Balaghat

This article is about the municipality in Madhya Pradesh, India. For its namesake district, see Balaghat District.

Balaghat
—  city  —
Balaghat Location of Balaghat in Madhya Pradesh and India
Coordinates	21°48′N 80°11′E
Country	India
State	Madhya Pradesh
District(s)	Balaghat
Population	75,061 (2001)
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area • Elevation	• 288 metres (945 ft)

Balaghat is a city and a municipality in Balaghat district in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Balaghat District. The town was originally called "Burha" or "Boora", but this name was replaced by "Balaghat", which was originally the name of the district only. Balaghat means "above the ghats or passes."

Geography

Balaghat is located at 21°48′N 80°11′E. It has an average elevation of 288 metres (944 feet).

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Balaghat had a population of 75,061. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. 11% of the population is under 6 years of age. A river, Wainanganga flows beside the town.

Places of interest

The following places of interest are located in Balaghat, or in the district:

Kanha National Park

Part of Kanha National Park. The gate of Kanha National Park known as "Mukki" is located at a distance of some 13 km from the town Baihar, that itself is at a distance of just 100 km from the district headquarters.

Bajrang Ghat

Bajrang Ghat is a dream come true for nature lover swimmers who don't like the shallowness and restrictions of the City swimming pools. One can approach this beautiful ghat through various routes including one that passes through the Forest Rangers' College Balghat. "Bajrang Ghat" has small temples and "Akharas" and has a quite safe ghat with very gradually increasing depth, thus making it an ideal "Natural Swimming Pool". This ghat witnesses a large crowd in the summer season. The other side of the ghat called as "Jalaj" is the tip of a big submerged rock, and serves as a resting place for the accomplished swimmers who can cross the river to reach it. There is also a local swimmers club located here.

Kaliputli

Kaliputli is one of the prime squares in Balaghat city near Bus Station and derives its name from a beautiful black stone statue of a woman in sitting posture, with an Earthen Pot "Matka" on her head, stationed on the square. Generally ignored by the moving traffic, a minute observation will witness the beautiful artwork in this statue.

Rampayli Temple (Balaji temple)

Rampayli Temple is 28 km far from Balaghat on Waraseoni-Tumsar road The mythology about this temple is that when shri Rama was going to lanka he made a shivalinga which was made up of sand and it is still now present there and the temple is built on the bank of river Chandan

Gomji-Somji /JwalaDevi Temple

Gomji-Somji Temple with a sister temple known as Jwaladevi temple, located on the peak of Bharveli region's mountains and around 10 km far from Balaghat is one of the places of religious importance in the region.Jwaladevi attracts thousands of pilgrims from MP and Maharastra every year, specially during Navratri Festival.

Malajkhand copper mines

This is an open pit copper mine at a distance of some 90 km from the district headquarters past Balaghat Baihar road.. This is a very good place especially for roamers because of lots of hillstations around it. Here you will find peoples from different parts of India and an amalgamation of different cultures.

Bharveli Manganese mines

This is an underground Manganese Excavation Mine located at approx. 6 km from the district headquarters. It is the deepest underground Manganese Mines in Asia, and with a wide span in area. There are many hills and some temples around it, which makes it one of the 'must visit' place in Balaghat. This mine is owned by MOIL Limited with its own Beneficiation plant

Gangulpara Dam

Gangulpara Dam is at 13 km from Balaghat on Baihar road. The road to Baihar is a sceanic beauty in itself passing through the curvaceous Satpura Range with lush greenary all around. "Gangulpara Dam" on this route can be witnessed in its full glory in the rainy season with green hills all around reflecting in its silent waters. As one travels down to the dam from the main road and ventures along the wide stop wall of the dam, rainy season fountains and small waterfalls add to the beauty of this part. Waterfall includes satnari. A few people now about it, one has to walk deep in forest crossing. Gangulpar village to reach there. Its an awesome experience to be there.

Old Ram Mandir

The Lord Rama's old Temple in the center point of Balaghat City. The distance of old ram mandir to kaliputli is around 1.2 km. The new Lord Rama's Temple location in Hanuman Chowk and the distance around 2.5 km. of them. The vegetable (Gujari) Market is very close to lord Rama's old temple.

Nahlesara Dam

Located about 58 km from Balaghat, Nahlesara Dam is an old dam that serves the irrigation purpose of the nearby villages. It was built during 1960-1965. Constructed on the Chandan River, the dam is about 2 km long. The surrounding places of the Nahlesara Dam are ideal for holidaying. Amma Mai Temple, situated at a distance of 1 km behind the dam, is another point of attraction.

Kosmi

Located adjoining village of Balaghat City .Now it is the part of Balaghat hence the residences and industrial development is going on in the name of Balaghat. Although it is Gram Panchayat but it is necessary to include in Municipal Corporation Balaghat.Kishore Kuti is the famous residence of Verma Family known their Grand father‘s name Sheonath Lala Pondiwale.Gondia Road is developing in various residence colony as well as industries

Other Places

• Botanical Garden
• Kalipat Temple
• Hanuman Temple near JSTPG college
• Moti Talav (Pond)
• Hatta Ki Bawari
• Judwa Mandir (Baihar)
• Old Jama Masjid
• Panchmukhi Bajrangbali Mandir at Chitragupt Nagar Balaghat
• Hatta ka gadtha mandir.
• Hanuman Chowk (Durga Mandir, Hanuman Mandir)
• Khairgaon dam

Educational institutions

The following are the prime educational institutions at Balaghat:

• Jatashankar Trivedi Government Post Graduate College
• Webuguru - An Organization Providing Quality Education
• Sardar Patel College of Technology
• Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV)
• Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya
• Maharishi Vidya Mandir
• MGM Higher Secondary School
• Balaghat English Higher Secondary School
• Government Boys Model Multipurpose Higher Secondary School
• Maharani Laxmi Bai Girls Higher Secondary School (MLB)
• Vivek Jyoti Gyanpeeth
• Methodist Mission School
• Shri Dada Badi Jain School Balaghat
• Vivekanand College
• Unique College
• Arihant College
• Progressive Studies (MBA Coaching)
• Future Foundation (AIEEE, PET, PMT coaching)
• Excellence School Of Balaghat
• Sarswati Vidya Mandir Balaghat
• Arban Gyanpeeth Balaghat
• Zoom Technology (hardware,networking,DCA,PGDCA,TALLY9ERP,BIT)

References

• malajkhand copper mines
• bharveli manganese mines