LOCATION:
Shajapur District is a part of the Central Madhya Pradesh Plateau- Ratlam plateau Micro region according to the present scheme of regional delineation. The district is situated in the northwestern part of the state and lies between latitudes 23″06′ and 24″ 19′ North and longitude 75″ 41′ and 77″ 02′ East. The district is bounded by Ujjain and Agar-Malwa in the west, Dewas and Sehore in the South, Rajgarh in the North and Sehore district in the east. Shajapur district in Ujjain division was brought during 1981 census. The district is identified from the Headquarter town Shajapur named after honor of Shahjahan the Moughal Emperor who halted here in 1640. It is said that the original name was Shahjahanpur, which subsequently reduces to Shajapur. Since the formati on of the Gwalior State, it has remained a district.
PHYSICAL FEATURES:
The entire district is a part of Deccan Trap of Cretaceous Eocene age. The alluvium of ecent period is, however, found along the river Parbati in a narrow strip. The district has deep black and shallow black brown and alluvial soils of the northern region. Physio-cultural diversities in the district have led to sub-divide it into the following sub-micro regions:- Shajapur Forested Upland Kali Sindh Basin Shajapur Upland
SHAJAPUR FORESTED UPLAND:
The region stretches from north to south in the middle of the district covering considerable portions of Agar and Shajapur tehsils and small part of Susner tehsil. It is a part of Malwa plateau with typical topography. There is a continuous chain of hills in the entire region. The height of the region varies between 450 and 530 meters above the mean sea level. The surface height decreases towards the north. Since it is an upland area, a number of seasonal streams originate from this zone and drain mostly towards the east. Lakundar and Ahu are the main streams flowing from south to north in this region. The streams, which join Lakundar rivers on its left bank, originate from this hill tract. Ahu River drains along the western border of the region. The hilly terrain is covered with the forests.
KALI SINDH BASIN:
The region is elongated between the southern and northern limits of the district. It occupies the major parts of Susner and Shajapur tehsils and a very small part of Agar tehsil. Southern part of the region is hilly whereas northern part has plain land characteristics. The hills gradually decrease in height form south to north. There are a few scattered hillocks in the central and northern parts also. The altitude of the region varies between 450 and 528 meters above the mean sea level. Numerous streams originate form the hilly area and dissect the surface. Kali Sindh is the main river, which traverses through the hills and further flows on the eastern border of the district. Lakundar is the main rivulets of Kali Sindh that flows northwards. Geologically the entire region is a part of Deccan Trap of Creataceous Eocene period.
SHAJAPUR UPLAND:
This region extends over the eastern part of the district covering the entire Shujalpur tehsil and a small segment of Shajapur tehsil. Being a part of Malwa plateau, it presents the dissected topography. A hill range enters this region from the north and extends towards the south. The southern part of the region is an upland area and northern part is relatively low lying. In the south, the hills are scattered and are eroded by various streams. The height at the region varies between 435 and 507 meters above the main sea level. The 450 meters contour encircles the area along Newaj river where the small hills are spread. The river Newaj dissects these hills. The eastern part of the region is a low and Water dividing line of the western part can be decided by the tributaries of Newaj. The river Newaj and Parbati drains the region. River Parbati flows northwards on the eastern border of the region while river Newaj flows in the middle of the region. Both the rivers are parennial.