Umaria District Overview :

Umaria district was formerly the headquarters of the South Rewa District and thereafter the headquarters town of the Bandhavgarh tehsil. This district is situated at a distance of about 69 Kilometres from Shahdol District.

History :

Umaria District was a part of Shahdol district in Madhya Pradesh. This district was separated in the year 1998. Rajputs once ruled "Umariya", one of the ancient districts. This family has built the famous and important Lakshmi Narayan Temple on southern bank of Narbada Barman ghat. They also built on the steps of the northern bank of Barman ghat "Kareli" a gateway called the Hathi Darwaza, as their elephants can pass through it. Later the Baghel Rajputs of Rewa (Rewa District) won it from Lodhis, it became the Southern Capital of Rewa Riyasat after some years. Umaria was always a favourite town for many a princes and kings because the dense forests and Royal Bengal Tigers for hunting. The forests of Bandhavgarh were game reserve of Maharaja of Rewa.

Geography :

Umaria district is situated in between the Northeastern parts of Madhya Pradesh. The coordinates of the district of Umaria extends from twenty three degree thirty eight minutes and twenty four degree twenty minutes to the North latitude and eighty degree twenty eight minutes and eighty two degree twelve minutes to the East longitude. Umaria district is spread over an area of four thousand five hundred and forty eight square kilometres. The greatest length of the district of Umaria is about one hundred and fifty kilometres from north to south and the greatest width is about sixty kilometres from east to west.

Demography :

According to the population Census in 2011, Umaria District had a population of 643,579 of which male and female were 329,527 and 314,052 respectively. The population of Umaria District constituted 0.89 percent of total population of Madhya Pradesh. The average literacy rate of Umaria was 67.34 percent. The male and female literacy rates were 78.10 and 56.06 respectively. The total literates in Umaria District were 366,414. Out of which the male and female were 217,458 and 148,956 respectively. The density of Umaria district is 158 people per sq. km. Umaria district administers 4,076 square kilometres of areas.

Economy :

Umaria District possesses extensive forests and about forty-two percent of the total area is covered by forests only. The district is also rich in minerals. The most important mineral found in this district is coal and as a result, the South Eastern Coalfield Limited in the district is operating eight mines. The famous Bandhavgarh National Park and Sanjay Gandhi Thermal Power Station Mangthar are situated in the district. Major portion of revenue is earned from the tourism.

Tourism of Umaria District :

Tourism in Umaria district offers a great opportunity to visit some of the most famous temples and enjoy the old architectural works. There are also places of natural beauties, which attract a large number of nature lovers as well as general tourists. One of the most famous attractions of the district of Umaria in the state of Madhya Pradesh in India is the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. The diverse mix of habitats in Bandhavgarh supports a corresponding plenitude of fauna. The luxuriantly rich ecosystem of this tiger reserve provides a suitable habitation for everyone starting from the tiny butterflies to the majestic tigers. The park has earned a worldwide reputation for tigers and their unusually high density here is a pleasant surprise for the lovers of wildlife. Apart from this, there are various other places of interest in this district which draw a large number of tourists from different parts of the state and from outside.

Pilgrimage Tourism : Formerly Umaria was the headquarters of the South Rewa District. It is located at a distance of about sixty-nine kilometres from Shahdol District. Close to the railway, station stands a temple of Lord Shiva, known as the Sagara temple. It was an old shrine, recently remodelled. Its main gates are still intact with beautiful stone statues, carved in Khajurahomodels. Near about is Jwalamukhi temple, about 6.5 kilometres away from the town, there is another temple, with similar carvings of the Khajuraho pattern. It is known as the Mariwal temple. Umaria is well known for its coalmines, which were opened in the year 1881 by the Government of India. Later it was transferred to the Rewa Darbar in the same year, mainly to meet the requirement of railway at Katni District.

Chandia Khas is one of the most famous places of tourist interest in the district of Umaria. Chandia is located on the Umaria-Katni road, at a distance of about twenty-one kilometres from Umaria. The railway station of Chandia Khas is known as Chandia railway station. The major attraction of Chandia Khas is a small temple, enshrining Goddess Kali. Her mouth is wide open, but her out-stretched tongue is broken. There is also an old temple of Lord Rama and his wife Janaki or Sita. It was the seat of Thakur of Chandia. A small fair is organised at Suraswahi Chandia for three days in the month of February-March on the festival of Shivaratri. Another attraction in the district of Umaria is Pali Birsinghpur. Pali is located on the Umaria-Shahdol road, at a distance of about thirty-six kilometers from Umaria. There is another road, which goes from Pali to Mandla District via Dindori district.

Nature Tourism : Bandhavgarh area was the favourite hunting reserve of ex-rules of Rewa district; hence, it remained completely protected from poaching and illicit felling. Deeply soared from this situation, late Maharaja Martand Singh of Rewa prevailed upon the Government of Madhya Pradesh to declare an area of one hundred and five square kilometres as National park in the year 1968. The area of the park was extended to 448.84 square kilometres in the year 1982, and in the year 1993, it was declared a Tiger Reserve under "Project Tiger" which is now known as the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve.

Another attraction of Bandhavgarh is the Bandhavgarh Fort. The fort of Bandhavgarh is a place of considerable archaeological and historical importance. It is a natural impregnable fort and stands on a hill, at an attitude of about two thousand four hundred and thirty meters above the level of sea. The Bamnia hill is also a part of the fort, because it is enclosed by a rampart. The fort is on the Rewa-Umaria road, at a distance of about forty-one kilometre from the Umaria town.