Sironj

History

Historically, Sironj was a part of the Malwa region, on the fringes of Bundelkhand, and has been a Jain pilgrimage. As a part of the kingdom of the Nawabs of Tonk, it bordered Gwalior State under the Scindhias. At the time of independence of India, Sironj was a part of the Tonk state of Rajasthan. Thus, it became a land-locked district of Rajasthan surrounded from all four sides by Madhya Pradesh. Under the State Reorganization Act of 1956, Sironj was made a part of Madhya Pradesh. However, it lost its status of a district and became a block (sub-district) under the Vidisha district of MP. Being very close to the medieval trade route between Delhi and Gujarat, Sironj was full of traders. The most famous of such traders were the Maheshwaris, who later left Sironj taking offence on the actions of the Nawab of Sironj. Their deserted palaces still dominate the skyline of Sironj, which was famous for its three tiered market. In a single building, there were shops that were partly underground and partly on the surface (meant for customers on feet), shops that were slightly raised (for the customers on the horseback) and shops on the first floor (for the customers on elephant -back). Many of these shops survive. Sironj is one of the oldest cities of India. It was also known for Moughal district during the time of Mughals and was a big trade centre connected directly to ship port of Gujarat. Water cooling pots and woven mats were exported to outside countries. To know more about Sironj, one can read the book Aasar e Malwa describing brief history of area. It also has a famous Madan Mohan temple said to be constructed centuries ago whose sibling is said be situated in Vrindavan.