Gond queen: Rani Durgawati

About Gond queen: Rani Durgawati

(October 4, 1524 – June 24, 1564)

Childhood to Youth

Rani Durgawati was born in Chandel (Rajput) Emperor family of Keerat Rai. She was born at famous historical Kalanjar fort of Banda, Uttar Pradesh. Chandel dynasty is the same dynasty under which famous temples of Khajuraho were built. It is said that since childhood, Durgawati was keen to learn war skills, horse-riding and other activities for which rajputs are known. She attained perfectionism in art of war. She was also known for her hunting skills & determination. Forests of Panna national park was here favorite hunting preserve where she often goes on hunting expeditions. It is said that the day on which Durgawati swears to kill one tiger, she lives without food & water until she kill any one of the tiger.

About her marriage (1542)

Under one such hunting expedition, she met Dalpat Shah s/o Gond ruler Sangram Shah, in jungles of Baghelkhand (surrounding area of Panna national park). On very first meeting she fell in love of Dalpat Shah and both decided to marry. But as Gonds are considered inferior than Rajputs, as per cast system of hindus, Durgawati suggests Dalpat Shah to abduct her forcefully and get married. Dalpat Shah did the same and they get married in 1542, later Chandels accepted it. On attack of Sher Shah Suri in Kalinjar fort, Dalpat Shah helped Chandels and in that war Sher Shah Suri was killed.

Rani Durgawati as a ruler

In year 1545, Durgawati gave birth to a son who was named Vir Narayan. Her husband met untimely death in year 1950. As son Vir Narayan was too young to ascend the throne, Durgawati become care-taker ruler of Gondwana and lead the state to its golden era. Feeling jealous from the success of Gondwana, ruler of Malwa, Baz Bahadur attacked Rani Durgawati and faced humiliating defeat. Baz Bahadur was husband of Roopmati and famous monuments of Mandu were built in his tenure. It is said that during its peak, Gondwana dynasty owes regiment of 2000 elephants and lot of golds in their treasury. Rani was a very religious lady and care for his people. Everybody in his kingdom was happy and satisfied.

War with Mughals (June-1564)

Baz-bahadur was defeated by Mughals forces when Akbar was the ruler. Filled with jealousy of defeat from a woman, Baz-bahadur provoked Akbar to attack on Gondwana dynasty on religious ground. Akbar instructed his general Asaf-Khan of Kunda to ask Rani to accept his supremacy. Asaf Khan send messenger with Charkha and message in which he asked Durgawati to accept his supremacy and made fun on her by presenting Charkha(spinning machine) as ladies are not meant to rule but to drive Charkha. In response to such message Rani Durgawati sent “Pingeon” a traditional cotton processing machine.

Exchange of such messages laid the foundation of war. In that time, there were 52 small & bigs forts under Gondwana dynasty. As per orders from Abkar, Asaf Khan moved from Kunda towards Rewa dynasty. Rewa ruler (who owes Bandhavgarh national park till 1968) helped Asaf Khan. Later Asaf Khan moved to Damoh district which is just 40 kms. away from Singhorgarh fort of Gondwana where Rani was staying at that time. Due to weak intelligence system Durgawati was un-aware of any such attack. But as news was spread all over, Rani was having force of 10000 trained soldiers with traditional weapons and Asaf khan was with trained force of 50000 soldiers and latest weapons. Most of the Gond soldiers of fled after knowing 5 times larger army of Mughals. Rani Durgawati move to Jabalpur’s Madan Mahal fort and re-organized his army and manage to organize 10000 soldiers but un-trained.

Decision of attack on Gond dynasty was severely criticized by many contemporary rullers and even in court of Akbar as such act on widow-lady ruler will defame the bravery of Akbar the great. Even in book called “Aaine-e-akbari” also, Abul Fazal criticized the policy of Akbar The Great.

In memory of brave queen Rani Durgawati, her statue was made on same location of Narrai Valley, close to which statue of her elephant Sarman was also made. It is about 30 kms. away from Jabalpur city.

Jabalpur Madhya Pradesh

 

Jabalpur

Jabalpur town was the pleasure resort and capital of the Gond king during the 12 century. It was later the seat of the kalchuri dynasty. By the early 16th century it had become the powerful state of Gondwana. The Mughal armies also besieged it in between and finally it was conquered by the Marathas in 1789, which held sway over Jabalpur until 1817. The Marathas were defeated in 1817 and the British took it. The Britishers left their impression on the spacious cantonment with their colonial residences and barracks.

