Umaria

Umaria district is located to the North East of Madhya Pradesh. Mathematically the coordinates of the District extend from 23o38′ to 24o20′ North and 80o28′ to 82o12′ East. It has geographical area of 4548 sq.km. The greatest length of the district is about 150 km. from north to south and the greatest width is about 60km from east to west. The population of the district on the basis of 2011 census is 644,758. Out of which about 83% population resides in rural areas.

The district has extensive forests. About 42% of the total area is covered by forests only. The District is rich in minerals. The most important mineral found in the district is coal and as a result 8 mines are being operated by South Eastern Coalfield Limited in the district.

The famous Bandhavgarh National Park (Tala) and Sanjay Gandhi Thermal Power Station Mangthar (Pali) are located in the district.

Umaria was formerly the headquarters of the South Rewa District and thereafter the headquarters town of the Bandhavgarh tehsil. It is situated at a distance of about 69 Km. from Shahdol, the parent district. Metalled roads connect the town with Katni, Rewa Shahdol etc., on which regular buses ply. Umaria is also a railway station on the Katni-Bilaspur section of the South-Eastern Railway.

Bandhavgarh Fort:

Bandhavgarh is the name of tehsil in Umaria District. Formerly it was the capital of the Bandhavgarh Kingdom of the Magha dynasty, then the head-quarters of the tehsil. At present its headquarters is Umaria.

The fort of Bandhavgarh is a place of considerable archaeological and historical importance.

It is a natural impregnable fort and stands on a hill, at an attitude of about 2430 metres above sea-level. The Bamnia hill is also a part of the fort, because it is enclosed by a rampart. The fort is on the Rewa-Umaria road, at a distance of about 41Km from Umaria Town.

Chandia Khas: 

Chandia is situated on the Umaria-Katni road, at a distance of about 21 km. from Umaria. The railway station of Chandia Khas, known as Chandia railway station.

The most important spot of Chandia Khas is a small temple, enshrining Goddess Kalika. Her mouth is wide open, but her out-stretched tongue is broken. There is also a old temple of god Rama and his consort Janaki. It was the seat of Thakur of Chandia. A small fair meets at Suraswahi Chandia for 3 days in February/March, on the occasion of Shivaratri. 

Pali Birsinghpur: 

Pali is situated on the Umaria-Shahdol road, at a distnace of about 36km. from Umaria. Another road goes from Pali to Mandla via Dindori. Pali is also a railway station, and there is a rest house for the tourists to stay. The Station is known as the Pali-Birsinghpur station. Near the railway station there is a temple, enshrining Birasinidevi. By popular belief she is Goddess Kali, represented here as skeleton Goddess, but with her mouth closed. Many remains of old jain idols kept here in some Hindu temples. The annual fairs are held both in October and March, on the occasion of Navaratri, Near the temple of Goddess. 

Umaria Town: 

The headquarters town of the Umaria district and Bandhavgarh tehsil, formerly umaria was the headquarters of the South Rewa District. It is situated at a distance of about 69 km from Shahdol.

Near the railway station stands a Siva temple, known as the Sagara temple. It was an old shrine, recently remodeled. Its main gates are still intact with beautiful stone statues, carved in Khajuraho models. Near about is Jwalamukhi temple. abut 6.5km away from the town, there is another temple,. with similar carvings of the Khajuraho pattern. It is known as the Mariwal temple.Umaria is famous for its coal-mines, which were opened in 1881 by the Government of India and transferred to the Rewa Darbar in the same year, mainly to meet the requirement of railway at Katni

How to Reach

By Air

Nearest Airport is Jabalpur and Helipad is also Available in Umaria.

By Rail

Train is available from Shahadol,Katni,Bhopal,Indore,Jabalpur

By Road

By road Umaria connected with Katni,Jabalpur,Shahadol,Bhopal.

Places of Interest: 

Bandhavgarh National Park

The diverse mix of habitats in Bandhavgarh supports a corresponding plentitude of fauna. Its luxuriantly rich ecosystem provides amply for everyone – from the tiny butterflies to the majestic tigers. The park has earned a worldwide reputation for tigers and their unusually high density here is a pleasant surprise for wildlife lovers.

According to bio-geographic classification, the park area lies in the zone 6A-Deccan peninsula, Central highlands. The important prey species consists of chital, sambhar, barking deer, nilgai, chinkara, wild pig, chowsingha, langur and rhesus macaque.

Dependent upon them are the major predators like tiger, leopard, wild dog, wolf and jackal. The lesser predators are fox, jungle cat, ratel, palm civet, and mongoose. Besides them, other mammalians present are sloth bear, porcupine, Indian Pangolin, variety of bats including the giant fruit bat, Indian tree shrew, and many other species of rodents. The avifauna is also well represented. More than 250 species of birds have been recorded with the park.

The raptors are mainly represented by crested serpent eagle, shaheen falcon, bonnelli’s eagle, shikra, marsh and hen harriers

There is a good population of malabar pied hornbill, particularly in the fort and its vicinity. Peafowls, painted and grey partridge, red jungle fowl, sarus crane, lesser adjutant stork, large racket tailed drongo, brown fish owl, paradise flycatcher, green pigeon are quite common here.

Bandhavgarh, with its abundance of streams, marshes, woodland edges and wild flowers, is a paradise for butterflies. Over 70 species have been recorded here which include the common rose, blue tiger, striped tiger, great egg fly, common crow, common and mottled emigrant, spot swordtail, peacock pansy and orange oak leaf. Water pools and marshlands are the abode of dragonflies and damselflies.

Legend has it that Lord Rama bequeathed the fort to his brother Laxmana, hence the name “Bandhavgarh” which means brother’s fort. At the base of the fort is the monolithic statue of Lord Vishnu reclining on the seven hooded snake, known as Sheshshaiyya . Statues of all the incarnations of Lord Vishnu can be seen in the fort area. The fort is surrounded by 32 man-made caves which have inscriptions, carvings and paintings.

Bandhavgarh area was the favourite hunting reserve of ex-rules of Rewa State, hence it remained completely protected from poaching and illicit felling. After abolition of States, degradation of this area started. Deeply soared from this situation, late Maharaja Martand Singh of Rewa prevailed upon the M.P. Government to declare an area of 105 sq. km. as National park in 1968. Area of the park was extended to 448.84 sq.km. in 1982 and in 1993 it was declared a Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger.

The altitude of the area varies from 440m. to 811m. above mean sea level. The rock is feldspathic sandstone that soaks rainwater and releases it through springs that feed many perennial streams and lead to the creation of marshes in the low lying meadows.

The major streams of the park are Charanganga, Dammar, Janad and Umrar.

The forest falls within the tropical moist deciduous belt, dominated by sal and bamboo which form varying mixtures with each other and other usual associates like Saja, Dhawara, Arjun, Mahua, Achar, Amla, etc. Depending upon rock, soil type, slope and moisture. Intermingling grasslands, locally known as “baheras” provide good habitat for herbivores and hunting cover for predators.

Entrance to the park is from Tala, A small village on Umaria-Rewa state highway. Private transport buses are available from Umaria (32 km.), Amarpatan (80km.), Shahdol (102km.) and Rewa (105km.) to reach Tala. Nearest railway stations are Umaria (32km.), Jabalpur (164km.), Katni (92km.) and Satna (120km.). Jabalpur (164km.) and Khajuraho (237km.) are the nearest airport.

There is a four room Forest Rest House at Tala. Four tents of Forest Department are also available at a very reasonable rate.

A Guide and a permit is must on all excursions into the park. Guides are available at entrance gate. Excursion on foot are not permitted. The park is open for tourist from October to June.