Wow India Travel

High Season : October - March

10-28℃

Low Season : April - September

33-44℃

Nearest Airport

Bhopal Airport

Nearest Train Stations -BHS

Vidisha Railway Station

History

Ramayana by Valmiki contained the earliest reference to Vidisha. Shatrugati, son of Shatrughan was the then in-charge of Vidisha.As per the Brahmanical religion, the town was also called Bhadravati and served as home place to Yuvanashva a main supplier of the famous horse for Ashvamedha sacrifice to Yudhishthira. During the medieval period, the city was also known as Bhilsa.Vidisha was also called Besnagar and found mention in Buddhist, Jain and Brahmanical literature as Vessanagar, Vaisyanagar, etc. Tradition has it that Raja Rukmangada neglected his wife for an Apsara Visva and therefore named the town Vishvanagar. After Besnagar was destroyed sometime after the 7th century A.D.,a new town called Bahilaswamin or Bhillaswamin was formed, which was later popularly called Bhilsa. This name may have been given as there is a famous Suryamandir in the town dedicated to the Sun God. Once during the rule of the Mughals, Aurangzeb had tried to rename the City as Alamgiri Nagar but was not successful in this endeavor.

Facts & Culture

Vidisha, the administrative headquarters of the Vidisha District is a historically important city in the state of of Madhya Pradesh. Situated in the fork of the Betwa and Bes rivers, only 9 kms away from Sanchi, Vidisha was once an important trade centre. It was a major commercial and religious center during the 5th and 6th centuries B.C. and prospered lot under Sungas, Nagas, Satavahanas and Guptas. It is exceptionally rich in ancient monuments and religious spots. Emperor Ashoka is directly connected with Vidisha where he served as Governor. The city also finds mention in Kalidasa's immortal Meghdoot.