Mehsana

This article is about the municipality in India. For its namesake district, see Mehsana district.

Mahesana (મહેસાણા)
—  city  —
Mahesana (મહેસાણા) Location of Mahesana (મહેસાણા) in Gujarat and India
Coordinates	23°36′N 72°24′E / 23.6°N 72.4°E / 23.6; 72.4Coordinates: 23°36′N 72°24′E / 23.6°N 72.4°E / 23.6; 72.4
Country	India
State	Gujarat
District(s)	Mehsana
Collector	Rajkumar Beniwal
Population	18,37,696 (2001[update])
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area • Elevation	• 81 metres (266 ft)
Codes • Pincode • 384001 • Telephone • +91 2762 • Vehicle • GJ 2

Mahesana  pronunciation (help·info) (Gujarati: મહેસાણા, Hindi:महेसाणा) is a city and municipality in Mehsana district, in the Indian state of Gujarat.

City and surrounding area

Situated near Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, Mehsana is one of the largest cities in North Gujarat; followed by Patan and Palanpur. A number of primary industries including dairy, oil and natural gas works are situated in or around the city. The city is also famous for its local Mehsani breed of buffalo. The city boasts the first water park in Eurasia (currently the largest in Gujarat), and the largest iron and steel market in India.^{[citation needed]}

Mehsana is now also scheduled to have an airport built - the first privately operated airport in Gujarat. The airport will function as a flight training centre of Ahmedabad Aviation and Aeronautics Ltd. The flight training centre, which is currently located at an abandoned airport, has been developed by the Gujarat Government and AAA Ltd over an area covering 64 acres (260,000 m²). An agreement for the airport was signed during the "Vibrant Gujarat Investors Summit-2007".

Mehsana is well connected by rail to other major cities in India. There are daily trains to and from Delhi and Mumbai, and direct weekly or bi-weekly trains connecting major cities in North and South India including Bangalore. Mehsana Railway Station has a computerised reservation facility.

Road connections include the National Highway from Ahmedabad to Delhi, which passes through Rajasthan. The state transport service operates bus services to Ahmedabad every 10–15 minutes. The nearest airport is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at Ahmedabad. Prepaid taxis are available to Mehsana from the airport.

Mulnayak Jain Temple, This temple is 161 ft (49 m) long, 97 ft (30 m) broad and 107 ft (33 m) high. This gives an idea of the grandeur of the temple. On seeing "Shri Simandhar Swami Moksha Praveshadvar" at the gateway.

Modhera's Sun temple, which is around 20–30 km away from Mehsana, is over 900 years old and is a great example of India's temple architecture.

Hinglaj Mata's Temple, is 10 km away from Mahesana.

Swaminarayan Temple, located near Radhanpur Chokdi in Mehsana is a milestone for its extraordinary architecture and its design.

Thol Wildlife Sanctuary, with an area of 7 km² is located near Ahmedabad. It is home to variety of wildfowl, flamingos, gray pelicans, black ibis and other wetland birds.

Wide-Angle Theatre, in Nagalpur suburb is the first Multiplex theatre in Mehsana and is drawing the attention of all people residing in or around Mehsana.

Geography

Mahesana has an average elevation of 265 feet (81 m) above sea level. It is approximately 69 km away from Ahmedabad.

Demographics

As of the 2001 India census,^[1] Mahesana had a population of 140,000. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Mahesana has an average literacy rate of 77%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. Male literacy is 81%, and female literacy is 72%. In Mahesana, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Industries

Dudhsagar Dairy

The Mehsana District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union Ltd. Popularly known as Dudhsagar Dairy, is a member of the state-level - Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. Anand Dudhsagar Dairy is the largest dairy in Asia, processing on an average 1.41 million kilograms of milk each day. It has established a network for procuring milk from 4,500,000 milk producers through 1150 village milk cooperatives. Dudhsagar Dairy is a technology pioneer in its industry, using information technology to simplify, automate, and improve operational efficiency.

Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Limited

Established in November 1967, the Mehsana fields have grown into the highest onshore-producing asset of the ONGC. Covering an area of 6000 km² with 28 fields in 2007–2008. Mehsana also has 1311 oil wells and 16 gas wells producing 5800 tonnes per day.

Banking and Finance: In Mahsana there are many Nationalised, Co-operative, and Private sector banks.

People

The city was founded by King Meshaji. The following Clans are found in Mehsana. They are similar to ones in Northern India. The way they are written in Gujarati are in the brackets. They are mostly Jats and Rajputs.

• Antal-Utpal (Uplana)
• Bhatti-(Bhatiya)
• Dal, Dhal- (Del or Dudee)
• Henga, Haga (Hun)
• Katariya (Katotariya)
• Pallwal (Pilatar)
• Parihar (Parihar, Padhiyar)
• Rawat (Rawat)
• Sikarwar, Sakarwar (Sakariya)
• Rathor (Rathor, Rathod)

Religion

Mehsana is a migration hub for south Indians. There is a temple of Lord Ayyappa. Shree Dharma Shasta Seva Trust[SDSST], which also runs a high school named Sabari Vidya Vihar, takes over the welfare of their community.

There is a "Osho Ashram" situated at Mehsana, which is the biggest Osho ashram after Pune. Many people from different states and different countries came here for meditation.

There are many Christian Churches at Mehsana. All most all denominations are having their churches at Mehsana.

The St. Thomas Christians having their church "Mar Greegorious Orthodox Syrian Church at Mehsana. St. Thomas, who was the disciple of Lord Jesus Christ, came to India and established many churches in India. The Mehsana church is very famous for "Miracles" to the devotees.

