Bundelkhand is a geographic region of central India. The region is divided between the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, with the larger portion lying in Madhya Pradesh. What follows is a list of unofficial, or quasi-official regions of India. ... Uttar Pradesh (Hindi: उत्तर प्रदेश, Urdu: اتر پردیش), also popularly known by its abbreviation UP, is the most populous and fifth largest state in the Union of India. ... Madhya Pradesh (मध्य प्रदेश) is a state in central India. ...

Geography

Bundelkhand lies between the Indo-Gangetic Plain to the north and the Vindhya Range to the south. It is a gently-sloping upland, distinguished by barren hilly terrain with sparse vegetation, although it was historically forested. The plains of Bundelkhand are intersected by three mountain ranges, the Vindhya, Fauna and Bander chains, the highest elevation not exceeding 600 meters above sea-level. Beyond these ranges the country is further diversified by isolated hills rising abruptly from a common level, and presenting from their steep and nearly inaccessible scarps eligible sites for forts and strongholds of local kings. The general slope of the country is towards the northeast, as indicated by the course of the rivers which traverse or bound the territory, and finally discharge themselves into the Yamuna River. The Indo-Gangetic Plain is a rich, fertile and ancient land encompassing most of northern and eastern India, the most populous parts of Pakistan, and virtually all of Bangladesh. ... The Vindhya Range is a range of hills in central India, which geographically separates The Indian subcontinent into northern India and Southern India. ... The Vindhya Range is a range of hills in central India, which geographically separates The Indian subcontinent into northern India and Southern India. ... The river Yamuna is a major river of northern India, with a total length of around 1370 km. ...

The principal rivers are the Sindh, Betwa, Ken, Bagahin, Tons, Pahuj, Dhasan and Chambal. The Kali Sindh, rising in Malwa, marks the western frontier of Bundelkhand. Parallel to this river, but further east, is the course of the Betwa. Still farther to the east flows the Ken, followed in succession by the Bagahin and Tons. The Yamuna and the Ken are the only two navigable rivers. Notwithstanding the large number of streams, the depression of their channels and height of their banks render them for the most part unsuitable for the purposes of irrigation,which is conducted by means of ponds and tanks. These artificial lakes are usually formed by throwing embankments across the lower extremities of valleys, and thus arresting and impounding the waters flowing through them. The Sindh is a river of Madhya Pradesh state in central India. ... The Betwa (Vetravati) is a river in Northern India, and a tributary of the Yamuna. ... The Ken River is one the major rivers passing through the Banda district of Bundelkahnd, India. ... The Tons is present in India. ... Pahuj River is a river flowing in Bhind District of Madhya Pradesh in central India. ... The Dhasan River is a tributary of the Betwa River. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Malwa (Malvi:माळवा) is a region in western India occupying a plateau of volcanic origin in the western part of Madhya Pradesh state and the south-eastern part of Rajasthan. ... Confluence of Yamuna River and Tons River Yamuna (sometimes called Jamuna) is a major river of northern India, with a total length of around 1370 km. ...

The major towns are Jhansi, Sagar,Damoh, Panna, Banda and Chhatarpur. Bundelkhand's most well known place, however, is Khajuraho which has a number of 10th century temples devoted to fine-living and eroticism. The mines of Panna have been famous for magnificent diamonds; and a very large one dug from the last was kept in the fort of Kalinjar. Jhansi is a city of Uttar Pradesh state, India. ... Sagar (pronounced as Saa-gar) is a common male name in India and it means Ocean or sea in Hindi, Urdu and Gujarati, or King. ... Panna is a town in western Madhya Pradesh state of central India. ... Banda is a city and district of Uttar Pradesh state, India. ... Chhatarpur is a city and district in Madhya Pradesh state of India. ... Sculpture from a temple at Khajuraho Hermit monk performing auparashtika on a princely visitor. ... For other uses, see Diamond (disambiguation). ... Kalinjar is a fortress-city in the Bundelkhand region of central India. ...

Bundeli is the most common Hindi dialect spoken in the area. The region is predominantly Hindu. Jainism is historically significant, and several Jain Tirthas are located in this region. Many prominent Jain scholars of the 20th century have been from this region. Bundeli is a Western Hindi language (often considered a dialect of Hindi) spoken in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh and Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh. ... Hindi (हिन्दी hind), an Indo-European language spoken mainly in North, Central, and West India, is the official language of the Indian Union. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Jaina redirects here. ... The introduction of this article does not provide enough context for readers unfamiliar with the subject. ...

