Ambikapur, India
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| ?Ambikapur Chhattisgarh • India |
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| Coordinates: | |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Area • Elevation |
• 603 m (1,978 ft) |
| District(s) | Surguja |
| Population | 65,999 (2001) |
Coordinates: Ambikapur is a small census town in the Surguja district of the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. The town serves as the headquarters of Surguja district, the largest district of Chhattisgarh.
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[edit] Geography
Ambikapur is located at .[1] It has an average elevation of 603 metres (1978 feet).
[edit] Demographics
As of 2001 India census,[2] 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.
Ambikapur is connected to the capital of Chhattisgarh Raipur via a rail route and by highway. Durg-Ambikapur Express connects it to the capital.
[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, except Kalinga Utkal Express (It starts from Hardwar) 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 3.00 pm and 3.30 am IST] for Ambikapur for a further journey of 4 to 5 hours, or the bus service from Anuppur to Ambikapur can be used. Ambikapur has a railway station now and is directly connected to Durg.
Alternate railway connecting stations are Bilaspur and Raipur (capital of Chhattisgarh) 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 or Mumbai for Raipur and use the connecting bus service or by train to Ambikapur. flights available for Raipur are on Jet Airways, Air Deccan and Kingfisher Airlines airlines.
[edit] Educational Institutes
People over here are aware of the importance of education and are career oriented[citation needed]. The town has a Polytechnic College which is one of the three Polytechnic institutes of Chhattisgarh state, An Agriculture College, 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 Raipur. 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. Recently opened Agriculture college at Ambikapur under Indira Gandhi Agricultural Universiti, Raipur. Holy Cross Institution is one of the well known Institute in Ambikapur. They have many departments running inside this. They have a Hindi Medium school up to 12th year, English medium School, Women's College, Hostel facility for students and many more.
[edit] Temples and Tourism
"Jai Maa Mahamaya Temple"
The Temple Is situated in the east of Ambikapur town. This temple is very simple but the effect of worship is praised by every follower who visits the temple to worship The Almighty Goddess.
Thinthini Patthar
It is a rock of about two hundred Quintals, cylindrical in shape resting on ground rocks. When it is stricken with a rigid body, a metallic sound echoes which is considered an effect of the goddess.
Kudargarh
It is a worship place. A statue of the Goddess "Maa Kudagarhi" is situated on the Hill. It is famous for being in demand. Upon the desire of the worshipper being satisfied, the goddess is pleased by the blood of a goat. There is a small hole (kund), the diameter of 6 inches but it doesn't get full even though thousands of litres of goat's blood is poured into it. Many people come here to worship the Goddess from distant places.
Ramgarh and Sita-Bengra
These are supposed to be the places where Lord Ram with his wife Sita had stayed during their 14 years of the Vanvas period. The people residing in the nearby villages have many tales on these caves, narrated to them by their forefathers. There are many such places describing the history of the old past era.
Tata-Pani (Source of hot water)
This is a hot water source where hot water is flowing continuously. Anybody suffering from skin disease is found fully cured on taking a bath in the nearby collection of water. Water is so hot near the source of the hot water; even the rice bundled in a piece of cloth is cooked. The whole year this water source flows with the same force and quantity. It was observed by a commissioner after taking a bath in this hot water source that his skin disease was fully cured. Tatapani is situated in the Balrampur block which is 95 km. from Surguja district H.Q.
Pawai Waterfall
It is a natural waterfall flowing all the season. It is a famous picnic spot. It is situated in Ramanujganj Block.
Kendai Waterfall
It is a natural waterfall situated on the Bilaspur road about 85 km from District H.Q
Deepadih
This is a place of mythology. Deepadih is situated in Kusmi block about 70 km from Ambikapur district place and 15 km from Kusmi. According to Mr. K.K. Shukla from the Archeology Department, species found in Deepadih tells the story of 6th Century to 12th Century.
This is a main temple in SamantSarna at Deepadih, of Lord Shankar. This temple is surrounded by 4 Devs, which were there to guard Lord Shiva. They were also serving Lord Shiva with their various activities. These4 Devs were, Lord Ganesh, Lord Kartikay, Lord Vishnu with all his “Avatars" and Goddess MahaDurga.
Sculptures from SamantSarna
Mainpat
It is a famous hill station. It is famous for Tiger Point waterfall, Tibbati refugee camps. 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.
Jogimara Caves
Archaeologists describe the inscriptions on the walls of Jogimara Caves as the world's first documented message of love. So far this claim has not been challenged. Though now faintly visible, the inscriptions speak volumes about the intensity of love between Sutnuka and Devdutta who, archaeologists believe, used to watch his beloved dance in the amphitheatre. The caves are believed to have been carved out in 2nd or 3rd century B.C. According to archaeologist, Dr. Hemu Yedu, the concept of `devadasi' could also have originated from here. The Sitabengra and adjoining Jogimara caves were made by cutting the Ramgarh hills or the ancient Ramgiri ranges. Lord Rama and Sita spent some time in this cave during their exile. These are all faiths related to regional history, says Dr. Yedu. Rama and Sita did pass through these jungles while on their way to the South, he adds. And yes, there is a possibility of Kalidasa having spent some time in the Ramgiri mountains while he was working on his `Meghdoot', written sometime between the 16th and 17th Century.
[edit] References
- ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Ambikapur
- ^ Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns. (Provisional). Census Commission of India. Retrieved on 2007-09-03.