Education

Mehsana is home to Ganpat Vidhyanagar also known as Ganpat University. Disciplines within the university include engineering, pharmacy, management, higher computer studies, military school for girls and central board school. It is located 10 km from Mehsana city. Another educational institution - L.C.Institute of Technology is located near the city. It offers courses in Computer Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering. There is also a Diploma college on the same campus called M. L. Institute of Diploma Studies, which offers courses in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Automobile Engineering. The institute is affiliated with the Technical Examination Board, Gandhinagar.

The Krishi Vigyan Kendra is sponsored by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi. It is implemented by the Mehsana District Education Foundation, Ganpat University. Khreva. The KVK works on three fundamental principles viz. 1. Agricultural Production as prime goal 2. Work experience is main method of imparting the training 3. Priority to weaker section of the society, is the back bone of the KVK programme.

Sprat's Setu Caravan (an award winning NGO), Hyderichowk is a multipurpose empowerment center offers various social services like Reading room, SSC-HSC coaching, spoken English program, computer training, educational video, science show, book club, study circle, group discussion, hand work, mehndi work, self help groups, cultural hours, youth hours, women hours, senior citizen's hours, carrier quiz, basic management, computer accounting, workshops, personality development etc. Most of services are free to all and it covers all most all age groups.

Divine Child International School A CBSE and Cambridge university afflicted residential school founded in 1995.

Shri Sarvajanik Kelvani Mandal is the largest chain of schools in North Gujarat. Shri Vardhaman Vidyalaya is the only school in North Gujarat teaching the three mediums: English, Gujarati and Hindi. Other good schools include Kendriya Vidyalaya ONGC and Eklavya emglish Medium School

Anjana Chaudhari

Anjana Chaudhari (આંજણા ચૌધરી) are native to Rajasthan, North Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh in India. Anjana Chaudhari (આંજણા ચૌધરી) are basically Jat and they are an ethnic group, race, tribe and a people. Anjana Chaudhari (આંજણા ચૌધરી) are considered to be the merged descendants of Indo-Aryans, Indo-Scythian tribes of the region, merging to form the ethnic group people. Anjana Chaudhari (આંજણા ચૌધરી) are naturally warlike and aggressive in battle, and possess qualities like courage, loyalty, self sufficiency, physical strength, resilience, orderliness, hard working, fighting tenacity and military strategy. Arbuda Devi (અર્બુદા દેવી) -Mount Abu is Kuldevi (કુળ દેવી) of Anjana Chaudhari (આંજણા ચૌધરી).

A few villages in Gujarat where Anjana Chaudhari (આંજણા ચૌધરી) live are Ucharpi, Tavadia, Pamol, Khara, Khandosan, Basna, Mevad, Chitrodipura and Kukas. These villages are near about Mehsana and the gotras found in them are Gujor (Gurjar), Loh, Radhiyala, Gadriya, Bera, Kag, Mahival, Bhatol and Korat which are similar to those of the north Indian Jat. Anjana Chaudhari (આંજણા ચૌધરી) of Gujarat are wealthy and landlords. The Banaskantha and Mehsana district have many Anjana Chaudhari (આંજણા ચૌધરી) villages where a sizable population lives. Anjana Chaudhari (આંજણા ચૌધરી) population of these villages is about 15,00,000. Anjana Chaudhari (આંજણા ચૌધરી) in Gujarat have come from Rajasthan. Besides Chaudhari (ચૌધરી), Anjana (આંજણા) use Desai and Patel as their surname.

See also

• Basna - 6 km from mehsana on visnagar road. basna chaudhary bhai o thi shobhtu gam che. mainly gotras find are korat, valagot and mahiyar.there is a beautiful temple of Shree amarpuri maharaj and dash naam pujniy akhada. jai guru maharaj.
• Gambhu – Gabhira Pashvnath Bhagwan Temple in gambhu Nearest just 24 k.m in Maheshana city.

• Dhinoj – has a population of 8000. It is 14 km far from Maheshana.

• Tavadia – has a population of 2,500.

• Ucharpi – Ucharpi is 5 km from Mehsana city. Ucharpi is situated on the bank of the Khari river.
• Meghaaliyasana a 6 km away from mehsana city where a big temple of goddess Kodal mataji.mostly Chaudhary people living in this village (JD)

• Kukarvada – Kukarwada is situated 15 km. from Visnagar Taluka. The Shivling Mehsana have royal palace which was built by Mahraja sayaji Rao now this buildings is used as Judicial Court. There was famous Simanddhar Swami temple at highway there is few Muslim tombs also like Shaheed Kadar R.A. and others.

• Vihar-The famous guru of Swaminarayanpanth Tejendra Prasad stay and god Swaminarayan came 7 times in village vihar.

• Kasalpur – Kasalpur is situated 25 km from Mehsana.

• Vijapur- Vijapur is one of the oldest Town of Mehsana Dist. It is Located around 45 to 50 km from Mehsana. Vijapur is known for its Famous Jain Temple. Another World Famous Jain Temple of Ghantakarna Veer Bhagawan is Located at Mahudi which is around 10 km from Vijapur. Gerita is a Small Village of Vijapaur Taluka.

• Gorad – Gorad is situated 14 km from Mahesana City Center and located on Radhanpur road near by Dhinoj Village. The Navaratri Festival Of Gorad is held here.
• Ijapura(jethaji) – Ijapura(jethaji) is situated 25 km from Mehsana, on Mehsana - Kadi road via Jotana.

Reference

1. ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999. Retrieved 2008-11-01.