doordarshan (DD)operate in and around the city. The region also receives local radio networks and is home to various daily newspapers such as Dainik Bhaskar, Dainik Jaagran. The Pragati Shopping Mall and many commercial shops are located mainly in the Civil Lines area. Sagar has a small stadium, where different sporting events are organized. Cricket, Football and Hockey are the most popular sports.

History

Sagar owes its importance to having been made the capital of the Maratha governor Govind Pant Bundele who established himself here in 1735. By a treaty concluded with the Maratha Peshwa in 1818, at the conclusion of the Third Anglo-Maratha War, the greater part of the present district was made over to the British. The town became the capital of the Saugor and Nerbudda Territories, then attached to the North-Western Provinces. The Saugor and Nerbudda Territories later became part of the Central Provinces (afterwards Central Provinces and Berar)and Sagar District was added to Jabalpur Division. During the Revolt of 1857 the whole district was in the possession of the rebels, except the town and fort, in which the British were shut up for eight months, until relieved by Sir Hugh Rose. The rebels were totally defeated and British rule restored by March, 1858. In the early 20th century Sagar had a British cantonment, which contained a battery of artillery, a detachment of a European regiment, a native cavalry and a native infantry regiment. Upon India's independence in 1947, the former Central Provinces and Berar became the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.

Geography

Sagar has an average elevation of 594 metres (1948 feet) and a total area of 6375 km² in a shape of triangle. It is the 6th largest city in the province of Madhya Pradesh, and the only division having five districts:

1. Damoh
2. Panna
3. Tikamgarh
4. Chattarpur
5. Sagar

Demographics

As of 2001^[update] India census^[1], Sagar had a population of 232,321. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Sagar has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 80%, and female literacy is 68%.

Education

University of Sagar was the first university to be established in Madhya Pradesh, and the 18th university of India. A precursor to this university was established well before Indian independence. Situated on top of hills overlooking the town it has an extensively large UTD Campus. Sagar also has a Government Engineering College and its very own Sagar Medical College to train doctors and nurses. The city has a very good schooling system, including Government Higher Secondary School, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Arya Kanya Vidyalaya, Saraswati Shishu Mandir. Sagar also has various technical colleges such as Gyanveer College, where students can pursue technical skills education. The Chimes Aviation Academy is located in Dhana which is about 12 km from Sagar and is one of the best aviation training institutions present in the country. Sagar is also importnant for the biodiversity it harbours. The small forests around Sagar university are home of varied flora and fauna. Snakes, in particular, find ideal habitat here.

Transport

Railways

The Sagar Railway Station is the main railway station of the city which serves a few trains for Delhi, Bombay and Calcutta. While it serves trains for Bhopal, Indore and Jabalpur too.

Roadways

Sagar is well connected with roadways to Bhopal

Airways

Nearest airport is at Khajuraho and Bhopal

References

External links

• Sagar Railway station on Wikimapia
• Sagar City on Wikimapia
• NGOs in Sagar
• Sagar Travel Guide From Wikitravel
• Sagar City Council Official Website