Ratlam district is an administrative district of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Located in the Malwa region of western Madhya Pradesh, it has its administrative headquarters at the city of Ratlam, which also serves as a major commercial and railway hub on the Delhi–Mumbai trunk route. The district forms part of the Ujjain Division.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Madhya Pradesh |
| Division | Ujjain Division |
| Headquarters | Ratlam |
| Region | Malwa |
Ratlam district lies on the Malwa Plateau in the western part of Madhya Pradesh. It is bordered by Mandsaur district to the north, Ujjain district to the east, Dhar and Jhabua districts to the south, and the state of Rajasthan to the west. The terrain is generally undulating plateau land drained by tributaries of the Chambal and Mahi river systems. The climate is typical of inland Malwa, with hot summers, a south-west monsoon season, and cool winters favourable to rabi cultivation.
The district is subdivided into tehsils and community development blocks for revenue and rural-development administration, with Ratlam city functioning as the principal urban centre. Other notable towns within the district include Jaora, Sailana, Alot, and Namli. The district is administered by a District Magistrate and Collector, with separate offices of the Superintendent of Police and the Zila Panchayat for elected local self-government.
Ratlam district contributes to the Ratlam Lok Sabha constituency, and contains several Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha constituencies including Ratlam City, Ratlam Rural, Jaora, Sailana, and Alot.
The region historically formed part of the Malwa heartland and came under successive powers including the Paramaras, the Delhi Sultanate, the Malwa Sultanate, and the Mughal Empire. In the 17th century the princely state of Ratlam was founded by Raja Ratan Singh, a Rathore Rajput, under Mughal sanction. During British paramountcy, Ratlam, Sailana, and Jaora were among the princely states of the Malwa Agency that later came under the Central India Agency. After Indian independence and the integration of princely states, the territories were merged into the state of Madhya Bharat in 1948 and subsequently became part of the reorganised state of Madhya Pradesh in 1956.
The district economy combines agriculture, agro-processing, trade, and industry. Major rabi crops include wheat, gram, and soybean (in kharif), with onion and garlic cultivation being particularly significant; Ratlam is widely known as a centre for onion and garlic trade in central India. Ratlam city is a long-established commercial market, and is also reputed for traditional products such as Ratlami sev. The district is a key node on the Western Railway, with Ratlam Junction serving as the seat of the Ratlam railway division.
Ratlam lies on the Delhi–Mumbai main line of Indian Railways, with the Ratlam railway division of Western Railway headquartered in the city. National and state highways connect the district to Indore, Ujjain, Mandsaur, and onwards to Rajasthan and Gujarat. The nearest major airport is at Indore.
The district reflects the broader cultural milieu of Malwa, with Hindi and Malvi widely spoken. Notable places include the former palace and town of Sailana, known for its kharmor (lesser florican) sanctuary and the Sailana Cactus Garden, the religious centre of Bilpank with its medieval temple remains, and Kedareshwar, a temple site set in a natural rock formation. Jaora is associated with the dargah of Husain Tekri, which draws pilgrims of multiple communities.