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Coordinates: 22°49′19″N 81°45′12″E / 22.822°N 81.7532°E / 22.822; 81.7532
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{{refimprove|date=June 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2017}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}

{{Use British English|date=March 2013}}
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<!-- See [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Indian cities]] for details -->{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Indian cities]] for details -->{{Infobox settlement
| name = Amarkantaka
| name = Amarkantak
| native_name = अमरकंटक
| other_name = Amrakuta
| other_name = AmraKutt
| settlement_type = Hill station
| nickname = Maikal
| image_skyline = A Hindu temple, Amarkantak Madhya Pradesh India.jpg
| settlement_type = Hill station
| image_alt = Amarkantal Photo
⚫
| image_caption = Amarkantak is a Hindu [[Tirtha (Hinduism)|Tirtha]] place, a site where three rivers including the [[Narmada]], [[Son River]] start
| image_skyline = A Hindu temple, Amarkantak Madhya Pradesh India.jpg
| image_alt = Amarkantal Photo
| nickname = Maikal
| pushpin_map = India#India Madhya Pradesh
⚫
| image_caption = Amarkantak is a Hindu [[Tirtha (Hinduism)|Tirtha]] place, a site where three rivers including the [[Narmada]] start
| pushpin_map = India Madhya Pradesh
| pushpin_relief = yes
| pushpin_label_position = left
| pushpin_label_position = left
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Madhya Pradesh, India
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Madhya Pradesh, India
| latd = 22.67
| coordinates = {{coord|22.822|N|81.7532|E|display=inline,title}}
| latNS = N
| subdivision_type = Country
| longd = 81.75
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| longEW = E
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and union territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts in India|District]]
| coordinates_display = inline,title
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name1 = [[Madhya Pradesh]]
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_name2 = [[Anuppur District|Anuppur]]
⚫
| established_title =
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Madhya Pradesh]]
| established_date =
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| founder =
⚫
| named_for =
| subdivision_name2 = [[Anuppur District|Anuppur]]
| established_title =
| government_type = Local Government
| established_date =
| governing_body = Nagar Panchayat
| founder =
| unit_pref = Metric
| named_for =
| area_footnotes =
| government_type =
| area_total_km2 = 47
| governing_body =
| area_rank =
| unit_pref = Metric
| elevation_footnotes =
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| elevation_m = 1048
| area_rank =
| population_total = 8416
| area_total_km2 =
| population_as_of = 2011
| elevation_footnotes =
| population_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 1048
| population_density_km2 = 181
| population_total = 7074
| population_rank =
| population_as_of = 2001
| population_demonym =
| population_rank =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| population_density_km2 = auto
⚫
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| postal_code = 484886
| demographics1_info1 = [[Hindi language|Hindi]]
| iso_code = [[ISO 3166-2:IN|IN-MP]]
⚫
| registration_plate =
⚫
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| footnotes =
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| demographics1_info1 = [[Hindi]]
| [[File:20160704- DSC2824-Edit.jpgthumbYantra Mandir, Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh]] =
| postal_code = [http://www.citypincode.in/PinCodeOf.jsp?area=Amarkantak%20&district=Anuppur 484886]
⚫
| registration_plate =
⚫
| website =
⚫
| footnotes =
}}
}}
'''Amarkantak''' ([[National Library at Kolkata romanization|NLK]] ''Amarakaṇṭaka'') is a pilgrim town and a [[Nagar Panchayat]] in [[Anuppur]], Madhya Pradesh, India. The Amarkantak region is a unique [[natural heritage]] area and is the meeting point of the [[Vindhya Range|Vindhya]] and the [[Satpura Range]]s, with the [[Maikal Hills]] being the fulcrum. This is where the [[Narmada River]], the [[Son River]] and [[Johila River]] emerge.
'''Amarkantak''' ([[National Library at Kolkata romanization|NLK]] ''Amarakaṇṭaka'') is a pilgrim town and a [[Nagar Panchayat]] in [[Anuppur]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], India. The Amarkantak region is a unique [[natural heritage]] area. It is the meeting point of the [[Vindhya Range|Vindhya]] and the [[Satpura Range]]s, with the [[Maikal Hills]] being the fulcrum. This is where the [[Narmada River]], the [[Son River]] and [[Johilla River]] (tributary of Son) originate.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Places of Interest {{!}} District Anuppur, Government of Madhya Pradesh {{!}} India |url=https://anuppur.nic.in/en/places-of-interest/ |access-date=2023-12-01 |language=en-US}}</ref>


