Ashta, Bhopal
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts.Many units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Ashta, Bhopal
Head-quarters of the Nizamat-i-Maghrib or western district of Bhopal State, Central India, situated in 23 1' N. and 76 46' E., on the east bank of the Parbati. Population (1901), 5,534. The site is traditionally said to be a very old one, but the present town was built in the fifteenth century. In Akbar's time it was the head-quarters of a mahal in the Sarangpur sarkar of the Subah of Malwa. The town is surrounded by a fortified wall, and contains a small fort built by Dost Muhammad Khan in 1716 ; both wall and fort are now in a dilapidated condition. In 1745 Ashta was seized by the Marathas, but was restored to Bhopal under the treaty of 181 7. A mosque built in 1602 stands in the town. In 1837 Nawab Jahangir Muhammad Khan was besieged in Ashta by the forces of Kudsia Begam. The chief industries are weaving, dyeing, and printing of cotton cloth. A considerable trade in opium is carried on here ; and the town contains a primary school, a dispensary, British and State post offices, and an inspection bungalow.
