Jabalpur - Tourism

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.

• Statues of Yoginis at Chausath Yogini Temple

• Temple of Chausath Yogini

• Chausath Yogini Temple

• LametaGhat

The holy location is a few kilometers upstream of the Marble Rocks accessible from the Dhuadhar waterfall as well as the Tilwara-Medical bypass. There are several temples constructed by the Beohar-dynasty between c. 16-18th century CE, including the till-top Radhika-Madhav Temple (also referred to as Radha-Krishna/Radha-Govind Temple), and Rudra-Bhaskar (also known as Shiv-Surya Temple). The entire temple complex, housing about 6-7 temples and a dharmshala on the banks of Narmada, is collectively referred-to as Shankarji Maharaj Mandir Parisar after the main temple. Most of the temples were constructed either by R.R. Sardar-Beohar Kehari Simha (c. 1735-1845) or his son Beohar Dariyav Simha (c.1760-1850). Following the earthquake of 1997, some of these are dilapidated whereas others have been repaired and/or renovated. Even the ghats were first constructed by the Beohar-dynasty which are recently refurbished extensively with funds from Narmada Ghati Vikas Pradhikaran or Narmada Valley Development Authority NVDA. Though open to public at large, the temples actually belong to Beohar-family's private trust, the Sri Radhakrishna Charitable Private Trust, Managing Trustee Beohar Dr Anupam Sinha and the local custodianship is under the family priest Pandit Santosh Dubey Ji Maharaj. Lameta formations, Lametasaurus, Jubbulpuria, etc., are world-famous terms given after this place - hence, if properly advertised, it is likely to become a more popular hotspot on global tourism map than Bheraghat or Marble Rocks, and is far more worthy of nomination as UNESCO's World Heritage Site.

• TilwaraGhat

Where Mahatma Gandhi's ashes were immersed in the Narmada by Beohar Rajendra Simha, Pandit Ravishankar Shukla, Laxman Singh Chauhan, Seth Govind Das and other national leaders.

• Rani Durgavati Memorial and Museum.

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.

• Bargi Dam.

Rani Avanti Bai Lodhi Sagar (RABLS) Project is major project situated on river Narmada in Jabalpur Distt. It is commonly known as Bargi Dam. The project comprises 5.38 km. long Earthen and Masonry Dam across river Narmada near village Bargi. It has 90 MW River Bed Power House and 137 km. long Left Bank Main Canal (LBMC). It is located on the Jabalpur - Nagpur NH - 7 highway and is about 40 km from Jabalpur city. Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation (MPSTDC) has encouraged water sports in Bargi dam. Tourists can enjoy cruise ride, motor boat ride, speed boat ride in reservoir water. MP Tourism runs a hotel and restaurant at Bargi Dam.

• Shaeed Smarak (Matyrs' Memorial)

A historic and monumental circular building in what was known as Gole-Bazar during British times and also as Wright Town. Shaheed Smarak has fresco murals or wall-paintings by Beohar Rammanohar Sinha and his colleagues from Santiniketan on the walls, balcony, parapet and dome. The central theme of the frescoes is India's war of independence, fought between 16th and 19th century CE, starting with Rani Durgavati gearing-up against Moghul Emperor Akbar's attack on Garha-Mandla (Jabalpur). Painted by the famous Beohar Rammanohar Sinha, this is the first painting ever made on Rani Durgavati. The provincial congress committee in the 1950s constructed an auditorium in the shape of a miniaturized version of Delhi's Parliament House with a hall in the middle, a corridor running around it, and rooms for art and cultural activities including an Art Gallery. It is now being looked-after by a Public Trust.

• D. B. Vallabh Das Palace

A building in the old city area of Hanuman Tal has been residence of Malpani family (banker-merchant) of Jabalpur.

• 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.

• Balancing Rocks

Jabalpur is also famous for an eroded volcanic rock formations called Balancing Rock. This rock is en route to the Madan-Mahal bastion near Deotal.

• SangramSagar and BajnaMath

These medieval places of Tantra Sadhna were built by the Gond ruler Maharaja Sangramsahi between c. 1480-1540 CE.

• Khandari Water Works

Small nature reserve and old dam on the way to Jabalpur's Dumna aerodrome. Madhya Pradesh Tourism department runs a cafeteria here and whole place has great scenic beauty along with ample wild life.

