Vidisha is the 121st largest Hindi speaking city of India with a total population of 1,55,951. Highest employment in the Vidisha district is in the sectors of Agriculture, Metal, Engineering, Chemical, Readymade garments and other household industries. 72% of the workforce is employed in the Agricultural Sector, 26% in the Industrial Sector and the remaining 2% are Household workers. Vidisha district lies on the Vindhyachal Plateau off the main Vindhyachal Range. The Plateau slopes from south to north and is drained by a number of rivers – the Betwa, the Bina and the Sindh. The main crops cultivated are Soybean, Blackgram, Pigeon Pea, Maize, Sorghum, Chickpea, Wheat, Lentil, Mango, Guava, Lime and others. The town is situated east of the Betwa River, in the fork of the Betwa and Beas rivers, 9 km from Sanchi. The town of Besnagar, 3 km from present-day Vidisha on the west side of the river, became an important trade centre in the 6th and 5th centuries BCE, under the Shungas, Nagas, Satavahanas, and Guptas, and was mentioned in the Pali scriptures. Emperor Ashoka was the governor of Vidisha during his fathers lifetime. His Buddhist Empress Vidisha Devi who was also his first wife was brought up in Vidisha. It finds mention in Kalidasas Meghdoot.
