Narayanpur Chhattisgarh

Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

Narayanpur is a city and district of Chhattisgarh State in Central India. It is one of the two districts created on May 11, 2007. It was carved out from the erstwhile Bastar district. This district occupies an area of 6640 km2 and it had a population of 110,800 in 2001. Narayanpur town is the administrative headquarters of this district. This district comprises 366 villages. Author (Laxman Burdak) visited Narayanpur on 04.12.1985, 17.12.1985, 18.12.1985, 05.03.1986, 19.03.1986, 02.05.1986, 31.05.1986, 27.07.1986, 18.09.1986, 10.09.1987, 30.10.1987, 10.02.1988, 02.03.1988, 10.03.1988.

Location

As of 2011 it is the least populous district of Chhattisgarh (out of 18). Jagadalpur is the nearest major town to Narayanpur and it is around 120 km away. National High-way is situated at a distance of around 50 km from Narayanpur. Nearest railway stations to Narayanpur, from where inter-state trains run are Jagadalpur and Rajanandagaon and they are located at a distance of 120 km and 180 km respectively.

Being a part of Bastar division with a large presence of Naxalite insurgents, transportation and medical facilities are the two major concerns for people who live here.

Abujhmad Peace Marathon is the largest sports event of Narainpur. State Bank of India has opened its branch in 1977 to provide financial services to the people of Narainpur.

Ramkrishna Mission Football Academy of Narayanpur has been dominating the Chhattisgarh State Football League and was champion in 2022. They represented Chhattisgarh in I League 2 2022-23.

Tahsils

Narainpur is divided into tw tahsils:

1. Narayanpur,

2. Orchha

List of Villages in Narayanpur Tehsil

1 Aadpal, 2 Aamasara, 3 Aamgaon, 4 Aatargaon, 5 Anjrel, 6 Bade Jamhari, 7 Badgaon, 8 Badkanar, 9 Bagdongri, 10 Bagjhar, 11 Bakulwahi, 12 Bamhani, 13 Banhker, 14 Banspal, 15 Bawadi, 16 Bedma, 17 Bedmakot, 18 Belgaon, 19 Benoor, 20 Bharanda, 21 Bhatpal, 22 Bhiragaon, 23 Bhurwal, 24 Binjlee, 25 Borand, 26 Borawand, 27 Borgaon, 28 Borpal, 29 Botha, 30 Brehabeda, 31 Brehbeda, 32 Brehebeda, 33 Chameli, 34 Chandagaon, 35 Chhinari, 36 Chhotedongar, 37 Chhotesuhnar, 38 Chihra, 39 Chiprel, 40 Dandwan, 41 Deogaon, 42 Dhanora, 43 Dhodai, 44 Dhuta, 45 Dudmi, 46 Dugabengal, 47 Edangpal, 48 Edka, 49 Ekodi, 50 Erko, 51 Farasgaon, 52 Garanji, 53 Garawand, 54 Gardapal, 55 Garhbengal, 56 Gaurdand, 57 Gohda, 58 Gongla, 59 Gotabenoor, 60 Gotajamhari, 61 Gulumkodo, 62 Gumiyapal, 63 Guriya, 64 Guttapal, 65 Halamimunmeta, 66 Hikohnar, 67 Hikpulla, 68 Hirgai, 69 Hitulwad, 70 Hodnar, 71 Jhara, 72 Jhorigaon, 73 Kachora, 74 Kadhagaon, 75 Kalepal Tutha, 76 Kanagaon, 77 Kanera, 78 Kanhargaon, 79 Kapsi, 80 Karalkha, 81 Karlapal, 82 Karmari, 83 Kasturwad, 84 Kawanar, 85 Khadaka Gaon, 86 Khadakagaon, 87 Khairabhat, 88 Khargaon, 89 Khodgaon, 90 Khudpai, 91 Kochwahi, 92 Kodher, 93 Kodoli, 94 Kokodi, 95 Kokpad, 96 Koliyari, 97 Kondahur, 98 Kongera, 99 Korenda, 100 Kosalnar, 101 Kudhargaon, 102 Kukdajhor, 103 Kulanar, 104 Kumhali, 105 Kumhari Chotta, 106 Kumharibada, 107 Kurusnar, 108 Lalsuhnar, 109 Madagada, 110 Madamnar, 111 Madhonar, 112 Mahimagawadi, 113 Mahka, 114 Malechur, 115 Malingnar, 116 Mandoki, 117 Mardel, 118 Markabeda, 119 Matawand, 120 Matla, 121 Mendadongari, 122 Moraskodo, 123 Mundpal, 124 Naumunjmeta, 125 Nayanar, 126 Nelwad, 127 Netanar, 128 Padnar, 129 Palki, 130 Palli, 131 Panigaon, 132 Paralbhat, 133 Parpa, 134 Paturbeda, 135 Pharasgaon, 136 Pungarpal, 137 Pusagaon, 138 Rajpur, 139 Raynar, 140 Remawand, 141 Rengabeda, 142 Rotad, 143 Sargipal, 144 Seoni, 145 Sirpur, 146 Sitapal, 147 Sonapal, 148 Sonpur, 149 Sulanga, 150 Sulenga, 151 Supgaon, 152 Surrewahi, 153 Tadonar, 154 Tadopal, 155 Taragaon, 156 Tekanar, 157 Telsi, 158 Temargoan, 159 Temrugaon, 160 Terdul, 161 Timnar, 162 Tirdul, 163 Tirkanar, 164 Toyameta, 165 Toynar, 166 Turtha, 167 Turusmeta, 168 Udidgaon, 169 Umargaon,

