MANDASOR

also spelled Mandsaur, city, northwestern Madhya Pradesh state, west-central India. The city lies along the Sau River, a tributary of the Chambal. Mandasor is of considerable antiquity. Just southeast lie monolithic stone pillars with inscriptions referring to the erection of a sun temple in AD 437. To the east lies a 14th-century fort. The city was formerly a Gwalior princely state. A road and rail junction, it is a trade centre for grain, cotton, and cloth fabrics. Cotton ginning and milling, sugar milling, food processing, and handloom weaving are major industries. Mandasor has several colleges affiliated with Vikram University (1957), a music academy, and a technological institute. Pop. (1991 prelim.) 95,758.