Popular 15th-century indian mystic and poet [[Kabir]] is said to have meditated on ''Kabir Chabutra'', also called the platform of Kabir, situated in the town of Amarkantak.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kabir Chabutra|url=http://www.cpreecenvis.nic.in/Database/Kabirchabutra_1987.aspx|website=C.P.R. Environmental Education Centre}}</ref>
15th-century Indian mystic and poet [[Kabir]] is said to have meditated in Amarkantak, and the place is now known as Kabir Chabutra.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kabir Chabutra|url=http://www.cpreecenvis.nic.in/Database/Kabirchabutra_1987.aspx|website=C.P.R. Environmental Education Centre}}</ref>


==Etymology==
==Etymology==
Amarkantak is a combination of two [[Sanskrit]] words, amara (immortal) and kantaka (obstruction). The poet [[Kālidāsa|Kalidas]] has mentioned it as Amrakuta, which later became Amarkantak.<ref name="carvings">{{Citation | last = Bhattacharyya | first = P.K. | title = Historial Geography of Madhya Pradesh from Earlier Records | page = 76 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=njYpsvmr2dsC&lpg=PA76&ots=EXTkqn1uT_&dq=kalidasa%20amrakuta&pg=PA76#v=onepage&q=kalidasa%20amrakuta&f=false | publisher = Motilal Banarsidass | year = 1977}}</ref>
Amarakantaka is a combination of two [[Sanskrit]] words, ''amara'' (immortal) and ''kantaka'' (obstruction or thorn). The poet [[Kālidāsa|Kalidas]] has mentioned it as ''Amarakuta'', which later became ''Amarakantaka''.<ref name="carvings">{{Citation | last = Bhattacharyya | first = P.K. | title = Historical Geography of Madhya Pradesh from Earlier Records | page = 76 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=njYpsvmr2dsC&q=kalidasa%20amrakuta&pg=PA76 | publisher = Motilal Banarsidass | year = 1977| isbn = 9788120833944 }}</ref>


==Location==
==Location==
Amarkantak is located in [[Madhya Pradesh]] in India at {{coord|22.67|N|81.75|E|}}. It has an average elevation of {{cvt|1,048|metres}}. Roads running through [[Rewa, India|Rewa]], [[Shahdol]], Anuppur, [[Jabalpur]], [[Katni]], [[Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh|Bilaspur]] and Gaurella connect it. The nearest railway stations are Pendra Road and [[Anuppur]]. The nearest airport is [[Bilaspur Airport]] (120&nbsp;km).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.spicejet.com/newspage.aspx?strNews=Flights_Jabalpur |title=SpiceJet News |access-date=12 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714192533/http://www.spicejet.com/newspage.aspx?strNews=Flights_Jabalpur |archive-date=14 July 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Amarkantak PinCode |url=http://www.citypincode.in/PinCodeOf.jsp?area=Amarkantak%20&district=Anuppur |access-date=2014-03-10 |publisher=citypincode.in}}</ref>
[[File:Amarkantak.jpg|thumb|left|150px|<small>Narmada kund temples, the origin of Narmada River</small>]]
Amarkantak is located in the state of Madhya Pradesh in India at {{coord|22.67|N|81.75|E|}}. It has an average elevation of 1048&nbsp;metres (3438&nbsp;ft). Roads running through [[Rewa, India|Rewa]], [[Shahdol]], [[Anuppur]], [[Jabalpur]], [[Katni]] and [[Pendra]] connect it. The nearest railway stations are [[Anuppur]] and [[Pendra Road]] 43&nbsp;km via Keonchi and only 28&nbsp;km via Jwaleshwar. The nearest airport is Dumna Jabalpur ([[Jabalpur Airport]]) in the city of [[Jabalpur]], Madhya Pradesh (240&nbsp;km) which has daily flight service to Delhi and Mumbai.<ref>http://www.spicejet.com/newspage.aspx?strNews=Flights_Jabalpur</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.citypincode.in/PinCodeOf.jsp?area=Amarkantak%20&district=Anuppur |title=Amarkantak PinCode |publisher=citypincode.in |date= |accessdate=2014-03-10}}</ref>


