Vidisha (formerly known as Bhelsa and known as Besnagar in ancient times) is a city in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is located 62 km northeast of the state capital, Bhopal. The district was created as "Bhilsa District" in 1904 by joining the tehsils of Vidisha (also known as Bhilsa) and Basoda, but not Basoda State, which were then part of Gwalior state. After India's independence in 1947, the former princely state of Gwalior became part of Madhya Bharat state, which was formed in 1948. Vidishā was the administrative headquarters of Bhelsa, or Bhilsa, during the Medieval period.
