Anuppur
Accommodation in Anuppur
Sacred sites and temples, forest trails and a village lake give a trip to Anuppur a variety of highlights. In Amarkantak, religious sites and distinctive buildings take centre stage; the hills and forests around the town invite you to go trekking. If you want to experience not only temples but also the landscape and village life, Umargohan offers further experiences of its own. The priorities you choose can help guide you when selecting a holiday rental in the region.
Springs and temples in Amarkantak
The Narmada Mandir in Amarkantak has a sacred kund at the source of the Narmada River. The grounds include around twenty smaller temples. Historical references associate the construction of the Narmada Mandir with the Kalachuri period, around the 12th century. An Aarti ceremony takes place at the Narmada Temple in the evening. Narmada Jayanti is celebrated there every year in January around Makar Sankranti. These religious occasions and the temple’s history offer a different way to explore the area than a tour of the landscape.
The temple art also features distinctive details: the Shree Sarvodaya Jain Temple houses a 24-tonne Ashtadhatu statue of the first Tirthankara, Lord Adinath. At the entrance to the Shree Yantra Temple is a large sculpture with four heads representing Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kali and Bhuvaneshwari. The temple was built as a three-dimensional projection of the Sri Yantra, also known as the Sri Chakra, which forms the core of Sri Vidya worship in Hinduism. Those interested in religious architecture and traditions of faith can make these places a focus of their trip.
Mai ki Bagiya, also called Charanotdak Kund, is another part of the area’s religious character. The site lies about 1 km east of the Narmada Mandir and is known for its natural beauty. The Jwaleshwar Temple, a religious attraction, is located eight kilometres from Amarkantak. The Karan Temple is also in Amarkantak, in Anuppur.
Water, forests and trekking
The 300-foot-high Sonbhadra Waterfall is located near Sonmuda. Sonmuda is also considered the source of the Narmada tributary Sonbhadra: it forms where the two ponds, Sona and Bhadra, merge. The waterfall and ponds give this place different points of interest in the landscape. The Amarkantak region in Anuppur is a biodiversity hotspot with a wide variety of flora and fauna. The hills and forests around Amarkantak are suitable for trekking; the roads within a 3 km radius of Amarkantak are also excellent trekking routes.
A more challenging option is Bhrigumandal: the site is about 3 km from Amarkantak and can be reached via a difficult forest trekking trail. This is quite different from the general trekking opportunities around Amarkantak. If you are considering a trip there, take the stated level of difficulty into account when planning your excursion. Silhara in Anuppur is also home to caves with inscriptions dating from the 1st century AD. They add a historical dimension to the landscape experiences.
Village life in Umargohan
Umargohan is a tribal village in Anuppur district, surrounded by hills and waterfalls, and has a tranquil lake. Village experiences there include boat rides on the village lake, fishing in the lake, cycling and hiking in the surrounding forest. This offers a chance to consider different activities for your stay beyond temple visits or trekking around Amarkantak. Boat rides are specifically mentioned as an option for families and groups; fishing, cycling and forest walks offer further activities to suit different interests. The range of activities makes Umargohan a focus in its own right when deciding which places to explore during your trip.
For location information: Kothi, Amarkantak and Anuppur.
For the broader travel overview: Madhya Pradesh.
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