==Demographics==
==Demographics==


Per the 2011 India census, Amarkantak has a population of 8,416 of which 4,514 are males and 3,902 are females.<ref name=":0" /> The female [[sex ratio]] is 864 against a state average of 931. Moreover, the child sex ratio in Amarkantak is around 931 compared to Madhya Pradesh's state average of 918.<ref name=":0" /> Literacy rate of Amarkantak city is 80.20%, higher than the state average of 69.32%. Male literacy is around 88.06% and the female literacy rate is 71.02%.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.census2011.co.in/data/town/802421-amarkantak.html|title=Amarkantak Nagar Panchayat City Population Census 2011-2021 &#124; Madhya Pradesh}}</ref> 95.51% of the population follow [[Hinduism]].<ref name=":0" />[[File:Amarkantak.jpg|thumb|left|150px|<small>Narmada Kund temples, the origin of Narmada River</small>]]
{{As of|2001}} India census,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archivedate=2004-06-16|title= Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)|accessdate=2008-11-01|work= |publisher= Census Commission of India}}</ref> Amarkantak had a population of 7074. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Amarkantak has an average literacy rate of 68%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 62% of the males and 21% of females literate. 17% of the population is under 6 years of age.
== Religious significance ==
[[File:Amarkantak4.jpg|thumb|Ancient temples, Amarkantak]]Amarkantak is known as the king of pilgrimages, or Tirthraj, because the town has many temples and holy places.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> It is narrated in the Hindu scriptures like the [[Puranas]] that Amarkantak is the place where celestial beings, sages, and others obtained spiritual powers.<ref name=":2" /> There are many ancient temples of the [[Kalachuris of Tripuri|Kalachuri]] period in Amarkantak<ref>Chadhar, Mohanlal (2017), Amarakantak kshetra ka puravaibhava, SSDN, Publisher and Distributor, New Delhi, {{ISBN|978-93-8357-509-1}}</ref> Which were built by different Kalachuri Kings, indicating it was a prominent site for the Kalchuris.<ref name=":1">{{Citation | last = Mitra | first = Swati | title = Templesof Madhya Pradesh – Travel guide | page = 89 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=THW_OkoTuE4C&q=amarkantak&pg=PA89 | publisher = Thomson Press, New Delhi on behalf of Eicher Goodreads Pvt Ltd | year = 2012| isbn = 9789380262499 }}</ref> Some of those temples were:

* '''Pataleshwar Temple:''' It is an ancient temple where Bhagwan [[Shiva]] is the deity and the Shiv Lingam was installed by [[Adi Shankara|Adi Shankaracharya]] during his visit. The temple was later constructed by King [[Lakshmikarna]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Deewan |first=Deepak |date=August 4, 2021 |title=Pataleshwar Mahadev Mandir जमीन से 10 फीट नीचे स्थापित है शिवलिंग |url=https://www.patrika.com/anuppur-news/anuppur-pataleshwar-mahadev-mandir-anuppur-pataleshwar-mahadev-temple-6989637}}</ref>
* '''Narmada Temple:''' It is the main temple of the town. It is said that Shankaracharya on his quest to determine the source of Narmada declared the stream currently at the temple to be the mainstream, the temple was later constructed by [[Kalachuris of Tripuri]] in the 12th century CE and Renovated by [[Ahilyabai Holkar|Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tourism |first=Madhya Pradesh |title=Narmada Udgam Temple |url=https://anuppur.nic.in/en/tourist-place/narmada-udgam-temple/#:~:text=Amarkantak%2C%20a%20small%20village%20is,the%20sages%20like%20Brighu%20etc.}}</ref>


==Flora and fauna==
==Flora and fauna==
[[File:Medicinal Flora of Amarkantak.JPG|thumb|left|Healing Flora of Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh]]
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The town of Amarkantak is surrounded by a rich variety of flora with medicinal properties.<ref>{{cite web|title=Medicinal Plants of Amarkantak|url=http://www.academia.edu/3036897/Medicinal_Plants_of_Amarkantak_Balco_Open_Cost_forest_Area_India|website=academia.edu}}</ref> The [[Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary]], is located at a distance of no more than 40 km from the town of Amarkantak in the state of Chhattisgarh on the road to [[Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh|Bilaspur]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Hindu|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-sundaymagazine/article3232362.ece}}</ref> The enchanting lush green forest belt in Amarkantak is a part of [[Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve]]. The forests of Amarkantak are linked with the forests of [[Kanha National Park]]. Amarkantak falls on the Kanha-Achanakmar Corridor, a hilly region covered with dense forests. Kanha and Achanakmar are both conserved wildlife parks in [[India]] famous for [[Bengal tiger]]s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kanha-Achanakmar|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-sundaymagazine/article3232362.ece|website=The Hindu}}</ref>

