Mehsana (also spelt Mahesana) is a city and municipality in the Mehsana district of the Indian state of Gujarat. It serves as the administrative headquarters of Mehsana district and is one of the principal urban centres of north Gujarat. The city lies on the broad alluvial plain between the Sabarmati and Saraswati rivers and has historically functioned as an important trading, agricultural, and transport hub on the route connecting Ahmedabad with the northern parts of the state.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Gujarat |
| District | Mehsana |
| Type | City and municipality |
| Region | North Gujarat |
| Languages | Gujarati, Hindi |
Mehsana is traditionally believed to have been founded in the late fourteenth century by Mehsaji Chavda, a Chavda Rajput chieftain, after whom the town is said to be named. A shrine dedicated to him stands within the older part of the city. During the era of princely states, Mehsana formed part of the territory of the Gaekwads of Baroda and grew in significance as one of the administrative subdivisions of that state. After the integration of princely states following Indian independence in 1947, the area was incorporated into Bombay State and, with the formation of Gujarat as a separate state in 1960, became part of Gujarat.
The city is situated in the semi-arid plains of north Gujarat. The terrain is generally flat and the soils are alluvial, supporting extensive cultivation. The climate is characterised by hot, dry summers, a monsoon season from June to September, and mild winters. Groundwater has historically been a major source of irrigation, and the surrounding region has long depended on stepwells, tanks and tube wells for both agriculture and domestic use.
Mehsana has a diversified economy spanning agriculture, dairying, oil and natural gas, and small-scale manufacturing.
Mehsana lies on National Highway 48 (the Delhi–Ahmedabad–Mumbai corridor) and is connected by road to Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Palanpur and Patan. Mehsana Junction railway station, on the Western Railway zone of Indian Railways, is a junction point for lines radiating towards Ahmedabad, Palanpur, Viramgam and Taranga Hill, and has historically been an important station on the metre-gauge networks of north Gujarat that have since been progressively converted to broad gauge. The nearest major airport is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at Ahmedabad.
Mehsana is home to several institutions of higher education, including engineering and pharmacy colleges affiliated with state universities, polytechnic institutions, and the campuses associated with technical and management education in north Gujarat. The Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University, headquartered at nearby Patan, affiliates many colleges in Mehsana.
Civic affairs in the city are managed by the Mehsana Municipality. The city is the headquarters of Mehsana district, which was constituted as one of the districts of Gujarat at the formation of the state in 1960. Mehsana is also a Lok Sabha parliamentary constituency and a Vidhan Sabha assembly constituency.