Source - https://villageinfo.in/chhattisgarh/narayanpur/narayanpur.html

History

Traditionally the area is mentioned as Dandakaranya in the epic Ramayana, and part of the Kosala Kingdom in the Mahabharata. Around 450 AD, Bastar state was ruled by Nala King, Bhavadatta Varman, who is mentioned to have invaded the neighboring Vakataka kingdom, during the reign of its King, Narendrasena (440-460)

The princely state of Bastar was established around 1324 AD, when Annama Deva, brother of the last Kakatiya King, Pratapa Rudra Deva (r. 1290-1325), left Warangal and established his kingdom at Bastar under the tutelage of local goddess, ‘Dantheshwari’, who still is the tutelary deity of Bastar region, her famous Dantheshwari Temple stands today at Danthewada, also named after her.

Annama Deva ruled till 1369 when he was followed successively by Hamir Deva (r. 1369-1410), Bhaitai Deva (1410–1468), Purushottama Deva (1468–1534) and Pratapa Raja Deva (1602–1625) after which the Bastar branch of the dynasty became extinct in the third generation with Dikpala Deva (1680–1709), after which a descendant of the younger brother of Prataparaja Deva, Rajapala Deva became the next King in 1709. Rajapala Deva had two wives, first a Baghela Princess, married, who had a son, Dakhin Singh, secondly, a Chandela Princess, who has two sons, Dalapati Deva and Pratap.Trouble however struck again when after the death of Rajapala Deva in 1721, the elder queen ousted other claimants and placed her brother on the throne of Bastar, Dalapati Deva took refuge in the neighboring kingdom of Jeypore and finally regained his throne a decade later in 1731.

Its capital was Jagdalpur, where Bastar royal palace built by its ruler, when its capital was shifted here from old capital Bastar. Later at some point in the 15th century Bastar was divided into two kingdoms, one based in Kanker and the other ruled from Jagdalpur. The present Halba Tribe claims to descend from the military class of these kingdoms.

Until the rise of the Marathas, the state remained fairly independent until 18th century. In 1861, Bastar became part of the newly formed Central Provinces and Barer, and in 1863, after years of feud, over the Kotapad region, it was given over to the neighboring Jeypore state in 1863, on the condition of payment of tribute of Rs. 3,000, two-thirds of which sum was remitted from the amount payable by Bastar. By virtue of this arrangement the tribute of Bastar was, reduced to a nominal amount.

Pravir Chandra Bhanj Deo (1929–1966), the 20th and the last ruling head of the Bastar state, ascended the throne in 1936, before it acceded to India in 1948 during the political integration of India.

Maharaja pravir Chandra Bhanj Deo was immensely popular among the tribal. He was shot dead in a “police action” in 25 March 1966 while leading a tribal movement in Bastar. He was executed on the steps of his own Palace in Jagdalpur. Scores of other tribes and courtiers too were murdered by the police.

A number of tribes started migrating to Andhra to escape the brutalities of police in connivance with the outsider-settlers who viewed the tribal lands green eyed. Due to the continued Police brutalities and Sociocultural harassment by the settlers, the migration gained pace and there has been a gradual reduction in the tribal and native populations as a percentage of the total population.

