Bundelkhand Region, Madhya Pradesh :

Bundelkhand is a geographical and cultural region and also a mountain range in central & North India. The hilly region is now divided between the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, with the larger portion lying in the latter state.

The Khangar ruled areas of present-day Bundelkhand after the fall of the Chandelas. Maharaja Khet Singh Khangar, founder of the Khangar Kingdom. The capital of Khangar kingdom is Garh Kundar. Their seat of power was at Garh Kundar, a fort built by Khub Singh Khangar who was the grandson of Maharaja Khet Singh Khangar. During the Khangar dynasty rule, Bundelkhand was known as Jujhauti, implying the land of warriors. The name of the region derives from the Bundela who succeeded the khangar Rajputs as rulers of the region in the mid-14th-century capture Khangar Kingdom capital Garh Kundar then move Orchha.

Jhansi is the largest city in Bundelkhand and is a major cultural, educational, transport and economic hub. Other major towns of Bundelkhand are Konch, Kalpi, Chirgaon, Datia, Dabra, Mauranipur, Panna, Banda, Chitrakoot, Tikamgarh, Rath, Lalitpur, Sagar, Damoh, Jalaun, Orai, Hamirpur, Mahoba, Banda, Ashoknagar, and Chhatarpur.

Among the well-known places of Bundelkhand is Khajuraho, which has numerous 10th-century sculptures devoted to fine living and eroticism. The mines of Panna have been the source of magnificent diamonds; a very large one dug from the last active mine was kept for a time in the fort of Kalinjar.

Geography :

Bundelkhand lies between the Indo-Gangetic Plain to the north and the Vindhya Range to the south. It is a gently sloping upland, distinguished by barren hilly terrain with sparse vegetation, although it was historically forested. The plains of Bundelkhand are intersected by three mountain ranges, the Vindhya, Fauna and Bander chains, the highest elevation not exceeding 600 meters above sea-level. Beyond these ranges the country is further diversified by isolated hills rising abruptly from a common level, and presenting from their steep and nearly inaccessible scarps eligible sites for forts and strongholds of local kings. The general slope of the country is towards the northeast, as indicated by the course of the rivers which traverse or bound the territory, and finally discharge themselves into the Yamuna River.

The principal rivers are the Sindh, Betwa, Shahzad River, Ken, Bagahin, Tons, Pahuj, Dhasan and Chambal. The Kali Sindh, rising in Malwa, marks the western frontier of Bundelkhand. Parallel to this river, but further east, is the course of the Betwa. Still farther to the east flows the Ken, followed in succession by the Bagahin and Tons. The Yamuna and the Ken are the only two navigable rivers. Notwithstanding the large number of streams, the depression of their channels and height of their banks render them for the most part unsuitable for the purposes of irrigation, which is conducted by means of ponds and tanks. These artificial lakes are usually formed by throwing embankments across the lower extremities of valleys, and thus arresting and impounding the waters flowing through them.

Ecology :

Drought: - since 2007 Bundelkhand region has been facing severe drought problems. Normal rainy days in Bundelkhand is 52 days (metrological department of India) but last six years its restricted 24 days. Timing of Monsoon usually in this area is second week of June but, Year 2008 this season saw rains, but in the second week of June alone the region received around 32 percent of its total rainfall. Farmers were not prepared for sowing. Then till July 2008, most of the Bundelkhand region received around 55 percent of its total average rainfall. This change caused floods and widespread losses in livestock and top soil. In Bundelkhand region, average level of rainfall is 800–900 mm. (Ramesh et al. 2002), But, during the last six years Bundelkhand received only 400–450 mm annual rainfall. Agriculture production also decreased in this areas. In 2000, this region used to contribute 15 percent of the state’s total food grain production, which has now come down to 7 percent. A once food secure zone has now become a symbol of insecurity and migration due to climate change. In this area various livelihoods such as fishing, vegetable production and traditional betel leaf farming are facing one of the worst crises ever.

Culture :

The Bundeli language is the most common of the Hindi dialects spoken in the area. It in turn consists of several sub-dialects. The accent varies in various regions even though unmistakably of a single origin. The region is predominantly Hindu. However, Jainism is historically significant in Bundelkhand, and several Tirthas are located in this region. Many prominent Jain scholars of the 20th century have been from this region and also in historically significant tradition of buddhism. Nag people's ancestor were preached buddha-dhamma.

Folk dances : Bundelkhand has following folk dances. Badhai, Rai, Saira, Alha,Jawara, Akhada, Shaitan, Dhimrai.