Mandla 1933505 226054981 2008-07-16T17:00:46Z 131.107.0.73 <!-- See [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Indian cities]] for details -->{{Infobox Indian Jurisdiction | native_name = Mandla <BR> मंडला| type = city | latd = 22.6 | longd = 80.38| locator_position = right | state_name = Madhya Pradesh | district = [[Mandla district|Mandla]] | leader_title = | leader_name = | altitude = 445| population_as_of = 2001 | population_total = 45,907| population_density = | area_magnitude= sq. km | area_total = | area_telephone = | postal_code = 481661| vehicle_code_range = MP 51| sex_ratio = | unlocode = | website = www.mandla.nic.in/| Telephone = 07642| }} '''Mandla''' ([[Hindi]]:मंडला) is a city and a [[municipality]] in [[Mandla district]] in the [[India]]n [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[Madhya Pradesh]]. It is the administrative headquarters of Mandla District. The town is picturesquely situated in a loop of the [[Narmada River]], which surrounds it on three sides, and for 15 miles between Mandla and [[Ramnagar, Madhya Pradesh|Ramnagar]] the river flows in a deep bed unbroken by rocks. The Narmada is worshipped here, and many beautiful [[ghat]]s have been constructed on the banks of the river. The city was a capital of the [[Gond]] dynasty who built a palace and a fort, which in the absence of proper care have gone to ruins. ==History== The [[Gond]]-[[Rajput]] dynasty of [[Garha-Mandla]] commenced, according to an inscription in the palace of [[Ramnagar, Madhya Pradesh|Ramnagar]], in the fifth century, with the accession of Jadho Rai, a Rajput adventurer who entered the service of an old Gond king, married his daughter, and succeeded him to the throne. [[Alexander Cunningham]] placed the date two centuries later in 664 . The Garha-Mandla kingdom was a petty local chiefship until the accession of Sangram Sah, the forty-seventh king, in 1480. This prince extended his dominions over the Narmada Valley, and possibly [[Bhopal]], [[Sagar]], and [[Damoh]] and most of the Satpura hill country, and left fifty-two forts or districts to his son. In addition to Mandla, [[Jabalpur]] and [[Garha]] in [[Jabalpur District]] and Ramnagar in Mandla District served at times as capitals of the kingdom.<ref Name = "Hunter">Hunter, William Wilson, Sir, et al (1908). ''Imperial Gazetteer of India'', Volume 17. 1908-1931; Clarendon Press, Oxford.</ref> The control of the Garha-Mandla kings over their extended principality was, however, short-lived, for in 1564 Asaf Khan, the [[Mughal]] viceroy, invaded their territories. The queen Durgavati, then acting as regent for her infant son, met him near the fort of [[Singorgarh]] in [[Damoh District]]; but being defeated, she retired past Garha towards Mandla, and took up a strong position in a narrow [[defile (geography)|defile]]. Here, mounted on an elephant, she bravely headed her troops in defence of the pass, and notwithstanding that she had received an arrow-wound in her eye refused to retire. But by an extraordinary coincidence the river in the rear of her position, which had been nearly dry a few hours before the action commenced, began suddenly to rise and soon became unfordable Finding her plan of retreat thus frustrated, and seeing her troops give way, the queen snatched a dagger from her elephant-driver and plunged it into her breast. Asaf Khan acquired immense booty, including, it is said, more than a thousand elephants.<ref Name = "Hunter"/> From this time the fortunes of the Mandla kingdom rapidly declined. The districts afterwards formed into the state of Bhopal were ceded to the Emperor [[Akbar]], to obtain his recognition of the next Rajja, Chandra Sah. In the time of Chandra Sah's grandson, Prem Narayan, the [[Bundela]]s invaded [[Narsinghpur District]] and stormed the castle of [[Chauragarh]]. During the succeeding reigns family quarrels led the rival parties to solicit foreign intervention in support of their pretensions, and for this a price always had to be paid. Mandla was made capital of the kingdom in 1670. Part of [[Sagar District]] was ceded to the Mughal Emperor, the south of Sagar and Damoh districts to [[Chhatar Sal]] Raja of [[Panna, India|Panna]], and [[Seoni District]] to the Gond Raja of [[Deogarh, Madhya Pradesh|Deogarh]].<ref Name = "Hunter"/> In 1742 the [[Peshwa]] invaded Mandla, and this was followed by the exaction of ''[[chauth]]'' (tribute). The [[Bhonsle]]s of [[Nagpur kingdom|Nagpur]] annexed the territories now constituting [[Balaghat District]] and part of [[Bhandara District]]. Finally, in 1781, the last king of the Gond-Rajput line was deposed, and Mandla was annexed to the Maratha government of Sagar, then under the control of the Peshwa.