SURGUJA, Chhattisgarh

Main Attraction:  RAMGARH (RAMGIRI) HILLS

Ramgarh, also kownn as Ramgiri is located at a distance of about 45 kms. to the south of district headquarter Ambikapur. Ancient remains of as early as third century B.C. are present here. Sita Bengra, Jogimara caves, Laxman cave, Kabir-Choura and Hathi Pol are places of great historical importance on the Ramgarh hillock.

The ancient remains and inscriptions clearly indicates of a “Natya Shala” (Drama School) belonging to 3rd century B.C. It is also believed that Sita used to reside in the cave known as Sita Bengra during the exile of Shri Ram. This is the place where Kalidas had composed the great kavya “Meghdoot” which is mentioned in his composition itself. At the rear end of Sita Bengra is a large tunnel which is 181 ft. in length known as “Hathi Pol”. It is so named as even an elephant can move through it.

Brief History

Surguja district is located in the Northern part of Chhattisgarh State. Borders of Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh are adjoining to Surguja district. Historically, Surguja district was constituted in 1951 by merging the three feudatory States, namely Chang Bhakhar, Koria and Surguja. Since the erstwhile feudatory State-Surguja was biggest amongst the three feudatory states, the newly constituted district was named as Surguja. There is no town or village of this name. The etymology of the term “Surguja”, according to some local people is that it might have come from two words- ‘Sur’ and ‘Guja’ meaning the land where the Gods reveled.

Surguja district is a great tableland of numerous hills and plateau. The two prominent Physiographic features of Surguja district are the Mainpat (Plateau) and the Jamirpat. Pat is the local word which is used for the tableland, isolated hill ranges and peculiar physiographic formation. The mainpat is a magnificent tableland 28.8 kms. long and 9.96 to 12.8 kms. broad, and rising to height of 1,152 metres. This Mainpat forms the southern boundary with Korba and Raigarh districts. The Jamirpat is about 3 kms. (2 miles) wide, long winding range plateau. It forms the eastern boundary of Surguja with Jharkhand State.

According to a version Lord Rama had visited Surguja during is fourteen years of “Vanwas” period. There are many places in connection to epic of Ramayana. Many places are named after Lord Ram, Laxman and Goddess Sita, they are Ramgarh, Sita-Bhengra and Laxmangarh. Verses of Poet Kalidas who wrote “Ramayana” are found at the Sita–Bhengra cave.

Major population comprises tribal population. Among these are Pando and Korwa, who are still living in forest. The Pando tribe believes themselves as the member of “Pandav” clan of epic Mahabharat. Korwa tribe believes to be member of “Kauravs” of Mahabharata.

The early history of Surguja district is obscure. Because of it hills and forests and lying away from routes of invading armies, the area of erstwhile Surguja district escaped the usual turmoil. This tract appears to have been unknown to the Moghals. From the remains of extensive rock excavations, supposed to be temples and monasteries discovered in a Horahouka village in Bharatpur tahsil in 1870-71, it appears probable that in early times (i.e. before the Gonds and Kols took over) that part of the district was occupied by a civilized race. Who these people were and what the period of their stay was remains unknown. 

It is likely that the district was divided into many petty principalities each under its own chief, who were constantly at war with one another. In his a statistical account of Bengal (vol. XV, 1877) Hunter describes the history of erstwhile Surguja State as follows; For many generations, the Kol and the Gond territories of eastern and western Surguja have been united under the present reigning family, who call themselves Raksel Rajputs. According to local traditions in Palamau, the Raksel Rajputs governed that part of the country up to 1613 A.D. When they were ousted by the Cheros in a strange fashion. In 1612 Bhagwant Rai, the head of the Chero tribe, then a fugitive from chainpur took service with a large body of Chero retainers under Mansingh, the Raksel Raja of Palamau intending, on first opportunity, to seize the supreme power.

In the following years Mansingh went to Surguja to celebrate the marriage of his son with the daughter of the Surguja chief. Taking advantage of the absence of Mansingh, Bhagwant Rai, rose with all his followers, murdered Mansingh’s family and made himself of the first Chero Raja of Palamau. Mansingh made no attempt to regain his kingdom but in his turn murdered the Surguja chief and took the possession of the Raj. This was the origin of present Raksel dynasty. As against this the CHHATTISGARH FEUDATORY STATES GAZETTEER (1909) states, “These petty chiefs carried on internecine was one with another and finally some 1700 years ago were attacked by a Raksel Rajput from Kundri in Palamau district who invaded their territories and reduced them to subjection.” If the latter source is to be taken as correct the Raksel dynasty started in Surguja about 200 A.D. which appears to be very unlikely. The account given in the Feudatory States Gazetteer may be based on traditions kept by the Raksel dynasty who extended their hold to the south as far as banks of the Mahanadi, it may be likely that in early times the chief of Surguja exercised a feudal authority reaching beyond the limit of erstwhile Surguja state. At one time the Surguja chief was the overlord of other neighbouring states Jashpur, Udaipur, Korea and Chang Bhakhar.

The erstwhile Korea state is said to have originally belonged to a Kol chief who lived in Koreagarh, a hill 9.6 km. (6 miles) to the west of Chirmiri. On which ruins of a tank and blocks of stones may still be seen. This Kol chief was ousted by Raja Dharmal Shah who was passing through the state on his return from Jagannathpuri.

The authentic history of the district commences about the year of 1758, when a Maratha army in progress of the Ganges overran the eastern half of the district (that is Surguja state) and compelled the chief to acknowledge himself a tributary of the Barar Govt. But beyond this and imposing a heavy fire then did not do any thing else.

In 1792, the attention of British Govt. was directed towards Surguja because of the Surguja chief’s annexation of a pargana of Chhota Nagpur and subsequently aiding a rebellion in Palamau against the British. This led to an expedition in to Surguja by one Colonel Jones. A Treaty was however effected later between the British and the Barar Govt. But, after the British withdrew which again prompted the British to interfere. Things however, did not improve much and lawless state prevailed until 1818. In this year the three erstwhile feudatory states (Korea, Chang Bhakar and Surguja) which constitute the present district, were ceded to the British Govt. under the provisional agreement with Appa Sahib Bhonsla. The British force under Captain Sinnock restored order and Amar Singh was declared Raja of Surguja.Between the period and 1951 when the three feudatory states merged with Madhya Pradesh there was nothing of any historical importance to be mentioned here.