Banda

Banda is a district in the State of Uttar Pradesh in India. The district derives its name from its headquarter town of the same name. The district is in the Chitrakutdham Division of Uttar Pradesh. It is located between Latitude 24º 53' and 25º 55' N and Longitude 80º 07' and 81º 34' E. It is bounded in the north by district of Fatehpur in the east by the district of Chitrakut in the west by the district of Hamirpur and Mahoba and in the south by Satna, Panna, and Chhatarapur the districts of adjoining Madhya Pradesh.

There are 4 tehsils, 8 development blocks, 71 nyay panchayats, 437 gram sabha and 694 villages (41 uninhabited) in this district.

History

Banda is said to have derived its name from Bamdeo, a sage mentioned in Hindu mythology as a contemporary of lord Rama. Bamdeo is said to have had his hermitage at the foot of a hill Bambeshwar near Khutla in Banda. Hence, it goes without saying that the district has a rich historical tradition going back to the remote antiquity.

The stone implements and other remains of the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods have been found in various parts of the district.

The earliest known Aryan people associated with this region were the CHEDIS mentioned in rigveda. The earliest known traditional ruler of this region was YAYATI whose eldest son YADU had inherited this region, which was later, named CHEDI-DESHA by his offsprings. The sacred hill Kalinjar is mentioned in the Vedas as one of the spots adapted to practices of austere devotions. Lord RAMA spent 12 of the 14 years of his exile at Chitrakut, which was part of Banda upto a few years ago.

The famous Kalinjar-hill (Kalanjaradri) is said to have derived its name from Lord Shiva himself who is the main deity of Kalinjar called NILKANTHA even today. Mahabharata has numerous mention of this region, so much so that bathing in divine lakes of Kalinjar was equated to the merit (punya) of the gift of 1000 cows. The puranas do mention this region and this is much talked about in Ramayana too.

Around the fourth century B.C. this region seems to have been annexed to the Nanda empire of Magadha, which later formed the territory under Mauryan empire till Ashoka’s death sometime in 236 B.C. Pushyamitra Sung seems to have captured this region which remained under Sungas for nearly 100 years followed by the Kanvas for a short while. Kushanas too ruled over this tract of land. Plotemy who completed his famous work on geography around 151 AD mentions Kalinjar under the name of Kanagora as included in the kingdom of Prasiake, lying to the south of the Yamuna. Nagas ruled over this tract sometimes during third and fourth centuries followed by Guptas during middle of the fourth century AD. The present district of Banda also shared the fruits of golden age under GUPTAS and contributed towards peace and prosperity of central India.

This region was later named JEJAKBHUKTI (or JAJHOTI). For a short while this region passed on under HUNS and then under panduvamsi-King UDAYAN. When famous king Harsha-vardhana (606-647 AD) established his supremacy over north India, this region was a part of this dominion.

Well-known Chinese traveler HiuenTsang (641-642 AD) mentions this region as Chih-Chi-to and its capital at Khajuraho.

After Harsha-Vardhan, Kalchuris and Pratiharas seem to have ruled over this tract followed by a long kingship of the famous Chandelas. During the second important Chandela king extended his territory to cover entire Bundelkhand and surroundings and was honoured the first Chandela KALANJARIDHIPATI. During first half of 11th century Mahmud of Gazni is reported to have marched several time to kalinjar but was resisted and forced to go back. Chauhan king Prihviraja of Delhi and Ajmer is said to have defeated famous Chandela-king Parmardideo some time during 1182 AD although he could not retain this tract for his own reasons and Paramardideo recovered his position soon. In 1202 AD Kutub-ud-din Aibak, a general of Muhammed Ghuri seem to have captured the fort, through Chandelas recovered their territory and ruled over it through 13th Century AD.

Lodi-sultans did occupy Kalinjar for a short while but again reverted back to the possession of the Hindu king. Moghul prince Humayun Miza attempted to regain it but death of his father Babur in 1530 AD forced him to abandon this move. Fifteen years later Sher Shah Suri besieged the fort of Kalinjar (1545 AD) but was killed during operations just before its capture. His son Jalal Khan was ascended to Royal throne at Kalinjar fort under the assumed title of Islam Shah. The Chandela-king and his seventy soldiers were executed soon after and thus ended long Chandela-rule over Kalinjar.

Meanwhile Baghela-king Ram Chandra purchased the fort of Kalinjar but was later captured by Akbar’s leautinent, Majnun Khan Quaksal and this district and the Kalinjar fort become an integral part of the Mughul dominion.

Chhatrasal made his capital at Panna (1691 AD) and conquered almost entire tract south of Yamuna carving out the region, which is known today the Bundelkhand.

Peshwa Baji Rao, the Maratha chief regarded Chhatrasal as his father who in turn, during his last days, divided his dominion in three parts giving one part to Peshwa Baji Rao as his third son, Maratha presence in Bundelkhand later owes to this event. Jagatraj, the second son of Chhatrasal got the forts and dominion around Banda which was made capital and the fort of Bhuragarh on the western bank of Ken river seem to have been built sometime during 1746 AD.

The great Bundela-power stood almost crippled by late 18th century.

The treaty of Bassein in 1803 brought Banda legally under British rule.

It was in 1812 AD that Kalinjr came under British occupation.

In March 1819 Banda town was made headquarter of the newly created southern Bundelkhand district.

The area also witnessed 1857 uprising against British rule and people participated in subsequent freedom movement of India.

In 1998, a new District , Chitrakut was constituted with two tahsils namely Karwi and Mau. District Banda remained with four tahsils namely Banda, Baberu, Atarra and Naraini. A new Commissonary Chitrakutdham with headquarter at Banda comprising four districts Banda, Hamirpur, Mahoba and Chitrakut was also constituted.

Politics

Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) constituencies and their areas after delimitation order of 2008

232 Tindwari Vidhan Sabha Constituency - KCs 1-Jaspura, 2-Pailani, 3-Khaptiha, 4-Chilla, 5-Tindwari, 6-Paprenda, 7-Jaurahi, 8-Mataundha, Tindwari NP & Mataundha NP of 1-Banda Tehsil.

233 Baberu Vidhan Sabha Constituency - 2-Baberu Tehsil.

234 Naraini Vidhan Sabha Constituency (SC) - KCs 1-Naraini, 2-Kartal, 3-Kalinjar & Naraini NP of 4-Naraini Tehsil; KCs 1-Atarra, 2-Oran, 5-Badausa, Atarra NP & Oran NP of 3-Atarra Tehsil.

235 Banda Vidhan Sabha Constituency in Uttar Pradesh - KC 9-Banda & Banda (MB+OG) of 1-Banda Tehsil; KCs 3-Khurahand, 5-Bisanda, Bisanda NP of 3-Atarra Tehsil & KC 4-Girawan of 4-Naraini Tehsil.

Places of interest
KALINJAR FORT, BHURAGARH FORT, RANGARH FORT, KHATRI PAHAR, NAWAB TANK, BAMDEO TEMPLE, MAHESHWARI DEVI TEMPLE, FOUR STONE PILLAR AT KAIRADA VILLAGE