Durg district General information
Durg district is a district of Chhattisgarh. Until 2000 it was part of Madhya Pradesh. Its capital is Durg town. The district covers an area of 8,537 km². The population in 1991 was 2, 397,134 of which 12.4% were members of scheduled tribes. The Durg district is a populous district of Chhattisgarh. It occupies the southwestern part of the Chhattisgarh plain and possesses belts of hilly country in the south, southwest and northwest, bestowed with mineral resources and forests. The district lying in the Raipur Commissioner's Revenue Division, extends between the latitudes 20°23' N and 22° 02' N and the longitudes 80°48' E and 81° 57' E. The Altitude of the district is 317 Meters from Sea level.
The Durg district is formed on Jan. 1, 1906. The Durg District is a populous District of Chhattisgarh. It occupies the southwestern part of the Chhattisgarh plain and possesses belts of hilly country in the south, southwest and northwest, bestowed with mineral resources and forests. The National Highway No. 6 (Mumbai - Sambalpur - Calcutta) is the major highway of the district and the train route is the main line of the South Eastern Railway midway between Mumbai-Calcutta. Nearest airport from the District Headquarter Durg is at Mana (Raipur) about 50 Km's.
The District occupies the southwestern part of the Upper Sheonath-Mahanadi valley and the bordering hills in the south and southwest. Physiographically, the District can be divided into two divisions, viz. the Chhattisgarh plain and the Southern plateau. The Chhattisgarh plain occupies the largest area in the District.
The District from the head-qict derives its quarter town name of Durg which has also been the headquarters of one of the Garhs. The origin name was Shiva Durg.
History
In ancient times Durg was part of 'Dakshina' or 'Southern Kosala'. In the epic 'Ramayana', King Dasharatha Of Uttara Kosala married Kosalaya, the princess of Dakshnia Kosala.
The Chinese traveller Huien Tsang visited Southern Kosala in the 4th Century A.D. He mentions that he found an Asokan tope in the Capital city. It is therefore apparent that the District was included in Ashoka's Empire.
Álso in the 5th century AD, we get an authentic reference to this tract, in the famous Allahabad Pillar Inscription of Samudra Gupta. He claims that two kingdom Kosala and Mahakantara, sccumbed to his southern expedition.
However, the first specific reference with regard to the word "Durg" comes around the 8th century A.D. through two stone inscriptions; which were found in Durg and later deposited in the Raipur Museuem. The First incription mentions the name of a king Shiva Deva. The 2nd inscription associates the name of Sivapura (the capital of Shivadeva) with that of Shiva Durga, indicating thereby that during Shivadeva's reign the town and the fort were separate. The present name "Durg" is evidently a contraction of the old shivadurga, which he built. The river on whose banks stands the present town is also called "Shiva River ".
With the coming of the Kalachuri dynasty of Tripuri in A.D. 1182, Durg came under there kingdom. From then on it remained under the Kalachuries, till 1742 A. D. when the Marathas deposed them.
In 1877, after the Marathas lost the IIIrd Anglo- Maratha War, the tract of Chhattisgarh passed into British hands. Caption Edmonds was the First British Officer posted in Chhattisgarh as Collector and Magistrate to carry on the administration. For the purpose of Administration Durg was attached to Bhandara District (now in Maharashtra) but in 1857 it was separated and made into a tehsil of Raipur district to which it remained attached till 1906.
In 1906 Durg was created as a separate district. The Collectorate building was built in the year 1907. Interestingly, cement was not used in the construction of the collectorate building, instead a mixture of limestone, gum, sand and fruit pulp was used as the binding agent. Today even though 100 years have gone by, the collectorate building stands strong as it might have been built yesterday. Soon after, 350 acres (1.4 km2) of land from Kasaridih Village, was acquired by the government to build official residences. It is on this land that we find today's Civil Lines, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla Stadium, Chaupati, Company Garden, New Bus Stand, Polytecnic College and the Law College. The First Collector Of Durg was Shri S. M. Chitnabees. It is in his memory that the road from Kucheri to the Railway Station has been named "Chitnabees Road".'
During the freedom struggle, Durg was a hot bed of nationallist activities. Almost all the prominent leaders including Mahatma Gandhi, Pt. Jawahalal Nehru and Dr. Rajendra Prasad visited Durg during the freedom struggle.
Rivers
The general slope of the district comes under Mahanadi river slope and is towards the north and north east and locally in some places towards east. The main rivers of Mahanadi are Sheonath, Kharun, Tandula, Kharkhara and Aamner. Sheonath is the main river of the district which originates from Panabaras Hill (625 M) and flows towards noth-east. This river is the main tributary of Mahanadi River. The total length of the Sheonath river is 345 KM. The length of Sheonath river in Durg district is 120 KM.