[[File:Pinus caribaea at Amarkantak.jpg|thumb|''[[Pinus caribaea]]'' plantation at Amarkantak, India]]
[[File:Pinus caribaea at Amarkantak.jpg|thumb|''[[Pinus caribaea]]'' plantation at Amarkantak, India]]
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There are more than 600 species of flora found in Amarkantak. It also has many medicinal flora and some of which include ''[[Boswellia serrata]]'', ''[[Terminalia chebula]]'', ''[[Hedychium coronarium]]'', and ''[[Curcuma caesia]]''.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Warrier |first=Shrikala |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qNhiCAAAQBAJ&dq=Amarkantak&pg=PA148 |title=Kamandalu: The Seven Sacred Rivers of Hinduism |publisher=Mayur University |year=2014|isbn=978-0-9535679-7-3 }}</ref> The [[Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary]], is located at a distance of no more than 40&nbsp;km from the town of Amarkantak in the state of Chhattisgarh on the road to [[Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh|Bilaspur]].<ref>{{cite news|title=The Hindu|date=30 July 2006|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-sundaymagazine/article3232362.ece}}</ref> The forest belt in Amarkantak is a part of [[Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve]]. The forests of Amarkantak are linked with the forests of [[Kanha National Park]]. Amarkantak falls on the Kanha-Achanakmar Corridor, a hilly region with dense forests. Kanha and Achanakmar are both conserved wildlife parks in India famous for [[Bengal tiger]]s.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kanha-Achanakmar|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-sundaymagazine/article3232362.ece|website=The Hindu|date=30 July 2006}}</ref>
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''[[Pinus caribaea]]'', known as [[tropical pine]], was planted in Amarkntak in 1968 on advice of [[Forest Research Institute (India)|Forest Research Institute]], [[Dehradun]] on the recommendations of [[National Commission on Agriculture]] looking to the future demand of quality pulp wood. This work was undertaken under a [[World Bank]] Technical Assistance Project by clearing natural sal forests. The naturalists and environmentalists in India raised a controversy over it; ultimately the project of tropical pine plantation was abolished.<ref>Yugdharm, Raipur, Forest Wealth Special Issue, 1979</ref>


⚫
''[[Pinus caribaea]]'', known as [[tropical pine]], was planted in Amarkantak in 1968 on the advice of [[Forest Research Institute (India)|Forest Research Institute]], [[Dehradun]] on the recommendations of [[National Commission on Agriculture]] looking to the future demand of quality pulpwood. This work was undertaken under a [[World Bank]] Technical Assistance Project by clearing natural sal forests. The naturalists and environmentalists in India raised controversy over it; ultimately the project of tropical pine plantation was abolished.<ref>Yugdharm, Raipur, Forest Wealth Special Issue, 1979</ref>
===Ancient temples of Kalachuri period===
[[File:Amarkantak4.jpg|thumb|Ancient temples, Amarkantak]]
The ancient temples of [[Kalachuri]] period are in the south of Narmadakund, just behind it. These were built by Kalachuri Maharaja Karnadeva (1041–1073 AD).<ref name="carvings">{{Citation | last = Mitra | first = Swati | title = Templesof Madhya Pradesh - Travel guide | page = 89 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=THW_OkoTuE4C&lpg=PA87&dq=amarkantak&pg=PA89#v=onepage&q&f=false | publisher = Thomson Press, New Delhi on behalf of Eicher Goodreads Pvt Ltd | year = 2012}}</ref>


==Educational Institutions==
==Educational institutions==
===Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak===
{{main|Indira Gandhi National Tribal University}}


