Ambikapur
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ambikapur | |
  Ambikapur
|
|
| State - District(s) |
Chhattisgarh - Surguja |
| Coordinates | |
| Area - Elevation |
- 603 m |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Population (2001) - Density |
65,999 - |
Ambikapur is a small census town in Surguja district in the state of Chhattisgarh, India. It is the District headquarters of Surguja district, the largest district of Chhattisgarh.
Contents |
[edit] Geography
Ambikapur is located at .[1] It has an average elevation of 603 metres (1978 feet).
[edit] Demographics
As of 2001 India census,GRIndia Ambikapur had a population of 65,999. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Ambikapur has an average literacy rate of 76%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 56% of the males and 44% of females literate. 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.
[edit] Geography
The district of Surguja is spread over an area of 22,237 km², and is rich in forests. Most of the terrain of the district is forested and hilly. Major tourist areas near Ambikapur are Ramgarh, Kudargarh, Dipadih (Ancient Sculptors), Rakasganda, Sitabengara, Tattapani (Hot water spring) and Semarsot, kailash gufaa (shivling in a cave and a big water fall)
Natural resources include Coal, Bauxite, forest products and paddy crops.
Ambikapur is inhabited by people from all over the country. Moderate weather and a serene environment make it an ideal place for settlement. Unlike the capital town, major district population comprises aboriginal population. Among these indigenous tribes are the Pandos and Korwas, who are still living in rural areas.
It is a widespread belief that Ambikapur has been kept out of railway link and road link intentionally by the influential local royal family, fearing end of dominance once local people get better accessibility, education and connectivity to near-by places.[this source's reliability may need verification]
[edit] To reach Ambikapur from Delhi
[edit] Via train
Kalinga Utkal Express, Hirakund Express (Sambalpur Express) and Chhatisgarh Sampark Kranti Express (Delhi to Durg) are the primary trains from Delhi that connect to Ambikapur. All these trains start from the Hazarat Nizammuddin Railway station, Delhi - and to reach Ambikapur one has to leave the train at Anuppur railway station and can take the local connecting train [at 4.20 pm and 4.00 am IST] for Ambikapur for a further journey of 4 to 5 hours, or the bus service from Anuppur to Ambikapur can be used.
Alternate railway connecting stations are Bilaspur and Raipur (capital of Chhattisagrh) which are also connected to Ambikapur via bus routes. The bus journey from Bilaspur will take around 5 to 6 hours and from Raipur it will take around 8 to 10 hours.
[edit] Via flight
One can take flights from Delhi for Raipur and use the connecting bus service to Ambikapur. flights available for Raipur are on Indian Airlines and Alliance Air airlines.
[edit] Educational Institutes
People over here are aware of the importance of education and are career oriented[citation needed]. The town has a Post Graduation College, a Women's College and several public schools. IT education institutes are also established here.
[edit] Recent Developments
Recently Ambikapur was connected by rail line to Bilaspur town. In the near future it is expected that trains will directly run from Ambikapur to Nagpur (Maharashtra).
Recently low-fare Airlines such as Air Deccan and Karma Airlines have shown interest in establishing air services in cities like Ambikapur, Bilaspur and Jagdalpur in collaboration with the Chhattisgarh State Governmentt.
[edit] Tourism
Temple carvings and archaic ruins date the history of this place to the era before Christ (BC) period. According to the Hindu holy book Ramayana, Lord Rama had visited Surguja during his fourteen years of exile and a number of places here are named after him, his brother Lakshmana and wife Sita, including Ramgarh, Sita-Bhengra cave and Laxmangarh. Most of the local population is made up of the Pando and Korwa tribes, who regard themselves as descendants of the Pandavas andKauravas (the warring clans of the epic Mahabharata) respectively.