Tandula Dam Kharkhara Jalasaya
The main tributary of Sheonath river is Tandula river. This river originates from hills situated in the north of Bhanupratappur (District- Kanker). After covering a distance of 34 KM this river joins Sukhanala. This river joins Sheonath river in the south-west of Durg in a distance of approximately 13 KM. The total length of this river is 96.6 KM. A dam is constructed during the period 1905 to 1921 at the joining point of Sukhanala and Tandula river.
Kharun river originates from Petechua in the south-east of the district and after flowing 80 KM joins Sheonath river near Somnath in the north. Sheonath river flows nearer to the western border of the district whereas river Kharun forms the eastern border of the district. The length of Kharun river is 120 KM. The area around Kharun river is very furtile.
Kharkhara river originates from hills situated in Dalli Rajahara in the south-west of the District. This river joins Sheonath river after covering a distance of 90 KM towards north-east. To fullfill the water requirement of Bhilai Steel Plant and Industry, in 1965-66, Kharkhara Dam was constructed. This is situated at Village Petechua at Balod Tehsil.
Mineral Resources
From the point of view of mineral resoures Durg district is very rich. In the district Limestone, Iron ore, Quartzite, Magnease and Dolomite are found in abandance. The iron ore of the district is in the form of Hemetite. The mines of iron ore is located at Rajhara hills and Jharandalli which are mainly used by Bhilai Steel Plant.
In the district high quality Limestone is available which are located at Nandini, Semriya, Ghidiya, Khundani, Pithoura, Sahgaon, Deourjhal, Ahivara, Achouli, Matragota, Ghotwani, Medesara etc. In the district Quartzite is mined at Khursul, Kalkasha, Danitola etc. Dolomite is mined at Mohbhatta, Kodava and Tala. In Durg district white clay is mined at Kuvagondi and Petechuva.
Climate
Durg generally has a dry tropical weather which is moderate but on a warmer side in summer season. The peak temperatures are usually reached in May/June and can be as high as 45C. The onset of monsoon is usually from July and the season extends up to September, with monsoon peaking during July and August. Maximum, Average & Minimum Rain fall Of District Durg are 1477.2 mm, 1071.16 mm and 781.5 mm per year respectively.
Places of interest
Bhilai Steel Plant: It is famous for Iron & Steel Plant. It is the only steel city of Chhattisgarh State. It is the famous place for the tourist who wants the Technical knowledge. Pass is supplied by the P.R.O. Department for the tourist to see the steel plant.The main places in the Steel Plant are : Coke oven battery,Blast furnace,Rail & Structure Mill, Plate Mill, Wire Rod Mill etc.
MAITRY BAG: The only zoo cum children park available in this region for general public. The Bag is maintained by the Bhilai Steel Plant Management with all the facilities of playing for children apart from a comprehensive zoo with many birds, animals and reptiles.
Uwasaggaharam Parshwa Teerth, Nagpura: It is a Jain pilgrim center situated about 10 km from Nagpura, in Durg District. Situated on the banks of Sheonath River, the teerth enshrines an idol of Bhagvan Parshwanath with seven hoods in the Padmasana posture.
The entrance of this beautiful marble temple is through a 30 ft high main gate. Shri Manibhadra Veer and Padmavati temples are on the right and left side of the main temple respectively. The recently added beautiful garden, ‘Teerthanker Udyan’, with its spectacular natural setting attracts not only pilgrims but also tourists as well.
Thousands of devotees visit the shrine especially on every full-moon night.
Ganga Maiya Temple, JHALMALA: Ganga maiya temple is located at Jhalmala panchayat just 4 KM East of Balod t of Balod Tehsil on Durg-Balod main road. Its is 58 KM. from Durg & Rajnandgaon District Head Quarters and 40 KMs from Dhamtari with well connected by road has become a premium place of religious importance in Chattisgarh.
DEOBALOD: It is situated about 3 Km. from Bhilai & is famous for Oldest Shiv Mandir.
TANDULA: It is 60 Km. away from the district of Durg.It is famous for Dam on the river Tandula.It is a exciting picnic spot. One can stay here in the rest house of irrigation department.
DHAMDHA: It is situated on the Durg-Bemetara road 35 Km. from the district of Durg. It is famous for Prachin Kila (Oldest Palace) & Mandir.
BALOD: It is situated at 58 Km.from the district of Durg. It is famous for Prachin Kila (Oldest Palace), Mandir (Tamples) & Sati Chabutra.
KHARKHARA: It is 95 Km. away from the district of Durg by road.It is famous for Dam on the river Kharkhara.The total length of the dam is 1128 mtrs..