The [[Indira Gandhi National Tribal University]] was established in Amarkantak by an Act of Parliament in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://igntu.nic.in/act.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=28 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061838/http://igntu.nic.in/act.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was created to promote and provide higher education and research in various aspects of tribal communities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=IGNTU Amarkantak: The University |url=https://www.igntu.ac.in/theuniversity.aspx |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=www.igntu.ac.in}}</ref> The [[Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya]] was established in 1987 to provide education for the rural young.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.jnvamk.in/aboutus.html |title=About us :: Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Amarkantak, Anuppur, Madhya Pradesh - 484886 |access-date=18 July 2018 |archive-date=18 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718234649/http://www.jnvamk.in/aboutus.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
A [[Central University, India|central university]], established under the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University Act<ref>http://igntu.nic.in/act.pdf</ref> in 2007, to promote research in various aspects of tribal communities and provide higher education to the tribal population.<ref name="igntu_1">{{cite book | title=Economic Development in India | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ePVHLq8XiyQC&lpg=PA105&dq=Indira%20Gandhi%20National%20Tribal%20University&pg=PA105#v=onepage&q=Indira%20Gandhi%20National%20Tribal%20University&f=false | accessdate=March 2015 | date=2008 | publisher=Academic Foundation, New Delhi | pages=105}}</ref><ref name="igntu_2">{{cite book | title=Emerging Trends in Indian Politics. The 15th General Election | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EG-vbArQhCIC&lpg=RA1-PT81&dq=Indira%20Gandhi%20National%20Tribal%20University&pg=RA1-PT81#v=onepage&q=Indira%20Gandhi%20National%20Tribal%20University&f=false | accessdate=March 2015 | date=2010 | publisher=Routledge India}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
* [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/35/Amarkantak.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc – Amarkantak]


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category|Amarkantak}}
{{Commons category|Amarkantak}}
*[http://www.shaktipeethas.org/amarkantak-map-t208.html Amarkantak map]
* [http://www.shaktipeethas.org/amarkantak-map-t208.html Amarkantak : Map]{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
*[http://anuppur.nic.in/Tourist.htm Anuppur district info on nic]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20190820030255/https://anuppur.nic.in/ Anuppur : Official]


{{Shahdol Division}}
{{Shahdol Division}}


[[Category:Geography of Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Geography of Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Hindu pilgrimage sites]]
[[Category:Hindu pilgrimage sites in India]]
[[Category:Hindu holy cities]]
[[Category:Hindu holy cities]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Anuppur district]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Anuppur district]]

Latest revision as of 04:11, 27 September 2024

Amarkantak
Amrakuta
Hill station
Amarkantal Photo
Amarkantak is a Hindu Tirtha place, a site where three rivers including the Narmada, Son River start
Nickname: 
Maikal
Amarkantak is located in India
Amarkantak
Amarkantak
Location in Madhya Pradesh, India
Amarkantak is located in Madhya Pradesh
Amarkantak
Amarkantak
Amarkantak (Madhya Pradesh)
Coordinates: 22°49′19″N 81°45′12″E / 22.822°N 81.7532°E / 22.822; 81.7532
Country India
StateMadhya Pradesh
DistrictAnuppur
Government
 • TypeLocal Government
 • BodyNagar Panchayat
Area
 • Total
47 km2 (18 sq mi)
Elevation
1,048 m (3,438 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total
8,416
 • Density181/km2 (470/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialHindi
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
484886
ISO 3166 codeIN-MP

Amarkantak (NLK Amarakaṇṭaka) is a pilgrim town and a Nagar Panchayat in Anuppur, Madhya Pradesh, India. The Amarkantak region is a unique natural heritage area. It is the meeting point of the Vindhya and the Satpura Ranges, with the Maikal Hills being the fulcrum. This is where the Narmada River, the Son River and Johilla River (tributary of Son) originate.[1]

15th-century Indian mystic and poet Kabir is said to have meditated in Amarkantak, and the place is now known as Kabir Chabutra.[2]

Etymology

[edit]

Amarakantaka is a combination of two Sanskrit words, amara (immortal) and kantaka (obstruction or thorn). The poet Kalidas has mentioned it as Amarakuta, which later became Amarakantaka.[3]

Location

[edit]

Amarkantak is located in Madhya Pradesh in India at 22°40′N 81°45′E / 22.67°N 81.75°E / 22.67; 81.75. It has an average elevation of 1,048 m (3,438 ft). Roads running through Rewa, Shahdol, Anuppur, Jabalpur, Katni, Bilaspur and Gaurella connect it. The nearest railway stations are Pendra Road and Anuppur. The nearest airport is Bilaspur Airport (120 km).[4][5]

Demographics

[edit]

Per the 2011 India census, Amarkantak has a population of 8,416 of which 4,514 are males and 3,902 are females.[6] The female sex ratio is 864 against a state average of 931. Moreover, the child sex ratio in Amarkantak is around 931 compared to Madhya Pradesh's state average of 918.[6] Literacy rate of Amarkantak city is 80.20%, higher than the state average of 69.32%. Male literacy is around 88.06% and the female literacy rate is 71.02%.[6] 95.51% of the population follow Hinduism.[6]

