Sagar, formerly Saugor, is a city, municipal corporation and administrative headquarter in Sagar district of the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India. It's Madhya Pradesh's 6th largest city of by population. The city is situated on a spur of the Vindhya Range, above sea-level around northeast of the state capital, Bhopal.
Besides being the administrative headquarters of Sagar district and Sagar division, Sagar has many administrative offices of the Sagar division situated in the city. Sagar's metropolitan area includes Sagar Municipal Corporation, Sagar Cantonment, Makronia, Rajakhedi and Gambhiria.
Sagar has been selected as one of the hundred Indian cities to be developed as a smart city under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flagship Smart Cities Mission.
The first and oldest University of Madhya Pradesh is situated in Sagar city. It was established in 18 July1946 by Sir Harisingh Gaur, in 15 January 2008 it got the status of Central University.
Sagar is also very famous for the Mahar Regiment of the Army, the headquarters of this regiment is located here. Jawaharlal Nehru Police Academy is also located here.
History
thumb|Sagar City Museum|left
The ancient Indian kingdom of Chedi had its capital at Suktimati, which was located at Sagar during contemporary times. The history of Sagar District before 1022 A.D. is generally unknown; after that, records are available. Sagar was under the rule of Ahir Rajas and their capital was at Garhpehra. In 1660, Udenshah founded the present town of Sagar.
After 1735, the city came under the rule of the Peshwas. When Chhatrasal gave a region (Subah) to Bajirao, he appointed Govindpant Kher (later Bundele) as an administrator. Govindpant founded the city of Sagar next to the Sagar Lake and made the city his capital. In 1818, a large part of the Sagar district was ceded by Peshwa Baji Rao II to the British East India Company. Administratively, the position of Sagar and the neighbouring territories underwent frequent changes.
thumb|Panorama of Sagar Fort|left
The Saugor territory was first placed under the superintendent of Political Affairs of Bundelkhand. Later, in 1820, this area, called the 'Saugor and Nerbudda Territories,' was placed under the administration of an agent to the governor-general. The region fell under the North-Western Province, following its constitution in 1835. In 1842 occurred the Bundela rising, the quelling of which demanded more direct attention from the Governor-General. But the order was restored in the following year, and the Saugor and Nerbudda Territories were again placed under the political control of an Agent named to the Governor-General. The arrangement, however, was not found to be satisfactory, and these territories were once again restored to the North-Western Provinces in 1853. After that in 1861, the Saugor and Nerbudda territories and the Nagpur state formed a Commissioner's Province called Central Provinces.
Geography
Sagar has an average elevation of 427 metres (1401 ft) and is located in the central part of India, just north of the upper limit of the Vindhya mountain ranges.here is a lake in middle of the city.
Climate
Sagar has humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cwa) with hot summers, a somewhat cooler monsoon season and cool winters. Very heavy rainfalls in the monsoon season from June to September.
Sagar has been ranked 15th best "National Clean Air City" under (Category 2 3-10L Population cities) in India.
Demographics
As per 2011 Indian Census, Sagar municipal corporation limit had a total population of 274,556, of which 143,425 were males and 131,131 were females. The population within the age group of 0 to 6 years was 32,610. The total number of literates in Sagar was 216,422, which constituted 78.8% of the population with male literacy of 82.6% and female literacy of 74.6%. The effective literacy rate of 7+ population of Sagar was 89.5%, of which male literacy rate was 93.7% and the female literacy rate was 84.8%. The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes population was 54,432 (19.83%) and 3,052 (1.11%) respectively. Sagar had 52833 households in 2011.