Dantewada district General information
Dantewada district also known as Dantewara District or South Bastar District, is a district in the Chhattisgarh. Dantewada is the district headquarters. The district is part of Bastar Division. Until 1998, the Dantewada District was a tehsil of the larger Bastar District.
Dantewada District has an area of 10,238.99 km². It is bounded on the north and northeast by Bastar District, on the east by Malkangiri District of Orissa state, on the south and southwest by Khammam District of Andhra Pradesh state, and on the east by the Indravati River, which forms the boundary with Karimnagar District of Andhra Pradesh and Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra.
The district has a population of 719,065 (2001 census), of which 476,945 (66%) are tribal peoples. The district is divided into four tehsils, Bhopalapattanam, Bijapur, Dantewada, and Konta.
Dantewada derives its name from the capital town of the district, named after the presiding deity of the town ‘Ma Danteshwari’. Ma Danteshwari ,the most revered and worshipped Goddess, by the people living in this area, is an incarnation of Shakti. Dantewada is believed to be one among the 52 sacred Shakti pithas of the Hindu Mythology.
Apart from the Goddess Danteshwari Temple, district Dantewada has number of ancient and historically important temples and structures. The sculptures of ‘Barsur’ lets one to peep into the glorious past of this region while the ‘Memory Pillars’ which are found in many places of the district are handy in understanding the rich culture and tradition of the local tribes.
Dantewada is inhabited by several tribal groups such as Maria, Muria, Dhurwa , Halba ,Bhatra, Gonds etc. The songs and dances they perform during various fares and melas adds colors to the calm and pleasant rural life of the district. Watching the famous ‘Dandami Mariyas’ or ‘Gonds of Bison Horn’ dancing in groups, wearing a turban with the Bison Horns is certainly a treat to one’s eyes ears and the soul a like.
Tribes of Dantewada are also famous for their artistic excellence. They are capable of producing outstanding artisans related to Terracotta, Bell Metal & Bamboo-Crafts etc.
History
Dantewada derives its name from the capital town of the district, named after the presiding deity of the town ‘Ma Danteshwari’. Ma Danteshwari ,the most revered and worshipped Goddess, by the people living in this area, is an incarnation of Shakti. Dantewada is believed to be one among the 52 sacred Shakti pithas of the Hindu Mythology.
The present Dantewada district has come into existence in 1998. Previously it was a Tehsil of Bastar district therefore it consists of all the Bastaria features. Virtually it is the southern part of the Bastar region which is known as South Bastar where Bastaria culture is still alive.
Even though this area has been unknown to the outer world due to its inaccessible geographical situation, it has got a glorious heritage. According to the famous epic of India, Ramayan, Ram the hero of the epic had taken shelter here during his exile. This place, known as Dandkaranya in those days, has thus been associated with Ram as his Karmabhumi (the land of destiny).
Inhabitants of Sindhughati (The Banks of Sindhu River) separated from Prag Dravidians in 1500 B.C. One section of this separated group who reached Bastar was mentioned in ancient Sanskrit Literature as Dravid Speaking “Nag” . Chhindak Nags were the ancestors of modern Gonds. Bastar has been a colony of Satwahana rulers from 72 BC to 200 AD. Traces of flourishing of Buddhism and Jainism before Nala dynasty can be seen in this region.
Tribal republican ruling system had been here in this area from 600 B.C to 1324 A.D., during the periods of Nalas(350-760) & Nagas(760-1324) which is worth mentioning. The system had gradually been ruined in later periods. The down-fall of this ruling system was much more during the period of Chalukya (1324-1774) destroying the splendid tradition of Gonds. The entry of outsiders had laid the foundation of Feudalism in this region, which created inertness and obstacles in development for five centuries continuously.
Places of interest
Dantewada: A very ancient town of India, Dantewada had been the capital city of a glorious Kingdom in its golden past. This town was known as Tarlapal and Dantawali in pre-historical days, mention of which can be found on the stone carvings found in the district.
A splendid temple of Goddess Danteswari tops the list of places of interest, in the town. This temple , which is one among the Shaktipithas of the country, is visited by devotees from different parts of the country through out the year. Constructed, mainly on the South Indian style of (temple) architecture, and located at the confluence of the holy rivers Shankini & Dhankini, this temple gives a pleasant feeling of peace and immense satisfaction to the minds of devotees who visit.
Apart from Danteshwari temple, the temple of Bhairm Baba is also hystorically important place to visit.
Bailadila: Mountain range, famous in the world for the enormous & top quality deposits of Iron ore. Total 14 reserves have been discovered in this range out of which the mining activities are going on in 3 deposits.