Narmada Kund temples, the origin of Narmada River

Religious significance

[edit]
Ancient temples, Amarkantak

Amarkantak is known as the king of pilgrimages, or Tirthraj, because the town has many temples and holy places.[7][8] It is narrated in the Hindu scriptures like the Puranas that Amarkantak is the place where celestial beings, sages, and others obtained spiritual powers.[8] There are many ancient temples of the Kalachuri period in Amarkantak[9] Which were built by different Kalachuri Kings, indicating it was a prominent site for the Kalchuris.[7] Some of those temples were:

  • Pataleshwar Temple: It is an ancient temple where Bhagwan Shiva is the deity and the Shiv Lingam was installed by Adi Shankaracharya during his visit. The temple was later constructed by King Lakshmikarna.[10]
  • Narmada Temple: It is the main temple of the town. It is said that Shankaracharya on his quest to determine the source of Narmada declared the stream currently at the temple to be the mainstream, the temple was later constructed by Kalachuris of Tripuri in the 12th century CE and Renovated by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar.[11]

Flora and fauna

[edit]
Pinus caribaea plantation at Amarkantak, India

There are more than 600 species of flora found in Amarkantak. It also has many medicinal flora and some of which include Boswellia serrata, Terminalia chebula, Hedychium coronarium, and Curcuma caesia.[8] The Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary, is located at a distance of no more than 40 km from the town of Amarkantak in the state of Chhattisgarh on the road to Bilaspur.[12] The forest belt in Amarkantak is a part of Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve. The forests of Amarkantak are linked with the forests of Kanha National Park. Amarkantak falls on the Kanha-Achanakmar Corridor, a hilly region with dense forests. Kanha and Achanakmar are both conserved wildlife parks in India famous for Bengal tigers.[13]

Pinus caribaea, known as tropical pine, was planted in Amarkantak in 1968 on the advice of Forest Research Institute, Dehradun on the recommendations of National Commission on Agriculture looking to the future demand of quality pulpwood. This work was undertaken under a World Bank Technical Assistance Project by clearing natural sal forests. The naturalists and environmentalists in India raised controversy over it; ultimately the project of tropical pine plantation was abolished.[14]

Educational institutions

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The Indira Gandhi National Tribal University was established in Amarkantak by an Act of Parliament in 2007.[15] It was created to promote and provide higher education and research in various aspects of tribal communities.[16] The Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya was established in 1987 to provide education for the rural young.[17]

References

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  1. ^ "Places of Interest | District Anuppur, Government of Madhya Pradesh | India". Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  2. ^ "Kabir Chabutra". C.P.R. Environmental Education Centre.
  3. ^ Bhattacharyya, P.K. (1977), Historical Geography of Madhya Pradesh from Earlier Records, Motilal Banarsidass, p. 76, ISBN 9788120833944
  4. ^ "SpiceJet News". Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  5. ^ "Amarkantak PinCode". citypincode.in. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  6. ^ a b c d "Amarkantak Nagar Panchayat City Population Census 2011-2021 | Madhya Pradesh".
  7. ^ a b Mitra, Swati (2012), Templesof Madhya Pradesh – Travel guide, Thomson Press, New Delhi on behalf of Eicher Goodreads Pvt Ltd, p. 89, ISBN 9789380262499
  8. ^ a b c Warrier, Shrikala (2014). Kamandalu: The Seven Sacred Rivers of Hinduism. Mayur University. ISBN 978-0-9535679-7-3.
  9. ^ Chadhar, Mohanlal (2017), Amarakantak kshetra ka puravaibhava, SSDN, Publisher and Distributor, New Delhi, ISBN 978-93-8357-509-1
  10. ^ Deewan, Deepak (4 August 2021). "Pataleshwar Mahadev Mandir जमीन से 10 फीट नीचे स्थापित है शिवलिंग".
  11. ^ Tourism, Madhya Pradesh. "Narmada Udgam Temple".
  12. ^ "The Hindu". 30 July 2006.
  13. ^ "Kanha-Achanakmar". The Hindu. 30 July 2006.
  14. ^ Yugdharm, Raipur, Forest Wealth Special Issue, 1979
  15. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. ^ "IGNTU Amarkantak: The University". www.igntu.ac.in. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  17. ^ "About us :: Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Amarkantak, Anuppur, Madhya Pradesh - 484886". Archived from the original on 18 July 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
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