Source - https://narayanpur.gov.in/about-district/history/

Tourist attractions of Narayanpur

Narayanpur is a land of the tribes and 70% of its population is also the tribal. It is the southern part of the state and is situated 2000 feet plateau from the sea level. A large number of tribal live within the forest and hesitate to mingle with the outside world having their distinct culture, traditional lifestyle, customs and worship. The tribal were the first of their kind to start working with the metals for handicraft purposes. The bamboo craft is famous here. Narayanpur mela, Dussehra and Madai are the famous festivals in the area. The town contains a large pond situated within. On a Sunday, one can enjoy the beautiful weekly market of Muria tribe.

Kurschel valley: It is situated 40kms north west of Narayanpur. A very narrow sheltered valley surrounded on the three sides, north, east and south by high ridges and belt of protected forests in the west. The valley is about 9.5kms long and 4kms wide.

The Kurschel valley has lot many wildlife and scenic beauty to see making it one of the best destinations in India. In the Kurandi forest four ancient Tea woods are named after the four brothers of Ramayana – Rama, Lakshman, Bharat and Shatrughan.

The forest is covered with many medicinal plants like Chloroxylon, Ventilogo and Tendu patta. Wild animals found in the forest are Bhedki, four horned antelope, bison, blackbuck, etc.

Binjali dam: This is below the famous hills of Abujhmad, the place where the most aboriginal tribes of India reside. The place is beautiful with moderate temperature and also known as Nainital of Bastar.

Shiv Temple: Very ancient temple being a fine tourist spot till date has become an attraction.

Ramakrishna mission ashram: Started in the year 1985 to serve the tribal, they have built 5 schools to serve the children nearby at the interiors of Abujhmarh. They are also engaged in health, vocational training and agriculture and various spiritual and cultural activities.

Handawada waterfall: Handawada is a small village in Abujhmarh. The most beautiful and largest waterfall of the state with a scenic beauty to watch and get attracted to. The waterfall can be accessed through Barsur to Muchnar, which is 4kms from Barasur. One has to cross the Indravati River at Muchnar and precede 30kms to reach Handawada in Abujhmarh forests. The waterfall is 3kms from the Handawada where a jungle stream falls at a height of 300-400 feet. Some say that it is the second highest waterfall of Chhattisgarh.

Best time to visit the fall is during the October to April months as it is inaccessible in the rainy seasons.

Maa Mavali, Narayanpur: The Goddess is considered to be the elder sister of Maa Danteswari. In Dantewada and Jagdalpur, all rituals and offerings in Dussehra are done in the Mavali temple. The great Narayanpur mela of the tribal is celebrated in this temple every year on the last Wednesday before Shivratri.

According to the ancient time, famous king Annam Dev from Warangal came to Barasur and won the battle against Nag Kings and thus the mela is celebrated.

Tular Dham: The place is located in the Abujhmad Mountains and is 132kms from Jagdalpur. One has to pass through the brooks and rivers to reach the place making it very challenging. Devotees go there to pray to Lord Shiva inside a wide cave. As per the priest earlier a Parvati statue was established which was stolen. The water drops continuously falls on Lord Shiva and considers it to be holy as Ganges. Some even take dip at the holy water.

Abujmarh: A hilly forest area spread across 1500 square miles covering the Narayanpur, Dantewada and Bijapur districts. The place is geographically inaccessible and isolated. The area is a proposed biosphere reserve. Along with dense forest and tribes like Gond, Muria, Abujmaria and Halbas, waterfalls and rivers, it is a scenic beauty in nature’s paradise.

Raksha Dangri: Lord Ram, Goddess Sita and younger brother Lakshman have spent their time during the exile at Dandkaranya, today’s Bastar. The rakshashas used to live in various hills and during a fight against rakshashas, Sita was sent along with Lakshman here for security reasons.

Bastar Mogli: Chendru, who was a resident at Gadbengal, Narayanpur belonged to the Muria tribe. He was known for his friendship with the tigers in the Narayanpur. He rescued a Tiger cub named Paltu in late 1950’s and reared it. He became more famous when a book, Chendru-The boy and the tiger, was written on him.

https://bastariya.com/nearby-places/narayanpur-bastar-chhattisgarh/#google_vignette

External links

References

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