Located in the MahaKaushal region of central India in the east of Madhya Pradesh, Jabalpur is the third most populated city of the state. Katni borders Jabalpur in the north, Umaria in the north-east, Dindori in the east, Mandla at south east and Seoni in the south. The city is also the administrative headquarters of Jabalpur District as well as Jabalpur division. Located at the north of the Narmada River, the place is a rocky area surrounded by low hills and lakes.
History of Jabalpur
In its past decades, Jabalpur was known as Tripuri and the Hayahaya rulers governed it. The ancient and historic epic, Mahabharata also contains references of this city. The Mughals have constantly tried to run this city but were never successful. In 1789, the city finally came under the rule of the Marathas, which was later taken over by the Britishers in 1817. Britishers later on established the place as a major cantonment town. It has also been a historic point in the India’s independence battle.
People & Culture of Jabalpur
The culture of Jabalpur is influenced by the dynasties such as the Marathas as well as Mughal empires that ruled this region. It is also the centre of Kalchuri and the capital of the erstwhile medieval Gond rulers. Along with being a historical place, it is also an administrative and educational sector along with being the gateway to important wildlife sanctuaries like Kanha and Nauradehi.
Along with being a prominent regional education hub, Jabalpur was also the centre of the Hindi Literature Movement and the Snooker game also originated here. The city is also a major spiritual centre and is the birthplace of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and Osho Rajneesh and has a significant Jain Shrine - Pisanhari Madiya. Some of the important centres of Madhya Pradesh like the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Madhya Pradesh Electricity Board, Tropical Forest Research Institute and some other significant ordinance factories along with the West Central Railway Zonal Headquarters of M.P. are also located in Jabalpur.
Things to do in Jabalpur
There are many popular destinations to visit in Jabalpur namely the
Rani Durgavati Museum,
Madan Mahal Fort and
Dumna Nature Reserve among others. The
Kanha National Park and the
Pench National Park near Jabalpur also major attractions of Jabalpur. The Kanha National Park is the place that inspired the great writer Rudyard Kipling for the novel ‘Jungle Book’. There are many
Jabalpur holiday packages too which can be opted by tourists to visit other attractions in the city.
Food & Shopping in Jabalpur
Jabalpur is famous for its khoya ki jalebi and chaats, which are extremely popular among locals and tourists alike. Although the city does have many restaurants, they serve traditional Indian fare that is available in many cities across India. However, the street food in Jabalpur should be tried by tourists. Shops located near popular attractions like the
Sangram Sagar Lake serve sweet and savoury treats at affordable prices. However, there is not much to shop in Jabalpur except a few souvenir shops.
Travelling to Jabalpur
To
reach Jabalpur, tourists can travel by rail, road or air. Major airline carriers operate regular flights from Delhi to the destination. It is also well connected to Bhopal, Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur, Bangalore and Chennai among other cities by train. Tourists can also opt for buses that ply between Jabalpur and near cities like Bhopal, Jaipur, Nagpur and Gwalior.
Accommodation options in Jabalpur
There are a number of
budget hotels in Jabalpur. Many of them are located very close to the city railway station. Most of them offer modern amenities that can be enjoyed by tourists visiting the city.
