Population: 1,117,200 (2001); Altitude: 411 M.

Jabal is an Arabic word which means stone and Jabalpur stands for the rocky area. Jabalpur is famous to the tourists for the Marble Rocks is only 23 km to the west of the city and gateway town for visiting Kanha National Park (175 KM).

The town is situated on the eastern part of Madhya Pradesh State. It is 178 km away from Piparia and it is a 3 hrs journey. Bhopal, the capital of MP is 337 km from Jabalpur, Khajuraho 270 km, Gwalior 477km, Kanha 175km and Amarkantak 224km.

Jabalpur was ruled by Mourya, Kushan and Gupta kings till 875 AD. Then it went to the hands of Kalchuri kings of the powerful Chedi dynasty. In the 12^th century, Jabalpur became the capital of Gond kings. Gonds resisted successive Mughal invasions. They were defeated by Marathas in 1789. In 1817 British took the possession of Jabalpur defeating the Marathas. Jabalpur emerged as a modern city during British rule. Bengali culture is very popular in the city. Durgapuja, Raksha Bandhan and Deepawali are held here with great pomp.

The hills of Jabalpur with varied mineral content are a popular destination for the geologists, archaeologists and paleontologists with the finding of a fossilized Dinosaur in the area.

Places of tourist’s interest:

Bhedaghat - Marble Rocks: The Stream of Narmada River is dotted by 33M high hills of magnesium lime stones. There are crocodiles in 400 -700ft deep water of Narmada. On the both sides there are Marble Rocks, the boat advances through it with s mesmerizing beauty. The place where the hill ends is known as monkey’s lip. That place is known as Bhedaghat at a distance about 25 km from Jabalpur. The serene loveliness of the scene is one of cool quiet, the sunlight sparkling on the marble-white pinnacles and casting dappled shadows on the pellucid waters. There are Jain temple and Kali Temple at Bhedaghat. On the bank of Narmada near Bhedaghat, an upward flight of 108 steps, reach the top of the hill where there lies the Chausat Yogini Temple. 64 images of Yoginis – the associates of Goddess Kali are there which were brought from Khajuraho. The temple-site commands a singularly beautiful view of the Narmada flowing through the jagged gorge of Marble Rocks in Bhedaghat. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this 10th century temple has exquisitely carved stone figures of deities belonging to the Kalchuri period. According to a local legend, this ancient temple is connected to the Gond Queen Durgavati's palace through an underground passage.

7 km away from the city on the way to Marble Rocks there is Madan Mohan Fort –the royal palace of Gond Kings. The palace was built by King Madan Mohan Shah in 1116 AD, on a single piece of granite rock on the peak of the hill. It is also known as Oueen Durgabati’s palace. Being sure of the defeat to Akbar, Durgabati committed suicide piercing her neck with an iron goad in 1564. In the pre Aryan ages, Gonds used to live in this hill. Balancing Rock is on the way to the fort. Another tourist spot is the Pisan Hari Jain Temple on way to Marble Rocks.

9 km to the west of the city on Narmada River there is Tilwara Ghat, a very sacred place to the Hindus. On the way is Tripuri village, famous for the 1939 National Congress conference presided by Subhas Chandra Bose. Tripuri was a glorious city during Kushan rule around 2000 BC. The story of Tripuri king Hayahaya was also referred in the Mahabharata.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 19 January 2010 21:45