# Sagar district

23°48′N 78°40′E﻿ / ﻿23.800°N 78.667°E﻿ / 23.800; 78.667 Sagar district (Hindi pronunciation:) is a district of Madhya Pradesh state in central India. The town of Sagar serves as its administrative center. Sagar district is called the heart district of India. Tropic of Cancer (23°3') passes through Rangir Tiraha on NH26 present NH44 in Sagar district.
The district has an area of 10,252 km², and a population of 2,378,458 (2011 census), an increase of 45% or by 732,260 inhabitants from its 1991 population of 1,646,198. Sagar district is dominated by Sonis, Jains and Yadavs.
As of 2011, it is the third most populous district of Madhya Pradesh, after Indore and Jabalpur.
Bina Sagar is the second largest city and important industrial city of the district. Bina has Bina Thermal Power Plant, Bina Refinery, Railway MEMU shed and a major railway junction of Madhya Pradesh state.

## History
### Ancient history

Firstly, Sagar was under the rules of Ahir-Rajas and their capital was at Garhpehra.

### Modern history

The history of the town of Sagar dates back to about 1660 AD, when Udan Shah, a descendant of Nihal Shah, built a small fort where the present one sits and founded a village close to it called Parkota Sagar. The present fort and a settlement under its walls were founded by Govind Pant Bundele, an officer of the Peshwa Bajirao I, who controlled Sagar and the surrounding territory after 1735 when it came under the Peshwa's possession. In 1818, the greater part of the district was ceded by the Peshwa Baji Rao II to the British Government, while the remainder of the present district of Sagar came into the possession of the British between 1818 and 1860. Thereafter in 1861, the Saugor and Nerbudda territories (along with the Nagpur state) formed a Commissioner's Province called Central Provinces. Sagar was the headquarters of the Sagar Commissionership for a short period until 1863–64 when this district was incorporated with Jabalpur Commissionership. In the year 1932, the district of Damoh was added to the Sagar district and was administered as a Sub-Division. In 1956, however, Damoh Sub-Division was again separated from the district to form a separate district and the Sagar district consisted of four tehsils viz, Sagar, Khurai, Rehli, Banda.

## Geography

Sagar district is located in the middle of the state. The tropic of cancer passes through Sagar district. It is surrounded by Ashoknagar, Vidisha, Raisen, Narsinghpur, Damoh and Chhatarpur districts. Total area of Sagar district is 10,252 km2. Sagar is situated in Vindhya mountain ranges and eastern part of Malwa plateau. Sunar, Dhasan, Bina, Bewas, are the major rivers of the district.

## Demographics

Religions in Sagar district (2011)
Hinduism
92.43%
Islam
4.35%
Jainism
2.65%
Other or not stated
0.57% :
According to the 2011 census, Sagar District has a population of 2,378,458, This gives it a ranking of 188th in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 232 inhabitants per square kilometre (600/sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 17.62%. Sagar has a sex ratio of 896 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 77.52%. 29.80% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Tribes made up 21.09% and 9.33% of the population respectively.
* Hindi (55.38%)
* Bundeli (42.93%)
* Others (1.69%)
At the time of the 2011 Census of India, 55.38% of the population in the district spoke Hindi and 42.93% Bundeli as their first language.

## Administrative divisions

There are 8 Constituencies in the district.
* 035 BINA
* 036 KHURAI
* 037 SURKHI
* 038 DEORI
* 039 REHLI
* 040 NARIAOLI
* 041 SAGAR
* 042 BANDA

## Culture
### Neminagar Jain Tirth

Neminagar Jain Tirth is in Banda tehsil located 30 km from Sagar on National Highway NH-86. It was built in the name of Aacharya Shri 108 Nemisagar ji maharaj by the blessings of his disciple aacharya 108 shri dayasagar ji maharaj. This temple has one choubisi (24 tirthankars god on 24 different altars), one levitated trikal choubisi (Lords of time passes, the time now and time to be), and a navagraha mandir (Lords of nine planets).

