Shahdol district

Shahdol district (Hindi pronunciation: [ʃɛʱ.ɖoːl]) is a district of Madhya Pradesh state in east central India. Its old name was Matsya raj or Virat kingdom in the name of great king Maharaja Virata. With a total area of 6,205 km² (2,396 sq mi) and a population of 10,66,063. Shahdol is an important district of Madhya Pradesh. The town of Shahdol is the district headquarters. The district formerly comprised Shahdol division.

The Virateshwara Temple in Sohagpur Vangana is the most important tourist destination of Shahdol and a structural masterpiece. The district extends 110 km (68 mi) from east to west and 170 km (110 mi) from north to south.

Shahdol history is from the Mahabharata era and Shahdol stands for shahh means 100 and Dol means pond. City of 100 ponds which were dug during Agyatwaas of Pandavas who were continuously on move while exile last year to avoid being traced by spies sent by Duryodhana. It was part of Virata Nagar where Pandavas spent most of last year of exile. Later the City regained books during Gupt period. The district was ruled by the Chedis and Kalachuris, before being taken by the Gonds. Baghels were allies of Mughal rulers after being defeated from Gujrat by Khilji took refuge in Rewa. They slowly captured most of the district after establishing Rewa as capital city from Gondwana kings. The town Sohagpur was established by the Baghel king Sohag Deo in Shahdol. Eventually the Bhonsles of Nagpur took over the territory, and after the Second Anglo-Maratha War it was ceded to the British. After the Maharaja of Rewa supported the Britishers during the 1857 rebellion, the district was returned to him in gratitude. Shahdol was at this time sparsely settled, and the Baghels invited many cultivators into the district from other parts. It remained an estate of Rewa state under the until Independence, when it became a separate district.

Shahdol District is situated in the north-eastern part of the Madhya Pradesh province of India. Because of the division of the district on 15-08-2003, the area of the district remains 5,671 km² (2,190 sq mi). It is surrounded by Anuppur in the southeast, Satna & Rewa in the north, Sidhi in the northeast, Umaria in the west and Koriya district of Chhattisgarh in the west. The district extends 110 km from east to west and 170 km from north to south. This district is situated between 22°38' N latitude to 24°20' N latitude and 80°28' E Longitude to 82°12' E longitude.

The District is located in the north-eastern part of the Deccan Plateau. It lies at the trijunction of Maikal Ranges of the Satpura Range, the foot of the Kaimore Range an extension of the Vindhya Range and a mass of parallel hills which extend over the Chhota Nagpur plateau in Jharkhand. In between these hill ranges lies the narrow valley of the Son and its tributaries. Since the Kaimore Range extends along the Son just across the northern boundary, the District may be divided into three physiographic divisions. They are :-

District Shahdol is predominantly hilly district. It is picturesque with certain pockets and belt of SAL and mixed forests. Total geographical area of the district is 5671 km². Adjacents to the District Shahdol are the boarding districts Satna, Sidhi, Umaria, Anuppur and Rewa.

District Shahdol is very rich in its mineral resources. Minerals found in district are coal, fire clay, ochers and marble. Sohagpur Coalfield contributes a major part in the revenue of the state. A brief description of the various occurrences is given below :

The important coal field in the District is Sohagpur coal field. The Barakars in this area are about 3100 km² Four coal seams have been recorded from the lower Barakars whereas a few thin seams are reported from Upper Barakars. The Lower Barakar coal of lower ash content and better quality as compared to that from Upper Barakars. In general the coal is of low rank, high moisture, high volatiles and non-coking type. A reserve of 4064 million tonnes has been estimated from this field.