- Amarkantak is also called "Teerthraj" (the king of pilgrimages), Amarkantak region is a unique natural heritage area and is the meeting point of the Vindhyas and the Satpuras, with the Maikal Hills being the fulcrum.
- This is where the Narmada River, the Son River and Johila River emerge.
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| Amarkantak |
How To Reach :
- Amarkantak is situated in Madhya Pradesh in India. Amarkantak is located at 22.67°N 81.75°E. It has an average elevation of 1048 metres (3438 ft).
- Roads running through Rewa, Shahdol, Anuppur, Jabalpur, Katni and Pendra connect it. The nearest railway stations are Anuppur and Pendra Road 43 km via Keonchi and only 28 km via Jwaleshwar.
- The nearest Airport is Dumna Jabalpur (Jabalpur Airport in the city of Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh (240 km). Delhi and Mumbai daily flight service.
Tourist Attraction in Amarkantak
Kabir chabutra Amarkantak
- Amarkantak being a unique natural heritage is very rich in biodiversity.
- It has got a number of places of scenic beauty. Apart from this it is source of origin of three important rivers.
- It is a great pilgrim center for Hindus. It is thus a great-unexplored tourism destination.
Narmadakund and temples
- At the place of origin of Narmada River there is an open pool known as Narmadakund.
- Around this kund there are number of temples such as Narmada and Shiva temple, Kartikey temple, Shri Ram Janki temple, Annapurna temple, Guru Gorakhnath temple, Sri Shuryanarayan temple, Vangeshwar Mahadev temple, Durga temple, Shiv Pariwar, Siddheswar Mahadev temple, Sri Radha Krishna temple, Eleven Rudra temple etc.
Narmada Kund,Amarkantak
- The ancient temples of Kalachuri period are situated in the south of Narmadakund just behind it.
- These were built by Kalachuri Maharaja Karnadeva (1042–1072 AD).
- The Machhendranath and Pataleshwar temples are excellent examples of architecture.
- There is also Keshav Narayan temple built by the Bhonsle ruler of Nagpur in the 18th century.
Sonemuda
- Sonemuda is the place of origin of Sone River. It is situated at a distance of 1.5 km from Narmadakund at the very edge of Maikal Mountain.
- The Sone River cascades from the mountain in a waterfall hundreds of feet long. From the viewing platform facing east, there is a panorama of forested hills and valleys.
- According to Megasthanes and other Aryan writers the river Sone gets its name from gold as gold dust is found in the water of Sone.
Mai ki Bagiya
- A grove of trees in dense forests situated at a distance of one km from Narmadakund is named "Mai ki Bagiya" in honour of the goddess Narmada.
- In this natural garden there are Mango, Banana and other fruit trees along with Gulbakavli, roses and other flower plants.
Kapildhara (Kapil waterfall)
- Six km northwest of Narmadakund is the Kapildhara waterfall with a fall of about hundred feet. According to scriptures, Kapil Muni lived here. There is a scene of natural beauty with mountains and dense forest down hills.
- According to ‘Vindhya Vaibhav’ Kapil Muni performed severe austerities here and received divine light. He also wrote ‘sankhya philosophy’ (an advanced treatise on mathematics) at this place.
- The Kapileshwar temple is also situated nearby. The surrounding mountains are full of caves where saints have been performing their spiritual practices.
Kabir chabutra (the platform of saint Kabir)
- It is an old belief that the great saint Kabir performed austerities here and achieved spiritual powers. It is therefore a holy place for the Kabir panth sect.
- The local people, the Panikas, consider Kabir Chabutara as one of the holiest places of the Kabirpanthis because Sant Kabir spent many years here in meditation.
- At this very place Kabir and Nanak met and discussed spiritual matters and introduced the way of better living for human being.
- It is also the meeting point of three districts, Anuppur and Dindori districts of Madhya Pradesh and Bilaspur district of Chhatisgarh. There is also a Kabir waterfall here.
Shri Jwaleshwar Mahadev (the temple of Shiva)
- The Jwaleshwar temple and the source of origin of the third river Juhila River is situated at a distance of 8 km from Amarkantak on Shahdol road.
- According to ‘Vindhya Vaibhav’ Lord Shiva himself established a Shivling here and also scattered crores of other Shivlings over Maikal Mountain.
- According to puranic traditions a rectangular area containing crores of Shivlings is known as ‘Maha Rudra Meru’ and is the abode of lord Shiva himself. There are only two ‘Maha Rudra Meru’ places Varanasi and Amarkantak.
- Lord Shiva and Parvati live here because of this special spiritual quality.
Shri Sarvodaya Digamber Jain Temple
- The world's biggest ashtadathu Jain idol of Bhagawan Adinatha The new temple is being built at Amarkantak is similar to the Aksharadhama temple of Gujarat.
- About more that Rs. 20 crores is expected to be spent on this mega project which is spread over an area of 4 acres (16,000 m2). The temple is designed and constructed by more than 300 artists since 2 years under the guidance of Sri C.B.Somapura the Chief architect of the Aksharadhama temple.
- The ashtadathu idol of Bhagawan Adinatha measuring about 24 ft (7.3 m) in height and weighing 28,000 kilograms will be installed on the Kamala Simhasan made of ashtadathu weighing around 24,000 kilograms. The foundations of the temple are being worked out with the advanced engineering skills so that the temple survives for centuries to come.
- The temple measuring around 144 feet (44 m) height, 424 feet (129 m) length and 111 feet (34 m) width will be constructed here.