Sagar district is an administrative district in the Madhya Pradesh state of India. Located in the Bundelkhand region, it forms part of the Sagar division and takes its name from its headquarters town, Sagar, which is built around a large lake from which the name (sagar meaning "lake") is derived.
Key facts
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Madhya Pradesh |
| Division | Sagar division |
| Headquarters | Sagar |
| Region | Bundelkhand |
| Official language | Hindi |
Geography
Sagar district lies on the Malwa plateau in north-central Madhya Pradesh, in the transitional zone between the Vindhya range and the Bundelkhand uplands. The terrain is characterised by undulating plains, low hills, and forested tracts, with the Dhasan, Bina, Sunar and Bewas rivers draining parts of the district. The district shares boundaries with several neighbouring districts of Madhya Pradesh, including Damoh, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, Vidisha, Raisen, Narsinghpur and Ashoknagar.
Administration
The district is administered by a District Collector and Magistrate, with subordinate revenue divisions organised into tehsils and development blocks. For policing, it is headed by a Superintendent of Police. The district is divided into multiple tehsils including Sagar, Rehli, Khurai, Banda, Bina, Deori, Garhakota, Rahatgarh and Malthon, among others.
Major towns
- Sagar (district headquarters)
- Bina
- Khurai
- Rehli
- Garhakota
- Deori
- Banda
- Rahatgarh
History
The region of present-day Sagar district has historical associations with the Chandela, Gond and Bundela rulers of central India. The town of Sagar is traditionally said to have been founded in the early 17th century. In the 18th century the area passed into the hands of the Marathas, and Sagar later became an important Maratha and then British military and administrative centre.
Under British rule, Sagar served as the headquarters of the Saugor and Nerbudda Territories and subsequently formed part of the Central Provinces. After the reorganisation of states in 1956, the district became part of the newly formed state of Madhya Pradesh.
Economy
The district's economy is predominantly agrarian, with wheat, gram, soybean, pulses and oilseeds being the main crops. Sagar is also known historically for the production of beedi, with rolling units providing employment in both urban and rural areas. Limestone and other minor minerals are quarried in parts of the district. Bina hosts a major petroleum refinery operated by Bharat Oman Refineries (now part of Bharat Petroleum), which has stimulated industrial activity in the western part of the district.
Transport
Sagar district is served by the Indian Railways via stations at Sagar, Bina and Khurai, with Bina Junction being one of the busiest railway junctions in central India. The district is connected by national and state highways, including routes linking Sagar to Bhopal, Jhansi, Damoh and Kanpur.
Education and institutions
The district is home to Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya at Sagar, one of the oldest universities in central India, founded in 1946 by Sir Harisingh Gour and granted central university status in 2009. Sagar also hosts a number of degree colleges, technical institutes and a medical college, along with training establishments of central armed police forces.
Demographics and culture
Hindi is the principal language, with the Bundeli dialect widely spoken in everyday usage. The cultural traditions of the district reflect the broader Bundelkhand region, including folk music, diwari dances, and fairs associated with local temples and tanks. Notable heritage sites in and around the district include the Sagar lake and fort, the Garhpehra and Rahatgarh forts, and several old temples and stepwells.
Significance
Sagar's combination of an old garrison town, a major central university, a railway junction at Bina, and a modern petroleum refinery makes the district one of the more economically and educationally significant parts of the Bundelkhand region within Madhya Pradesh.
Related topics
- Sagar (city)
- Sagar division
- Madhya Pradesh
- Bundelkhand
- Dr. Harisingh Gour University
- Bina Refinery
- Districts of Madhya Pradesh
References
- Wikidata: Q2085421
- Government of Madhya Pradesh, district administration portal for Sagar.
- Census of India, district handbooks for Sagar.