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Published on: 08/28/05 6:23 AM

Travel: Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh

Once a Gond kingdom, there’s more to Jabalpur than the world-famous Marble Rocks.

One of Jabalpur’s claims to fame is that it dates back to the upper Jurassic period. The other famous aspect of this town in Madhya Pradesh is the Marble Rocks, located at Bedaghat, about 23 km away.

At Beraghat, the deep green waters of the Narmada weave their way through serrated white cliffs 100 feet high. An unforgettable experience is the boat ride into the gorge in the morning, past several picturesque spots such as Bhul Bhulaiya, Suicide Point and the Monkey’s Leap.

However, there’s more to Jabalpur than just the awesome rocks. The city   lies en  route to the tiger reserves of Pench, Kanga and Bandhavgarh.

Then there is the 10th century Chausat Yogini temple, once dedicated to the worship of female
demons, and till a few decades ago, ritual sacrifices and Tantric practices. Now shorn of its sinister
antecedents, this structure with tiered steeples and chatris, boasts 64 intricately carved statues
of yoginis. This is believed to be a temple of the Gond Rani Durgavati, who had access to it through an underground tunnel from her palace.

The other spot worth a visit is the Duandhar Falls, a few km away from the Marble Rocks. Here, the waters of the Narmada drop over a 30-ft ledge into a river in a lacy pattern. During festivals, the place is overcrowded with pilgrims waiting to take a holy dip.

For some history, there’s the Madan Mahal fort, which dates back to 1116. Perched on a single rock, the fort offers a panoramic view of Jabalpur city and some lakes near by.

How to get there: Jabalpur is well connected by road and also has an airport. There are several hotels in and around Beraghat, including the motel run by Madhya Pradesh Tourism.
For details, contact the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation at Jabalpur.

This ran in THE HINDU of 27 Aug 2005. 

Travel: Bhimbetka Caves, Madhya Pradesh

Bandhavgarh.BeraghatChausat YoginiDuandhar FallsJabalpurKanha reserveMadan MahalMadhya PradeshMarble RocksPench

Sheila Kumar • August 28, 2005


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