### Pateria jain Atishaya Kshetra

Shri Parsvanath Digamber Jain Atishaya Kshetra, Pateriaji is a 232-year-old temple dedicated to Parshvantha. This idol is 7 feet in height in Padmasana posture built in Black Stone with three serpent hoods. This temple was built by Seth Radha Kishanjun Shah with the earnings of one day in the business of Cotton in 1782 (V.S. 1839).

### Mangalgiri Jain Teerth

Mangalgiri is a holy Jain temple located in Sagar. This is the main centre of faith among Jains. The kshetra situated just on the outskirts of Sagar has the distinction of having the heaviest idol of Lord Mahavir weighing 9 MT made of brass and 11.25 feet high.

### Beenaji Jain Kshetra

Beena Barha The Jain temples of Bina Barha are an Atishay Jain tirth, located in the rural area of Garhpipariya in Deori. Acharya Vidyasagar has visited this temple many times for Chaturmas and has been a source of inspiration for the residents of Deori during religious functions organized in the city.

#### Makronia, Sagar

A former Dr H. S. Gour University started from Makronia's SAF Campus so many historic events are connected through Makronia. This region is developing as the suburban region near Sagar City. It is just 5 km away from the city. It has its separate railway station, the biggest hotel in Sagar, the Paradise Hotel, many CBSE and MP board schools, as well as a government engineering college. Many army bases are located in Makronia. Also Makronia Nagar Palika, there are many Engineering Colleges in Makronia, as there is a shortage of space in the City, development is moving towards the Makronia Region.

### Fairs

* Rahas mela Garhakota, Rahas mela is one of the oldest fair held in the region, originally the fair was cattle fair but has changed its form in the modern times. It is believed that the fair is started by the Maharaja Mardan Singh Ju Dev around year 1809.
* Khanderao Agni Mela Deori, A fair is organized at Shri Dev Khanderao Temple in Deori development block for the last four hundred years. It is known as Agnikund fair. their wishes are fulfilled, the devotees step barefoot into the burning fire pit on the embers.
* Dhamoni ka Urs, Every year a three-day Urs is organized at the tomb of Baba Balijat Shah in Dhamoni of Banda Development Block. In which many Qawwals take part.

## Tourist places

There are many tourist places in Sagar district some of them are -
* Eran, historical place known for Gupta period records
* Dhamoni, known for forts, tombs and fair
* Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, Natural Wildlife Sanctuary
* Harsiddhi Devi Mandir, Rangir, Devi temple
* Rahatgarh, waterfall, fort and natural beauty
* Khimlasa, historic place and fort
* Garhpehra, Hanuman Temple and forts
* Aabchand, ancient caves and rock Shelter's

## Notable people

* Gopal Bhargava, Indian politician
* Sir Hari Singh Gour – founder of Dr. Hari Singh Gour University, a lawyer, jurist, educationalist, social reformer, writer and member of the Constitutional Assembly
* Pannalal Jain, Indian Jain scholar (1911–2001)
* Virendra Kumar Khatik – Indian politician
* Kshamasagar – Jain Saint and Bhikshu
* Govind Namdev – director
* Kavi Padmakar, A Ritikal Poet
* Vitthalbhai Patel – poet, lyricist, former government minister, and social worker.
* Nathuram Premi (1881–1960) – writer, publisher, poet, editor, linguist and intellectual in the field of Jainism and Hindi literature; born in the city of Deori
* Govind Singh Rajput – Indian politician
* Vijaya Raje Scindia – (1919 – 2001), consort of the last ruling Maharaja of Gwalior, and later a politician elected to both houses of the Indian parliament. Bborn in Sagar.
* Ravishankar Shukla (2 August 1877 – 31 December 1956) – born in Sagar, first Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh state.
* Bhupendra Singh – Indian politician
* Mukesh Tiwari – actor
* Ramkumar Verma – Indian Poet
* Harsh Yadav – Indian politician
* Laxmi Narayan Yadav – Indian politician