Katni is a district of Madhya Pradesh state of India. The town of Katni is the district headquarters. The district is part of Jabalpur Division. Katni is conglomeration of culture from three different cultural states viz. Mahakausal, Bundelkhand, and Baghelkhand. There are three different stories which reveals why Katni is called Mudwara. Katni junction is having half circular Mode (turn) from wagon yard. So people call it “Mudwara”. Another story is that there was a village call Modwar that has been given as a reward of bravery for cutting Mud (heads). A similar story is about the British government used to cut heads of Baggies and plunderer and hang them in squares to afraid people of doing crimes.
Katni district is located in the Northeastern part of Madhya Pradesh it forms the northern district of Jabalpur commissionerate division. Mudwara was the biggest (areawise) Tahsil of Jabalpur before katni came as district in 1998. The district extends from 23 °37’N to 24 °80’ N and from 79 °57’ E to 80 °58’ E. and hight from sea level is 392 m. There are three major rivers in Mudwara Katni, Chhoti Mahanadi And Umdar and the name katni of mudwara is given after the Katni River, which is two km away from mudwara. The shape of this district is roughly oval.
One of the prime junction of Indian railway katni is located in the heart of the rail network.. Train from five direction comes to katni and is situated at the junction of trunk rail routs connecting north south and east west . it is also advantageously situated on the path of central India coal fields and the power plants of north & western India considering the premeditated location of katni railway have developed it as one of the largest yard of India. Complete new township has been developed at new katni junction there are more then 5000 railway employees at katni catering to the public needs from the railway. Katni has biggest Diesel loco shed of Indian railways having 200 locomotives, it also has electric loco shed having 100 locomotives. Katni also has Indian railways biggest wagon repairs shop. All these facilities have greatly contributed to the development of katni town & katni district.
Places of Interest
Bahoriband: In Bahoriband there are many monuments, there is a statue of Jain Teerthankar Shantinath 12 feet high. There is some scripture of 12th century are written in lower part of the statue telling about Maha samantadhipati Golhneshwar Rathore who was the ruler under Kalchuri’s kings Gayakarndev.
There are so many statues in north of the village, near the reservoir a stone has been found in which 10 incarnation of Lord Vishnu has been painted. There are so many statues of Narayan Shaishayani (bed) and sun (Lord Surya). There is a Cemetery of Oliya Peeran Peer and a village is associated with it. Now a days Bahoriband has gained more importance and fame after stone park.
Tigavan: Earlier it was a part of Bahoriband, people says the earlier name of this village was Jhanjhangad here Aalha and Udal has fought with king of Madhogarh. There is a temple available of 1500 year old ,It is a flat ceiling temple. There is a statue of lord Narsing in other side of wall there is Jain Treethankars Parshvanath statue.
This temple is of Gupta dynasties time, on a pillar a scripture is found about a follower in Bramhi Lipi that shows of 8th century statues of Makrasanganga and Kachhapasna Yamuna statues are very beautifully designed. There were more than 30 temples in Tigavan, now only the remains are found, so many statues are found around this village.
Vijaraghavgarh: 33 km from Katni this is a historical fort. This place is 350 m high from sea level the prince PRAYAGDAS has formed a new town near MAUJA, PADRIYA and LOHARWADA and constructed a temple of lord VIJAYRAGHAV and the fort was named as VIJAYRAGHAVGARH .
The new town has been given the same name. At one side of this fort a court is available, Other side is of a beautiful building known as RANGMAHAL there are stone at various part of the fort designed from KARITALAI. This is the most beautiful fort in katni district.
Roopnath: This is a pilgrimage place 3 km from Bahoriband there is PANCHLINGI(five lingam) statue of lord SHIVA and called as Roopnath. It is situated in the corner of Camore mountain, There are three KUNDS (tanks) one above another on a standing stone water is present all the time the lowest one is called called SITA KUND and next above it is known as LAXMAN KUND and the topmost is know for LORD RAM.
There is verse painted on big stone that may be of 232B.C. some order like is written in Pali language for following Buddhism. It describes that 2˝ years of Ashoka following Buddhism but nothing has been achieved so far. One km from ROOPNATH in Sindursi village four old statues have been removed from mountain this place is known as JOGINI KA STHAN (place of Jogini) it is believed that the statues are linked with king JAINAT or SARVANTH of 6th century.
Bilhary: In the ancient time this locality was known very much scattered it was around in 24 miles of diameter. The old name of this town was PAHUPAVTI/PUSHPAWATI NAGRI (Town) now a day so many scriptures are found in this area there were so many temples the only remain is VARAH temple of lord VARAH (Vishnu). There is one more temple around one km from Bilhari of lord Shiva it also know as fort of Kamakandla in the ancient building archeologist have found a big scripture on rock on a stone which is currently in Nagpur museum in which description of Culchuries king Kayoorvarsh is found and about construction of temple for lord NOHLESHWAR(lord Shiva) second part of scripture describes visiting of Somnath temple in Gujrat for victory of Laxmanraj son of princes Nohla.
King laxman has made the big reservoir in Bilhari. The above dynasty has decline very fast and Chandel kings has captured the area after ward. Pan(Tambul) of Bilhary is very much famous the reference is found in famous scripture Aeana Akhbari.
Jhinjhari: 3 km from katni in Jabalpur road around 14 big colored painted rock are scattered they are all of prehistoric time it is believed that it was the residence for early human. They have painted all the animals found around here viz. Cow, Bull, Deer, Dog, Goat, Pork Hippopotamus etc. Hippopotamus is believed to be here in the ancient time. Except this animal there are paintings available about fighting tools and man and woman, tree, flower. These painting are believed of 10000 BC to 4000BC some of the picture are of middle age 700 BC to 200 BC.
