Shajapur is a district in the Malwa region of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The district headquarters is located in the town of Shajapur. It forms part of the Ujjain administrative division and lies on the Malwa Plateau, a tableland known for its black cotton soil and wheat-growing tracts.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Madhya Pradesh |
| Region | Malwa |
| Division | Ujjain |
| Headquarters | Shajapur |
| Type | District |
Shajapur district is named after its principal town, Shajapur, whose name is traditionally linked to the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, who is said to have camped in the area during his travels through Malwa. The district was reorganised in 2013 when the new district of Agar Malwa was carved out of it, with the tehsils of Agar, Susner, Nalkheda and Barod being transferred to the new district.
The district lies on the eastern part of the Malwa Plateau. It is drained by tributaries of the Chambal and Kali Sindh river systems. Shajapur shares borders with several Madhya Pradesh districts of the Malwa and adjoining regions, including Ujjain, Dewas, Rajgarh and Agar Malwa. The terrain is generally undulating, with fertile alluvial and black soils that support extensive cultivation.
The district is administered by a District Collector and is divided into tehsils and development blocks. After the 2013 bifurcation, the principal tehsils within Shajapur district include Shajapur, Shujalpur, Kalapipal, Gulana and Mo Badodiya, among others. The district forms part of the Ujjain revenue division.
The economy of Shajapur is predominantly agricultural. Major crops include wheat, soybean, gram, maize and oilseeds, with soybean being a leading commercial crop of the Malwa belt. Agro-based and small-scale industries, along with trade in agricultural produce, form an important part of the local economy. The towns of Shajapur and Shujalpur serve as commercial centres.
The district is served by the Western Railway, with stations on the Bhopal–Ujjain–Ratlam corridor passing through Shujalpur, Kalapipal and Akodia. Road connectivity links Shajapur to Bhopal, Ujjain, Indore and Dewas through the state and national highway network.
Hindi is the principal language, with Malvi widely spoken as a regional variety. The cultural life of the district reflects the broader Malwa tradition, including local fairs, folk music and temple festivals. Several historic temples and stepwells are scattered across its towns and villages.