the encyclopedic entry of Chhatarpur

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History

Chhatarpur is named after the Bundela Rajput leader Chhatrasal, the founder of Bundelkhand independence, and contains his cenotaph. The state was ruled by his descendants until 1785. At that time the Ponwar clan of the Rajputs took control of Chhatarpur. The state was guaranteed to Kunwar Suni Singh Ponwar in 1806 by the British Raj. In 1854 Chhatarpur would have lapsed to the British government for want of direct heirs under the doctrine of lapse, but was conferred on Jagat Raj as a special act of grace. The Ponwar Rajas ruled a princely state with an area of 1118 square miles, and population of 156,139 in 1901, which was part of the Bundelkhand agency of Central India. In 1901 the town of Chhatarpur had a population of 10,029, a high school and manufactured paper and coarse cutlery. The state also contained the British cantonment of Nowgong.

After the independence of India in 1947, the Rajas of Chhatarpur acceded to India, and Chhatarpur, together with the rest of Bundelkhand Agency, became part of the Indian state of Vindhya Pradesh. Vindhya Pradesh was merged into the state of Madhya Pradesh in 1956.

Geography

Chhatarpur is located at . It has an average elevation of 305 metres (1000 feet). It is located on the far north-east border of Madhya Pradesh, sharing its borders with the Banda district of Uttar Pradesh. It is 125km from Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh and 180km from Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Chhatarpur had a population of 99,519. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Chhatarpur has an average literacy rate of 69%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 75% and female literacy of 62%. 15% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Transport

Chhatarpur can be reached by road only. The nearest railway stations are at Harpalpur (55 km) Jhansi(119 km) and Satna, and the nearest airport is at Khajuraho, which has daily flights from Delhi. Railway station is almost ready at Khajuraho and will come into operation within a few months. The railway department has announced a train (namely: the Khajuraho-Delhi EXP.) will be within the rail budget for 2008-09.

Education

Most of the colleges in Chhatarpur district are affiliated to University of Sagar, which is also known as Dr.Harisingh Gaur University Sagar. They offer graduation and post graduation courses in the facility of Art, Science and Commerce. Govt. Maharaja College also offers doctorate (PhD) programs in Arts and Science facilities.