Predominantly an industrial town, Nagda, much like many of its other Indian counterparts, has a fascinating history. Located in the Ujjain district of Madhya Pradesh, the name Nagda translates into the ‘cremation or burning of snakes’. The city was nurtured and developed from a small village by one of the Pandava Kings, Janmejay.
Nagda’s fertile land and vast amounts of space appealed to businessmen around the country, who then decided to set up manufacturing plants here, thereby providing employment and contributing to the city’s progress. The large number of old temples in and around Nagda also adds to its appeal, especially with tourists who are more spiritually inclined. Largely Hindu, the locals here are extremely religious, proud of their indigenous cultural ethos and they seem to take great delight in cooking, eating, and feeding others. If you’re visiting Ujjain, a stopover at Nagda could prove interesting.
As the famed River Chambal flows through Nagda, the banks and surroundings of the river provide great picnic spots for locals and tourists alike. The areas developed by the Birlas, who were among the first to set up shop here, are also worth visiting. The park established and maintained by the Birlas in Birlagram is also worth a visit.
Temples can be found at almost every corner of Nagda. The city is dotted with temples, not just the old and crumbling structures that add to the charm of the city, but also newer temples that have been built fairly recently by industrialists who have set up factories and plants here—such as the Birla Mandir.
Festivals are celebrated with great enthusiasm and gusto in Nagda, so do try to plan your trip around Dussehra or Dhol Gyaras, the local festival where mobile temples move around to the beat of drums.
Auto-rickshaws and local buses can be found in and around Nagda. However, hiring a private vehicle to move around would prove more comfortable.
On a daily basis there are approximately 39 flights that operate at Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport.IndiGo and Air India are the most popular airline brands that fly frequently to this airport.
Besides flying you can also reach Nagda through train.Nagda Jnis one of the most popular train stations in Nagda.On an average about 100+ trains pass through Nagda on a daily basis.Ratlam to Nagda, Kota to Nagda, Vadodara to Nagdaare some of the most popular routes to Nagda with 118, 95, 92 trains weekly respectively.
By road Nagda is surrounded by Khacharod, Jaora, Ratlam which are 9.24 km, 22.47 km, 25.9 km away respectively. These places are ideal spots for people to plan their short weekend break.