Today, Jabalpur is an important regional centre. The holy river Narmada flows through the district. The world famed Marble rocks at Bhedaghat ( 23km) on either side of the Narmada is treat to behold. Jabalpur is also the starting point for visit to Kanha National Park (165 km) and Bandhavgarh national Park ( 180 km) 

How to reach

 
Air: Jabalpur airport is 23 Km from the city centre. Regualr flights from Delhi India are operating flights for Jabalpur city. For details about Jabalpur Airport log on to www.Flightstats.com

Rail: Jabalpur is on Mumbai – Allahbad – kolkata rail Line. It is directly connected to satna (189 Km), Varanasi Bhopal and Nagpur.
For Railway Enquiry dial 131, 134, Reservation 0761-262237 

Bus: There are buses to Jabalpur from Allahabad, Khajuraho, Bhopal, Nagpur and other main centers. MPSRTC Bus Stand Phone Number: 0761-2405147

Places of Interest

Madan Mahal Fort - a gond fortress constructed in 1116 atop a huge boulder provides a panoramic view of the Jabalpur town and the countryside around it. Rani Durgawati Memorial and museum, dedicated to the memory of great queen Durgawati houses a collection of sculptures, inscriptions and prehistoric relics. Timings 1000 – 1700 hours. Closed on Mondays and Gazetted holidays. 

Sangram Sagar and Bajnamath – are the medivial constructions built by the famous Gond king, Sangram shah, 1480 – 1540.


Tilwara Ghat – Where Mahatma Gandhi’s ashes were immersed in the Narmada, the 12th Century Mala Devi mandir, the jain temple, Pisan Hari and Gwarighat are some of the other Places, which merit a visit.


Marble Rocks – 23 Km from Jabalpur, soaring in glittering splendor, the marble rocks, locally known as Bhedaghat, raise to 30m on either side of the Narmada and on moonlit nights produces a magical effect. The serene loveliness of the scene is one of cool quiet, the sunlight sparkling on the marble white pinnacles and casting dappled shadows on the pellucid waters. 

Boating at river Narmada

Boating Facilties are available from November to May, Boating on a moonlit night, when the whole strech of water is transformed into a sheet of liquid silver is a new dimension to the rock splendour. The marble rocks have also been floodlit. Nearby are the Dhuandhar Falls ( smoke cascade ) where the narmda plunges through a narrow chasm.

Travel Agents in Jabalpur

There are number of quality travel service provider in Jabalpur City. Website of Jabalpur Travel Agencies are available for further details : www.jabalpur-travel-agents.com

Indian Tigers

The Indian tiger has perhaps attracted more vivid portrayals than any other species. If looked in the socio religious context, this isn’t surprising at all. While the tiger has been traditionally associated with the Indian Goddesses Durga, today it has also become a symbol of national pride. Efforts for its conversation have been quite remarkable. In India, you can catch more than a glimpse of the Indian tiger.

Tiger Land

Historically, tigers lived in all the regions of India, from the snow – covered Himalayas at elevations of 10,000 feet, to the forests of south India. Tigers may inhabit high mountain terrain, dry tropical forests, humid evergreen forests and mangrove swamps, humid evergreen forests and mangrove swamps.

An adult tiger defends a large area from all other tiger of same sex. The primary resource of this territory is food. A female’s territory must contain enough prey to support herself and her cubs. A male’s territory, additionally, must offer access to females with which to mate. Thus, a male’s territory overlaps with that of one to seven females. Male territories are always large than those of females. Male territory size varies enormously and is directly related to the abundance of prey-rich habitats defend quite small territories and female territories average just eight square miles.

Tiger Family

Except for a mother and her cubs, tiger live and hunt alone. But that does not mean they are not social. Scent marks and visual signposts (scratch marks) allow tigers to track other tigers in the area and even identify individuals. A female’s tiger knows the other females of nearby territories and in many cases; a neighbour may be her daughter. Females know their overlapping males take over. All tigers can identify passing strangers. So, while solitary tigers actually have a rich social life, they just prefer to socialize from a distance.

Tiger Mating

Tiger breed between the months of February till May, just after the rainy season in Asia. After breeding, 15-16 weeks will pass by before their cubs are born. Female tigers called tigress seeks out a den and prepares for her litter. Male tigers stay with a female for only a short time after their cubs are born.

When tiger cubs are sixth moth old, they are ready to join their parents on hunts. They stay with their mothers until age two. After that they are to live on their own Tigers may live for as long as 20 years.

Taming the Jungle

Tigers prey primarily on wild boar and other swine and medium to large deer such as chital, red deer and sambar. When hunting together, tigers also hunt gaur, huge wild cattle.

Call for the Prey

The tiger hunts alone, primarily between dusk and dawn, traveling 6 to 20 miles in a night in search of prey. A typical predatory sequence includes a slow, silent stalk until the tiger is 30 to 35 feet from the selected prey, followed by a lightening fast rush to close the gap. The tiger then grabs the animal in its forepaws, a bite on the neck or throat. After dragging the carcass to a secluded spot, the tiger eats. A tiger eats 33 to 40 pounds of meat on an average night and must kill about once every week. Catching a meal is not easy, a tiger is successful only once in 10 to 20 hunts.

About White Tiger

There are only 200 white tigers left in the world. The last spotting of a white Bengal tiger in the wild was in central India in 1951. It is from this animal that all the white tigers in captivity today have descended.

About the Tiger Tour in India

There are many leading travel agents in central India providing advetureous trip Kanha National Park and Bandhavgarh National Park to see the King of the Jungle in It s Natural Habitat.