JABALPUR, Madhya Pradesh

Main Attraction: BHEDAGHAT

The Narmada, making its way through the Marble Rocks, narrow down and then plunges in a waterfall known as Dhuandhar or the smoke cascade. So powerful is the plunge that its roar is heard from a far distance. The falls and the breaking of the volume of water at the crest present an awesome spectacle of Nature’s power unleashed.

Brief History:

Jabalpur City is known and considered as Sanskardhani, a ”Cultural Center Place”. Jabalpur is evolving as a multi-culture and multi-religious city, gradually growing in to a cosmopolitan area. The roots of the city yet are with its farming native people. Series of lakes, which, shaded by fine trees and bordered by fantastic crags add much beauty to the suburbs. Jabalpur city is located in the Mahakoshal region situated at the center of India in the state of Madhya-Pradesh. Jabalpur is the administrative headquarter of both the Jabalpur district and the Jabalpur division.

Jabalpur is an important junction for the Indian Railways and is also the headquarters of West central railways. Jabalpur is a large Defence and Military Center. Jabalpur is also known for housing spiritual leaders Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and Bhagwaan Shri Rajneesh (Osho).

Jabalpur is said to be the tapasya bhoomi of the sage Jabali, from whom the name Jabalpur is derived. Ashokan relics have also been found here. Later on it was formed the capital of the famous Tripuri kingdom in the 9th–10th centuries.

Inscriptions record the existence during the 11th and 12th centuries of a local line of princes of the Haihai people who are closely connected with the history of Gondwana. In the 16th century the Gond raja of Garha Mandla extended his power to over fiftytwo districts, including the present Jabalpur. During the minority of his grandson, Asaf Khan, the viceroy of Kara Manikpur, conquered the Garha-Mandla principality and held it at first as an independent chief.

Under the British Raj, Jabalpur became the capital of the Saugor and Nerbudda Territories, which was part of the British North-Western Province. The Saugor and Nerbudda Territories became part of new Central Provinces in 1861 which in 1903 became the Central Provinces and Berar. By the early 20th Century, Jabalpur was the headquarter of a brigade in the 5th division of the Southern Army.

An important landmark event was the holding of the Tripuri Congress session in 1939 that was presided by Subhash Chandra Bose. Jabalpur was the home of Seth Govind Das, India’s famous Parliamentarian and Hindi author.

After India’s independence in 1947, the Central Provinces and Berar became the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.

The present Jabalpur is under Mahakoshal region where many signs of ancient glory are still present. History of Jabalpur extends from ancient historical age to the independent movement.

At various places specially, Bheraghat, Tilwaraghat and Lamhetaghat near Jabalpur, signs of pre-stone age human civilization have been found. The ruins of the same, specifically those of human skeletons, hand made creations of arts industries and cultrual activities have been found as proof in areas which are in proximity to either river Narmada or its tributaries. In the history of Jabalpur there is a reference of Mourya period. The number and type of coins and old records show that this district must be under Satwahans. Later on, it was also established from the inscription of pillars of Allahabad that during Gupta period, Samudragupta had put ‘Khadparik and other tribes living in Damoh and Jabalpur region under his possession during his victory expedition. Inscription on the stones found in Batiagarh prove that these tribes lived in this region. This is sufficient to prove that Jabalpur was a part of empire of Samudragupta. In the later age the rock inscriptions proved that Jabalpur district was under the rule of the descendants of emperors from 875 A.D. to 1180 A.D. Jabalpur was under the rule of 1st ruler, Kokal-I to the last ruler, Kokal-XV of Kalchuri dynasty. Numerous rock-inscriptions have been found in this district as a testimony. Kalchuri kings had made Tripuri as their capital, which is only 10 km. away from Jabalpur. After Kalchuri rulers, there is reference of Rajgond kings whose capital was Garha, at a distance of only 5 kms from Tripuri. Sangram Sagar dam which is in Garha is in reality in the name of first ruler of Gond Dynasty, Sangram Shah. Bajanamath temple, constructed by Sangram Shah is still there on the bank of Sangram Sagar.

In the history of Jabalpur, mention of queen Durgawati is the most important. The heir of Sangramshah was Dalpatshah who was married to queen Durgawati but after only four years of married life, Dalpatshah died and the responsibility of ruling the Kingdom fell on queen Durgawati, which she managed well. The pond named Ranital which is near Jabalpur, was constructed by her. During the reign of queen Durgawati, this region flourished the most. In 1564 under the leadership of Asaf Khan, Subedar of Emperor Akbar the soldiers attacked Garha Mandla. Queen Durgawati courageously fought against them. But she was defeated ultimately due to the large army of Akbar. Instead of surrendering, queen Durgawati committed suicide by a knife in the war field. Though Garha came under the Mughal Empire, the king of Garha ruled independently. After queen Durgawati the most notable king was Hirde Shah who made Ramnagar village in tahsil Mandla, as the capital of his kingdom. After Hirdeshshah i.e. from 1789 onwards, Jabalpur and Mandla were governed by Raghoji Bhonsle of Nagpur Peshwa day till 1817. In 1817, the Britishers defeated Marathas and it was brought under British rule.

Till 1857, this district was under East India Company’s rule. In 1857, king Shankarshah and his son Raghunathshah were put to death by the Britishers in cruel manner as they were believed to be the main culprits who initiated the 1857 mutiny. There was uproar in the army due to these murders and they revolted against the Britishers. This revolt was crushed by the Britishers and till independence Jabalpur was under their rule. The people of Jabalpur had active participation in the independence movement. Many social and voluntary organizations rose during this period. These organizations were Vidhya Prasarak Sabha, Hitkarini Mahajan Sabha, Balbodhini Sabha, Anjuman Islamia and Vidhya Wardhini Sabha. These organizations played very important role in the upliftment of the region and awakened the people of this district. After independence Jabalpur district became the integral part of Indian Union.