Sheopur distrrict General information
Sheopur is located at northern part of Madhya Pradesh. The district is well connected by Road & Railways network. Some of the main locations are Vijaypur, Karahal and Baroda. Major tourist attraction is Palpur (kuno) wildlife sanctuary. The well-known Kaketa reservoir is located in this district. The art of woodcarving has flourished in district Sheopur and the beautifully embellished wooden ceilings, doors and lintels with finely carved designs are silent testimonials of its glory. The wood carvers of Sheopur, with great sensitivity and skill transform different varieties of wood. The crafts persons of Sheopur make pipes, masks, toys, doors, stands, windows, wooden memorials, flower vases, bedposts and cradle posts etc.
River
The important rivers like Chambal, Seep and Kuno drain the district. The Chambal, which originates in the Indore district, forms the northwestern boundary of Madhaya Pradesh with Rajstahan.
Access
Rail and road transport are common means of communication. Rail or bus routes connect about 15 percent of villages. Roads connect all the tehsil headquarters. Sheopur lies on main trunk Nero gauge railway route of central railway joining Gwalior.
Agriculture
About 50 percent of the geographical area is available for cultivation. About 58.74 percent of the cultivable area in the district is irrigated. Canal is the major source of irrigation, which accounts for 42.94 percent of the total irrigated area respectively. Wheat is the most important food grain grown in the district. Mustard is the most important oil seed grown in the district. Major kharif crop is Bazara.
Tourist Place
Doob Kund: In Sheopur district, there was a city in the Chambal valley of Sheopur tehsil at some distance from river Kuno known as ‘DOM’. It was the capital of Kachhwaha Kingdom. Here stands 81 feet high, large and square ‘Chaubisi of Jain Teerthankars’, which is still worth seeing. The pillars standing on the ‘Kalash’ remind us of the art of their architects. In the middle of the Chaubisi, one could see a kund where the statues where sunk. Since than, it is called Doob Kund. Outside it, there are the remains of Har Gauri Temple. This statuary group was built in 11th century.
Sangam of Rameshwar: Sheopur, situated in the semi-circle of rivers ‘Parvati’ and ‘Chambal’ is full of natural beauties. It is 959 feet high from seashore. Since rivers ‘Parvati’ and ‘Chambal’ join here, the city is called the ‘Sangam of Rameshwar’. A local fair is held here every year. It is an attraction for the tourists specially for the people of Rajsthan.
Vijaypur Durg: At the bank of river ‘Kunari’, there stands a fort known as ‘Majhola durg’. It was built by Vijay Singh, the King of Karoli.
The Fort of Sheopur: There is no conclusive documented source available to tracing the historical origin of Sheopur Fort. However a Jain pillar edict dated 1026 A.D. refers to the existence of the Sheopur fort. The 11th A.D. the famous poet Khadag Rai of Gwalior in his renowned work Gopanchal Akyan mentions Sheopur. According to his account the king of Nareshar Ajay Pal(1194-1219) had declared Sheopur as his capital
In 1301 A.D. ‘Allauddin Khilji’ on winning the Ranthambhor fort captured the Sheopur fort also which was under king Hammir Dev at that time. In 1489, Sultan Mahmood Khilji of malwa won it and established an integrated part of malwa Sultanate.
In 1542, Sher Shah Suri captured the Sheopur fort. During his time an Idgah and after his death or grand masolum of his commander Munabber Khan made by his son Islam Shah is the interesting example of Architecture of that time.
After that Surjan Singh Hada the King of Boondi captured Sheopur fort. In 1547, Akbar captured the fort and consequently it because part of Gwalior Maharaja Daulat Rao Scindia had to fight the Gour king Radhika Das to capture the fort the Gours of Bangal had been awarded the Sheopur fort as karad kings by Mugals and generations of Vats Raj Gour continued to rule from it, before succumbing to the Scindias.
The 225 years history of the Sipahad kingdom’ as it is called a saga of untold valur and forcefully independent cultural identity. This is reflected there architectural remains, which are individual thriving tradition of performing art, paintings, sculpture and highly artistic style of living. The individual palace of Narsingh Gour, Rani mahal or Goojri mahal are striking examples of Gour architecture. The chhartries built as a mark of respect for the king Indar Singh Gour& and Kishor Das Gour after the demis is silent and solemn examples of symmetrically well-crafted architecture. The Scandias remained in control of the fort till India acquired independance. They contributed of the grandeur of the fort by adding new dimensions to its resplendent remarks. The late Maharaja Madavrao Scindia built a Diwan-A-Aam, The Darbar Hall, and a state guesthouse presently the Diwan-A-Aam.
The site of a Sahariya Museum, this is a window to the word of saharia life partners, who rank as one of few existing primitive tribes of India. A few portion of the fort have been taken over by the M.P. Archeological Department for protections and conservation.