• The Beohar House

Constructed soon after completion of the building which now houses the High Court of MP. This private manor has had the singular honour of hosting several visiting luminaries including Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Jawaharlal Nehru, Vinoba Bhave, Osho, Bacha Khan, Mirabehn, Jamnalal Bajaj, Maithili Sharan Gupt, Shankar Dayal Sharma, Kaka Kalelkar, Thakkar Bapa, Makhanlal Chaturvedi, Somnath Hore, Arunachal Perumal, Maharshi Mahesh Yogi, Medha Patkar, Nirmal Verma, Rehman, etc. History books of the early 1820-1830s refer to the vast expanse/estate of this manor as Jamnera and subsequently Beohar-Grove. It was later converted to Civil Lines by the British. When the railway line was laid, it bisected the area into North and South, and this area became Civil Lines (North). This entire area is now popularly referred-to as Beohar-Bagh, or Garden of the Beohars'. High Court of Madhya Pradesh is situated in this Beohar-Bagh.

• Radha Krishna Temple-Complex incorporating the Shiva Temple (Beohar-dynasty)

These Vaishnav and Shaiva temples in Jabalpur were constructed by Beohar-dynasty in c. 17-18th century CE and were the first temples in India to be opened to the Harijan (outcaste) in 1929 by Beohar Raghuvir Simha with his friends Ghanshyam Das Birla and Jamnalal Bajaj. The RadhaKrishna temple houses the idols of Shri Radha-Krishna (gifted by Maharaja Chhatrasal of Panna to the ancestors of Beohar-dynasty, supposed to be replicas of the idols of Bhagwan JugalKishore ji), alongside Shri Ram-Janki ji and other Gods and Goddesses.

• Bandhavgarh National Park

This national reserve forest has the highest density of tigers in the world, making it a good place to see a tiger in its natural habitat. It is in this valley where the white tiger was discovered.About 155 km from Jabalpur by road to Umaria.Jabalpur is the major railhead nearest to Bandhavgarh,it can be reached from here by 3–4 hours drive.

• Kanha National park

The park was created in 1955 by a special law and, since then, it has dedicated itself in preserving a variety of animal species. Many endangered species have indeed been saved here. Today Kanha is among the few most scenic and beautiful wildlife reserves in Asia. This 'Tiger Country' is the ideal home for both predator and prey. Kanha National Park is one of the biggest national parks in India and a part of Project Tiger, the tiger conservation program in India. It is situated on Mandla road at a distance of about 160 km from Jabalpur. Jabalpur is the ideal as a break point in the journey to Kanha as it is the Nearest Major Airport and major railway station. Further details can be had from www.kanhavillage.com

• Pench National park

Located on Jabalpur -Nagpur National Highway no.7 is one of the famous national tiger and bison park around Jabalpur & possibly the setting of Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book. About 190 km from Jabalpur by road,3–4 hours drive from here and the road is also excellent.

• Beohar Sarovar

The breathtaking scenic beauty of Beohar-Sarovar also known popularly as Burhan-Sagar is about 20 km on NH7 (Jabalpur-Sihora section), and can be reached by turning westward on Burhagarh-Deonagar concrete road 2 km off NH7. Since mid-17th century CE when Burhagarh and Singodh villages were won by R.R. Beohar Dariyav Simha after defeating pindari invader Mir Khan (later Nawab Amir Khan of Rajputana), it had been the summer retreat of the Beohars (erstwhile Jagirdars of Jabalpur) and remains full of water all year round with lots of natural Indian lotuses. It is also frequented by migratory birds and is a roving-avian haven for the Painted Storks. The natural flow of rain water has been stopped by piling-up earth and lining the ridge with stone blocks thereby creating a reservoir. Several centuries ago, the construction of this ridged-dam was supervized by one Bodhraj/Burhan Shripaal who worked for the Beohar-family, hence the names 'Beohar-Sarovar' and also Burhan-Sagar. The village Burhagarh is situated on a hillock on top of which stood the Citadel of Beohars. As a guest of Beohar Rajendra Simha in 1933, Mahatma Gandhi stayed here. Beohar Rajendra Simha subsequently named this village GandhiGram.

• Kachnar City

A Vijayanagar suburb of Jabalpur, famous for a 76 feet (23 m) high Lord Shiva statue which houses a cavern with replicas of Shivalingam from 12 important holy shrines of Lord Shiva all over the country.The statue is excellent work of fine art.