Jabalpur is situated in the state of Madhya Pradesh in India and happens to be one of the major cities in the state. In ancient times the city was known as Jubbulgarh, but was later changed to Jubbulpore during the British rule. However, today it is known as Jabalpur which is considered as one of the fastest growing cities in the country. Jabalpur is also known as the Shanskardhani which signifies a land enriched with heritage. When you enter the city, you are sure to witness the rich natural beauty and the splendid architecture hailing from the historic periods when innumerable dynasties ruled over the place.
It is situated in the Mahakoshal region of Madhya Pradesh in central India on the holy banks of the Narmada River. The region is dotted with marble rocks which give a unique formation to the river as it carves its way out through a narrow yet spellbindingly beautiful valley. The marble rocks of Jabalpur have added to the fame of the place which compels tourists to flock here and witness the natural marvel.
Jabalpur is a historical place and is mentioned in Hindu religious books including the Vedas. The name Jabalpur is derived from "Jabaali" who was a Hindu saint who had an ashram in the region. The city is also known by the name of "Gondwana Land".
The region has witnessed documented human civilization that dates back to c. 300 B.C. The Kalchuri kingdom ruled over Jabalpur in the 9th and 10th century A.D. They were the most powerful rulers during this time. In the 13th century, Jabalpur became the capital of the Gond dynasty. They ruled till the 16th century and were later defeated by the Mughals. The Mughals ruled for a very short period as they were soon defeated by the Maratha Peshwa in the 17th century who then granted the place to the Bhonsle kings of Nagpur. In the 18th century, the British yet again occupied the region after defeating the Marathas. The British are said to have made the city their commission headquarters and also established a cantonment as well. The British continued to control Jabalpur till India got its independence in 1947. Post independence, the region was known as the Central Province but later it became an integral part of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
Jabalpur is located on 23° 10' N latitude and 79° 59' E longitude. Jabalpur's most prized possession is the picturesque landscape that surrounds the city much to the delight of any tourist. The total area of the district is 10,160 sq km which resides 411 meters above the sea level.
The major rivers that flow through this region are the Narmada, Hiran and Vanganga. Narmada is the largest river of all which has many tributaries as well. Narmada flowing through the marble rocks attracts tourists from all over the world. The main water reservoirs of Kahdari along with Pariyat are located in the northeast of this region.
The topography of Jabalpur is truly admirable. There are hills all around the city which give a picturesque setting which is the prime reason why many Bollywood movies have been shot here. The hills contain deposits of minerals and ancient remains, hence making them subjects of much interest for geologists and archaeologists. The hills here are rocky with innumerable barren hillocks.
The Bargi dam is used for irrigation, power generation and water supply. There are plenty of lakes and water tanks in the city. One can see the hills filled with rich deposits of limestone, bauxite, clay, manganese, iron ore and many other useful ores.
Jabalpur is a big city and is the third most populous in Madhya Pradesh. The population is evenly distributed throughout the city. According to the 2011 census, Jabalpur is home to 2,460,714 people. Males constitute about 52% of the total population, while females make up the rest 48%. The district has a density of 472 inhabitants per square km. The sex ratio of 925 females for every 1000 males is below par with respect to current standards.
People from many religions exist here harmoniously which include Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, Christians, Parsis and Jains. However, Hindus are the predominant ones in the region. Even the schools here are mostly Hindi medium and are more preferred, which is why English medium and other vernacular schools are low in numbers. The literacy rate is 82.47% which makes it a tad higher than the national average.
The main language spoken here is Hindi. It is also the official language of the state. Besides, there are other languages spoken here like Marathi, English, Urdu and Punjabi. Jabalpur is home to many linguistic communities spread over various parts of the city.
Jabalpur has a hot temperate climate with low humidity. The maximum temperature is recorded during summers when it surpasses the 47°C mark whereas winters record a minimum of 8°C. Summer and winter seasons are similar to that of the rest of the country. Visitors must keep in mind that May is the hottest month when it becomes unbearable to go outdoors for sightseeing. The best time to visit is between October and March. The monsoons arrive in July and depart by September. The city witnesses torrential rainfall during the monsoons which lend an air of pleasantness to the climate.
