Historical Importance of the City
Jabalpur is an important historical and cultural city of Madhya Pradesh, literally the central province of the country. A visit to this city is fascinating. Its diversity, history, divinity, wild life, art and architecture have combined together to make a rich experience for the visitors.
Jabalpur envelops you, giving you a sense of great past, stories of empires and kingdoms, of warriors, of builders, of poets and musicians, of saints and philosophers. The city resounds with various memories of the city-state of Tripuri, Emperor Ashoka, the Satavahanas, the Guptas, the kalchuris, the Gonds, and the memory of the famous and valiant queen Durgavati who took on the might of the great Moghul Emperor Akbar. This was followed by the Maratha domination under the Bhonsles of Nagpur and later in the British period, the notorious 'Thugs' and the phenomenon of 'thugee' and the brave Col. Sleeman who vanquished them. The city also played a prominent role in the freedom movement of the country.
Jabalpur is steeped in divinity and has been an eminent centre of learning. Through the ages, there has been a mingling of diverse religions. Vedic sages have blessed the soil, notably Rishi Jabali from whom the city is supposed to have got its name. Hindu, Jain, Buddha and Muslim saints and their teachings have given a spiritual aura to the place. In more recent times, this city has been associated with the activities of the great Osho (Acharya Rajneesh who was a Professor of Philosophy in the university of Jabalpur) and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
Jabalpur is also a city of natural grandeur. Its vast plateau is broken up by the mighty Vindhya and Satpura ranges and is streaked by the meandering Narmada, Vanganga and Hiran rivers, three of the more prominent ones in this area. These intersections of plateau, hills and the rivers have provided spectacular scenic splendour. Jabalpur is a town for the pleasure seekers as well as for those who are looking for solitude and tranquility.