As this range of mountain contains peaks that look like the humps of the ox at different places, this range of mountains is called as "Baila Dila", meaning the hump of ox, in the local language. Bailadila has been established as an Industrial area that has been divided into two towns, namely Bacheli (29 KMs from Dantewada) & Kirandul (41 KMs from Dantewada). The Iron Ore mines are situated at the top most peak of this mountain range known as “Aakash Nagar”, which can be visited with prior permission from NMDC (National Mineral Development Corporation). A 22 KMs lengthy Ghat Road, that leads the visitors from Bacheli to Aakash Nagar thrills them with serpentine twists and offers a bird eye view of the entire region through out the journey. Apart from understanding the mining activities of NMDC, one can enjoy the pleasant locality of Aakash Nagar, which is stretched into the blue sky, offering the visitors a panoramic view of the green forests and beautiful landscapes.
Similarly 12 Kms Ghat Road from Kirandul takes the visitors to Kailash Nagar, yet another peak of Bailadila range. Kailash Nagar is equally beautiful as Aakash Nagar. One can find the rare and wonderful deposits of “Blue Dust” the sand like blue colored Iron Ore, which satisfies one’s quest to come in encounter with the wonders of mother nature.
Barsur: - 75 KMs from Jagdalpur on the way to Dantewada a small town Geedam is situated, 24 KMs towards North of Geedam village Barsur is located. The small sleepy village Barsur happened to be the thrown of power during the tenure of the Gangawanshi rulers in as early as 840 A.D. Barsur, situated on the bank of river Indrawati is famously known as the city of temples and ponds. It is believed that there used to be 147 temples and equal number of ponds here in the towering days of Barsur. Even though Barsur had lost its glory gradually century after century, the ruins of numerous temples that are found here will still manage to attract the attention of the people. Some of the temples worth mentioning are Mama-Bhanjaa temple, Chandraditya temple, Battisa temple and a mammoth statue of Lord Ganesha. Apart from these temples one vast pond of pre-historical days is worth visiting.
Bodhghat Sath Dhar: 6 KMs from Barsur, river Indravati divides into 7 parts to form one small waterfall. This spot, fully covered with dense green forests stands to explain the beauty of the combination of the river, water and the mountains. With all its beauty and peaceful locality Sath Dhar is an idle picnic spot.
Memory Pillars of Gamawada: 14 KMs from Dantewada, on the way to Bacheli one small village Gama Wada is located where large sized stone pillars invites the visitors to have a glance at the age old tradition of the local tribes. These giant sized stone pillars which were erected centuries back by the local inhabitants are basically the memory pillars dedicated to their diseased elders and relatives.
Around Dantewada: In the middle Bastar district, beautiful water falls Tirath garh and Chitarcot are worth seing. Kanger valley and kutumsar, kailash caves also attract tourist due its natural unbelievable structure.
From the Bhopalpatnam border of the district 40 km. away in the Andhra Pradesh, famous Temle of Lord Rama at Bhadrachalam is also worth seing.
Natural Resources in Dantewada District
District Dantewada is rich enough in respect of Natural Resources. Valuable minerals are hidden between the deep green timber forest . Iron, Tin, Kimberlite, corrundum, High quality Granite, Silica, and many other valuable minerals.
Main natural resources available in the district are 1. Forest 2. Minerals 3. Medicinal plants
Forest
The forest in the district is also very peculier in the manner that where one side it is full of Timber Wood Sal , Teak, on the other side it is full of wild fruit bearing trees which is the lively hood of tribals of the district.
Dantewada boasts of being the oldest forest type under erstwhile Bastar Circle. Spread over an area of 8362.00 Sq. Km. forests of Dantewada are not only an index on nature's bounty, but also a visitior's delight.
Champion & Seth classified these forests in to four groups namely : South Indian Moist Deciduous forests, mainly comprising of teak, Moist Deciduos forests without teak, Mixed forests, subtropical wet hill forests comprising of Bamboo also. It is also worth mentioning here that Sal Forests give way to rich Teak forests here in the district.
In News
Over the last year, more than 350 people have been killed and 50,000 moved into camps in the Dantewada district, as a result of a battle between Maoist rebels and an Indian government-funded militia called Salwa Judum.
Formed in 2005, Salwa Judum translates as "peace mission", but hundreds of thousands of tribal villagers are caught in the crossfire between Salwa Judum and the Maoists.
Moaists claim the state-backed Salwa Judum is trying to take the land from tribal villagers and hand it over to big corporations to develop.