Jabalpur is one of the most favored cities of Madhya Pradesh for tourism. The city is blessed with natural scenic beauty which is rare to find in close proximity to a large city. Besides, being a very important historical city, you can see many historical monuments and palaces. Sightseeing in Jabalpur requires a minimum of two days in order to see the whole of Jabalpur up-close. The city has something in store for everyone. Each tourist comes here with great expectations and the city never fails to deliver.
If you love wildlife then you have a lot in store. Four most popular tiger reserves of India lying in central India are close to Jabalpur. Pench, Bandhavgarh, Panna and Kanha are world renowned tiger reserves that are a must see for tourists visiting Madhya Pradesh. The connectivity with these places is smooth with plenty of transportation facilities to opt for.
Jabalpur has all kinds of accommodations for all and has innumerable hotels, guesthouses and lodges. The hotels cater to all kinds of needs of the visitors. You can find luxury hotels besides budget hotels for accommodation. Every guest is taken well care of and provided with amiable facilities and multi-cuisine delicacies to tickle their taste buds. Some good hotels of the place include Narmada Jackson, Gulzar, Samdariya, Shikar and many more.
Jabalpur is an important district of Madhya Pradesh which plays a pivotal role in the politics of the state. Jabalpur has nine assembly constituencies namely, Bargi, Panagar, Jabalpur Cantonment, Jabalpur east, Jabalpur central, Jabalpur west, Patan, Majholi, and Sihora. All these assembly constituencies make up the single parliamentary constituency of Jabalpur. Rakesh Singh from Bharatiya Janta Party is Jabalpur's elected representative in the Lok Sabha since 2009.
Education is flourishing in Jabalpur contributes heartily to the state's educational industry. Jabalpur is also known as Sanskardhani due to its educational institutions that are more than 150 in number. There are around 30 engineering and medical colleges. Almost 70 senior secondary schools and secondary schools are flourishing in the city. Three prominent universities in today's Madhya Pradesh are Jawaharlal University of agriculture, M P Bhoj Open University and Rani Durgavati University which are all centered in Jabalpur. Almost 80% of the population is literate which speaks highly of the state of education in the region.
Jabalpur is dependent on the fabled ordinance factories in the region for its economic growth. There are four ordinance factories with excellent infrastructure along with an entire defense colony. The Gun Carriage factory, Vehicle factory, Khamariya Ordinance factory and the Grey Iron foundry are the noted defense establishments. There are many other industrial sectors like the Bidi manufacturing industry, Shaw Wallace Gelatin factory, building material manufacturers and many more. Jabalpur yields ample amount of agriculture produce and is the leading producer of soybean in the state.
The culture of Jabalpur is quite an interesting mix, rich in tradition and diverse in ambience. The religion of a majority of people is Hinduism which makes the society a predominantly Hindu one. The Gonds and Marathas who ruled the place earlier in history have ensured that most of the traditions followed even today are directly related to theirs from those times.
Durry designing is a popular craft of Jabalpur that is fondly appreciated by visitors who buy them for their beauty. The major festivals celebrated here are Phulpati, Gond, Matki, and Giridaand. The language that is mostly spoken here is Hindi. It is also the official language of the state. Besides, there are other languages spoken here like Marathi, English, Urdu and Punjabi.
Tourists can choose road transport to reach Jabalpur because the city is well connected by a widespread road network to other cities like Bhopal, Nagpur, Varanasi, Raipur, Allahabad, Hyderabad and Bangalore. National Highway 7 which is the longest highway in India passes through the city. National Highway 12 originates from the city and connects Jabalpur with Bhopal and Jaipur. There are comfortable bus services including MPSRTC and private buses which can be availed with ease.
The railways add a more convenient option that helps tourists to reach different places with relative ease. The railway station is conveniently located in Jabalpur and has direct and frequent trains to Satna, Bhopal and Varanasi.
Tourists from different parts of the country can reach Jabalpur by air as well. Air India and Spice Jet are the main flight operators at Jabalpur. The airport is known as Dumna airport and is located 25 kilometers to the east of the city.
The city bus services are quite reliable as well as reasonable as their frequent services help tourists easily reach distant places at cheap costs. They government has radically upgraded the infrastructure with luxurious amenities for helping travelers. Vending machines have been installed at various stops to assist the passengers.
Besides the plush restaurants, there are many small roadside shops that offer a variety of food for visitors. If you love street food you can visit the small stalls that make the best sandwiches, Chinese dishes and ethnic Indian cuisine. Many lip smacking food stalls are found in the civic center.
