Jabalpur is one of the major cities of
Madhya Pradesh state in
India. It is the third largest urban agglomeration in Madhya Pradesh and the 38th largest urban agglomeration in India as per the 2011 census statistics. It is bordered by
Katni to the north, Umaria to the north-east,
Dindori to the east,
Mandla to the south-east,
Seoni to the south, Narsimhapur to the south-west and
Damoh to the north-west. Jabalpur is the administrative headquarters of Jabalpur district (the second most populous district of Madhya Pradesh) and Jabalpur division. Jabalpur also is the headquarter of the Electricity Board of state Madhya Pradesh as well as the High Court of the state Madhya Pradesh is located here.
Historically, a center of Kalchuri and Gond dynasties, Jabalpur developed a syncretic culture influenced by the intermittent reigns of the Maratha and Mughal empires. In the early nineteenth century, it was gradually annexed in British India as Jubbulpore and incorporated as a major cantonment town. Post-independence, there have been demands for a separate state of Mahakoshal with Jabalpur as its capital.
Economy:
Jabalpur has Vehicle Factory Jabalpur, Grey Iron Foundry, Gun Carriage Factory Jabalpur and Ordnance Factory Khamaria which belong to the Ordnance Factories Board manufacturing various products for the Indian Armed Forces. Important among commercial crops are pulses, oilseeds, cotton, sugar cane and medicinal crops. The state is poised for a breakthrough in soybean cultivation. In Kharif crops occupy 60% and Rabi crops 40% area with 71.4% area under food grain production.
Nearly 59% of landholders are marginal whereas small farmers share 18% of farmland. Low literacy rates (35.45%), undulating topography, high percentages of waste land (13.2%), underdeveloped irrigation potential (23%), low ground water utilization, large proportion of rain fed agriculture (75%), practice of Kharif fallows (3.6%), low cropping intensity (131%), low fertilizer consumption (50 kg/ha), high proportion of low value crops, and high numbers of unproductive livestock constrain production in the state. Jabalpur has a variety of industries largely based in mineral substances of economic value found in the district, although the ready-made garments industry is a substantial portion of production in Jabalpur.
Arts and Culture:
The presence of the river Narmada, rule of Gond and Kalchuri-Maratha dynasties made Jabalpur a Hindu dominated area. Mughal rule brought in a sizable Muslim population. The city had Hindu-Muslim riots in the 1960s. There has been a sharp decline in these riots owing to gradual, yet slow path to progress. The present culture is dominantly related to agricultural population of the city and surrounding areas. The food and clothing change with the harvest of crops in every season, usually observed by Hindus.
Jabalpur has a very cosmopolitan feel about it where you can find people of almost all major religions and castes in India. The city has Marwari, Bengali, Malyali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannadiga, Marathi, and Punjabi people in sizable ratios and there are people from other regions of India as well. The city has been a stage for many cultural inventions and many traditional rituals. The city has been peaceful since a long time after the 1960s and now is marching forward towards development in the spheres of infrastructure and industries. It is indeed a city of culture, where each festival is celebrated with great pomp, the major being Navratri and Dusshera are celebrated with full energy. Not only residents but also visitors from all over MP come to see the Durga Pandals of the city.
Tourism:
Bhedaghat - Marble Rocks:
Bhedaghat, a major tourist attraction, a village situated on the banks of the Narmada, is known for its marble rocks at a distance about 25 km from Jabalpur by road. Major attractions are the Duandhar waterfall, marble gorge, and the
Chausath Yogini Temple. Boat ride is available from the Panchavti ghat in amist several kilometer long marble gorge in river Narmada. The BhedaGhat and Dhuandhar serve as a site for movie shooting, and marble for statuary.
Dhuandhar:
The
Dhuandhar Falls in Bhedaghat is a well known sight where one witnesses beautiful scenery and complete tranquility. The beautiful falls is rough yet calm, soft yet loud and undoubtedly breathtaking.The waterfall is located 25 km from Jabalpur on the Narmada river.Dhuandhar Falls or the smoke cascade is a beautiful waterfall in Bhedaghat. The Narmada River after passing the Marble Rocks narrows to become a smoky waterfall. The plunge of Dhuandhar Falls is sudden and hence has a greater effect. This beautiful fall is a spectacular sight in Bhedaghat.
Chausath-Yogini (Sixty Four female Yogis):
The Chausath-Yogini temple is situated atop a hill rock and approached by a long flight of steps. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this c. 10th century CE temple has carved stone figures of deities belonging to the Kalchuri period, arranged in a circular order. According to local legends, this ancient temple is connected to the Gond Queen-Mother Durgavati's palace of Singaurgarh in Sangrampur as well as to the Maharaja Madansahi's Madan-Mahal bastion through underground passages. These passages offered safety to the visiting royalties in addition to allowing escape route in times of distress.
Rani Durgavati Memorial and Museu:
Dedicated to the memory of the great Queen-Mother Rani Durgavati, the monument is on Samadhi-road off Barela/Mandla/Raipur Highway on the banks of Narrai rivulet in the village Barha some 15 km from Jabalpur. In the city, there is a museum which houses a fine collection of Sculptures, Inscriptions and Prehistoric Relics. The museum also has independent halls for coins and another for Gonds in the first floor. Despite region's rich political pre-independence history, there are no Sanads (manuscripts) and sepia photographs on display. The ground floor houses sculptures from ancient times. The museum also sells its publications. Its Contemporary Art Gallery has recently been upgraded by INTACH to
World standards and houses painting of M.F. Hussain.
MadanMahal Bastion:
Built by the Gond ruler Maharaja Madansahi in c. 1116 CE atop a rocky hill, the bastion dominates the skyline. The building is supposed to have been a part of his pleasure resort cum watch tower. The building is a plain and simple structure without any ornamention. It stands now like a watch tower on the summit of a hill poised on two gigantic hills, the upper part of which on one side overhangs the base and commands a magnificent view over the rich valley around. Looking at the structure and location of the building, it appears that it indeed served as a watch tower. At a short distance, an Ashwa-Shala (stable) exists and a Hathi-Khana (elephant cell) existed where the LIC office stands today. Close by is a Baoli (step-well) for constant supply of fresh potable water to the bastion.
