From the historical references about ‘Devashbhayah in Kavyamimansa’ written by Raj Shekhar in the 10th Century and that of Dewas in ‘Prithviraj Raso’ of Chand Bardai in the 12th Century it is evident that Dewas is nearly 1000 years old settlement. The idol of Chamunda Devi also belongs to the 10th Century. The present village Nagda, three miles away in south of Dewas is said to have been the former capital of this track.

The ruler’s of the former twin State of Dewas were descendants of the old dynasty of Parmars. From Kaluji the descendants are, Tukoji and Jiwaji who commenced to rule jointly over the same county without dividing the territory which we finally partitioned during their life time. The two territory rules by Tukoji and Jiwaji were known as the Senior and Junior branches respectively. The founder of Senior branch Tukoji Rao Panwar-1 added nothing worth mentioning to “Dewas” but his successor Krishnaji Rao-1 and Rukmangad Rao, built the Senior Palace, Krishna Bawari, Sri Ram Mandir with Ganga Babri Temple adjoining it. Present Bada Bazar and Bhagwant Pura, present Tukognj were also the developments of this period. Bhavani Sagar was also excavated to check the destructive flow of water from Chamunda Hill. It is also said that in those times flow of water from Chamunda Hill divided the town in 12 parts which resulted in social segregation also as separate communities settled in each part.

The 10 localities named Purbepura, Momimtola, Dabbri, Talalabakhal, Kharibawdi, Miqa Bakhal, Mandai, Bhawanipura, Todi and Raghunath Pura are the earliest settlements of the town. To save the residents from the terrorist tribes Kabuliwalas and Pthans settled in the town and these localities were named as Postipura and Pathan Khan. Alotpaiga (Horse Regiment) and Kedareshware Temple, Rewa Bag, Yamuna Niwas, Female ward all came into existence during his regime.

After division of the Joint Capital in the year 1886. Rani Bag Water Works was planned and carried out by Krishna)i Rao-II in 1898 and piped water supply was made available. Rani Bag Kothi, Government House (Present K.P. College) Sagar Mahal and a four- stored building south of Rajwada and Krishnpura localities were established by Krishna)i Rao-II after his succeeded as a Tukoji Rao- III. He built Anand Bhawan, Rajwada after the name of his father and Annapuri locality in the memory of his beloved Bhagwati Dwar Sarai, Topkhana High School building (present Krishna)i Tukoji Rao-III. Annapura Palace was also built during this period by character to the Town came in the regime of Vikram Singh Rao who succeeded Tukoji Rao-III in 1937. New Market area with sufficiently widened roads, good pucca buildings and electrification in the town were provided after the II-world-war.

Like Bhawani Sagar of Senior Branch, Anand Rao (1817-1847) got excavated a tank named Devi Sagar and leveled the ravines of pouring Nullah from the Chamunda Hill for human settlement. Nagda Gate, Ujjain Gate, Sithamata Gate and Sarangpur Gate built. Haibatrai succeeded Narayan Rao Dada Saheb (1864-1892) and established Madiyar Bakhal and Pipli Bazar. The present junior places were built by him. He was succeeded by his son Narayan Rao who like his father also paid due attention to State Administrate in 1889) Victoria High School (Present Narayan Vidya Mandir Girls School), Laxminarayan Library, Moti Bungalow Laxmipura locality and Durga Bag Kothi with Durga temples for the public. Municipality in the Town was also established by him in 1875.

In 20th Century Malhar Kothi, Hospital and Dhunishansthan (for his Guru Seelnath Maharaj), Maharani Chimana Bai Girls College, Jiwaji Tower, Narayan Rao Tower, Shri Shivaji Rao Gate, Madhav Gate and Malhar Smriti Mandir were built besides establishment of Mahasa Bai Cotton Mill, Biscuit Factory, Bajrangpura locality and recreational platform in Devisagar Tank. A well-planned drainage system and piped water supply was conceived and executed during this period and a pumping station was installed at Mendki in Junior Dewas after independence the State was merged in Madhya Bharat and since reorganization of states in 1956, it has become a part of Madhya Pradesh.

Growth of the town towards north has particularly been influenced by the existence of Chamunda Hill and the National Highway. Till the end of 19th Century the growth of Dewas town was restricted to the South of the National Highway. The development of the town on Grid-Iron pattern in the South was especially due to the position of the two palaces of the former rulers of Junior and Senior Dewas branches.

After 1950 the physical growth of the town spread towards the east and west of Chamunda Hill in the Northern part of the town. The development activities further accelerated and intensified in the northern part after coming of broad gauge line in the town and establishment of New Precision and Gajragears near Railway station and industrial estate along Ujjain Road.

The physical barriers namely Chamunda Hill. Railway Line, Milha Talab and Nagdhaman River have a restrictive influence on development. Efforts are to be made in future to make these physical barriers less obstructive than these are today. At present the physical growth is towards North-West and mainly concentrated between the Railway line and Agra-Bombay Road, the major central artery ot the town.

Dewas is a fast growing industrial city with a population ot 2.3 lacks. Including the surrounding population it has a potential to serve as a sub city to Indore Metropolitan Area. It has got adequate resources to work as Counter Magnet to Indore Metropolitan Area.

Dewas is a one of the major industrial township of Madhya Pradesh with very fast developing activities in Political. Industrial Social and other Spheres. Dewas is located in the Western of Madhya Pradesh .

Dewas, one of the most rapidly growing industrial town of Madhya Pradesh is the district headquarter of the district with the same name is located on Agra-Mumbai National Highway (NH3). It is well connected to and situated at a mere distance of 35 kilometers from Indore Metropolitan Area, the prime business center of Madhya Pradesh by four-lane expressway. Ujjain is another divisional headquarter and a pilgrim center is 35 kilometers from Dewas. Bhopal is the capital of Madhya Pradesh is at a distance of 154 kilometers.

Dewas is on Indore-Bhopal Broad Gauge Railway track and all the trains going to Bhopal, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata etc from Indore passes through it. It is well connected with Tehsil headquartered and other important towns of the region by roads and Railway.

Strategically located on the intersection of National Highway 3 and State Highway 18 and New State Highway 86, Dewas has got special importance. Dewas is expected to grow at a rapid pace in near ftiture. Projected population in the development plan 2011 is 4.0 lacks considering the past growth and its role as sub city to Indore Metropolitan Area.