<ref Name = "Hunter"/> At some period of the Gond kingdom the district must have been comparatively well-populated, as numerous remains of villages could be observed in places that, by the early 20th century, were covered in forest; but one of the Sagar rulers, Vasudeo Pandit, is said to have extorted several tens of thousands of rupees from the people in 18 months by unbridled oppression, and to have left the district ruined and depopulated. In 1799 Mandla was appropriated by the Bhonsle rajas of Nagpur, in accordance with a treaty concluded some years previously with the Peshwa. The Marathas built a wall on the side of the town that was not protected by the river. During the 18 years which followed, the district was repeatedly overrun by the [[Pindari]]s, although they did not succeed in taking the town of Mandla.<ref Name = "Hunter"/> In 1818, at the conclusion of the [[Third Anglo-Maratha War]], Mandla was ceded to the British. The Maratha garrison in the fort refused to surrender, and a force under General Marshall took it by assault. Mandla and the surrounding district became part of the [[Saugor and Nerbudda Territories]] of [[British India]]. The peace of the district was not subsequently disturbed, except for a brief period during the [[Revolt of 1857]], when the chiefs of [[Ramgarh, Ambikapur|Ramgarh]], [[Shahpura]], and [[Sohagpur]] joined the rebels, taking with them their Gond retainers. British control was restored in early 1858. The Saugor and Nerbudda Territories, including Mandla District, became part of the new [[Central Provinces]] in 1861. The town was made a municipality in 1867. The Maratha wall was removed in the early 20th century. By the first decade of the 20th century, Mandla contained an English middle school, girls' and branch schools, and a private Sanskrit school, as well as three dispensaries, including mission and police hospitals, and a veterinary dispensary. A station of the [[Church Missionary Society]] was also established there.<ref Name = "Hunter"/> ==Geography== Mandla is located at {{coor d|22.6|N|80.38|E|}}.<ref>[http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/35/Mandla.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Mandla]</ref> It has an average elevation of 445&nbsp;[[metre]]s (1459&nbsp;[[foot (unit of length)|feet]]). coor title dms|22|36|00|N|80|22|48|E ==Demographics== [[As of 2001]] India [[census]],<ref>{{GR|India}}</ref> Mandla had a population of 45,907. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Mandla has an average literacy rate of 77%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 82%, and female literacy is 72%. In Mandla, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age. ==Transport== Mandla is connected by road to nearby cities like [[Jabalpur]], [[Nagpur]] and [[Raipur]]. Mandla is served by a [[narrow gauge railway]] spur from [[Nainpur]], where it connects to the narrow gauge line between [[Jabalpur]] and [[Gondia]]. ==Tourism == Tourists are attracted toward Kanha National Park. Decades before tourist were interested in Killa ''(Fort)'' in kille Ghat, Shahastra dhara but now due to insufficient maintenance, even localites won't travel those places. For accommodation there is couples of hotels in kanha and Hotel Tourist ''(M.P.T)'' administered by state government in Mandla. In average of 10,000 tourists visits each year, in which 400-500 are foreigners mainly from US, France and Germany. ==Environmental changes== Once this small town was considered among most greenish towns, now its just a history. Deforestation has largely affected this area, In year 2007 summer's it has shown when over crossing 46 degrees. Each day around 20,000 kg woods are cutting. Only because of Ma Narmada ''(river narmada)''this town is living, it bounds from all around. == Education centres== Over-all population schools are sufficient, but colleges are few. Lacks Engineering and medical colleges. Most populous schools- 1) Gyaan Deep School.** 2) Maharshi School. 3) Bharat Jyoti.* 4) Excellence''(gover)'' 5) Mont Fort.* IT has also touched Mandla in last 6-7 years, 2 private Institutions are running over competition. == Running Out== Still more of the students wants to study away from Mandla as they give reason that atmosphere is not right for higher studies. == Sports== {{Cleanup-section|date=January 2008}} Mandla stands its name for table-tenis player's''(junior)'', 500 metres runners,And for hockey player's (under-14) team included -national player powan,hyder,priya,abbas and state player raja,yogesh,shivendra,ashutosh.On 2007 by making swimming pool ''(swimmers club)''new chances has aroused.Centre of town owns Mahatma Gandhi Stadium ''(Main)''is famous for its size and age, but gets dug up during elections. ==References== {{Reflist}} [[Category:Cities and towns in Madhya Pradesh]] [[Category:Mandla | ]] [[bn:মন্দলা]] [[bpy:মন্দলা]] [[mr:मंडला]] [[new:मन्द्ला]] [[pt:Mandla]] [[sv:Mandla]] [[vi:Mandla]]