Ecology

The region is part of the Narmada Valley dry deciduous forests ecoregion. The original vegetation consisted of tropical dry forest, dominated by teak (Tectona grandis) associated with ebony (Diospyros melanoxylon), Anogeissus latifolia, Lagerstroemia parvifolia, Terminalia tomentosa, Lannea coromandelica, Hardwickia binata, and Boswellia serata. It was mostly forested until the late 18th century, when intensive logging of the forests accelerated. Deforestation accelerated after the consolidation of British control in the 19th century. The Panna Tiger Reserve in Panna and Chhatarpur districts boasts of tigers and a variety of other wildlife. The Narmada Valley dry deciduous forests are a tropical dry forest ecoregion of central India. ... The tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forest biome is located at tropical and subtropical latitudes. ... Species Tectona grandis Tectona hamiltoniana Tectona philippinensis Teak (Tectona), also called jati is a genus of tropical hardwood trees in the family Verbenaceae, native to the south and southeast of Asia, and is commonly found as a component of monsoon forest vegetation. ... Binomial name Diospyros ebenum Koenig ex Retz. ... species Anogeissus is a genus of trees native to South Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, and Africa, belonging to family Combretaceae. ... Species About 50, including: Lagerstroemia indica Lagerstroemia speciosa The Crape-myrtles Lagerstroemia are a genus of about 50 species of deciduous and evergreen trees or large shrubs native to east Asia and Australia. ... Species See text Terminalia is a genus of large trees of the flowering plant family, Combretaceae, comprising around 100 species distributed in tropical regions of the world. ... Species Boswellia sacra (aka or )Boswellia frereana Boswellia papyrifera Boswellia serrata Boswellia is a genus of trees known for their fragrant resin which has many pharmacological uses particularly as anti-inflamatories. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Binomial name Panthera tigris (Linnaeus, 1758) Tigers (Panthera tigris) are mammals of the Felidae family and one of four big cats in the panthera genus. ...

History

Precolonial history, to 1802

The Chandela Rajput clan ruled Bundelkhand from the 10th to the 16th centuries. In the early 10th century they were feudatories of the Pratiharas of Kannauj, and ruled from the fortress-city of Kalinjar. A dynastic struggle among the Pratiharas from 912 to 914 allowed the Chandelas and other feudatories to assert their independence. The Chandelas captured the strategic fortress of Gwalior c. 950. Dhanga (c. 950-1008) left many inscriptions, and endowed a large number of Jain and Hindu temples. Dhanga's grandson Vidyadhara (1017-29) expanded the Chandela kingdom to its greatest extent, extending the Chandela dominions to the Chambal river in the northwest and south to the Narmada River. The Afghan king Mahmud of Ghazni attacked the Chandela dominions during Vidydhara's reign, but did not retain any Chandela territory. the Chandelas built the famous temple-city of Khajuraho between the mid-10th and mid-11th centuries. During the Chandela period, Bundelkhand was home to a flourishing Jain community and numerous Jain temples were build in that period. Chandela or Chandel is a gotra found in Rajputs in India. ... Rajputs (anonymous, c. ... As a means of recording the passage of time, the 10th century was that century which lasted from 901 to 1000. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... The Pratiharas (Pariharas in Hindi), were an Indian dynasty who ruled kingdoms in Gurjar region of Rajasthan and northern India from the 6th to the 11th centuries. ... Kanauj, or Kannauj, is an ancient city of Uttar Pradesh state of India (1991 pop. ... Kalinjar is a fortress-city in the Bundelkhand region of central India. ... Teli-ka-Mandir Fortress of Gwalior Gwalior is a city in Madhya Pradesh, India. ... JAIN is an activity within the Java Community Process, developing APIs for the creation of telephony (voice and data) services. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The Narmada or Nerbudda is a river in central India. ... Mahmud and Ayaz The Sultan is to the right, shaking the hand of the sheykh, with Ayaz standing behind him. ... Sculpture from a temple at Khajuraho Hermit monk performing auparashtika on a princely visitor. ... JAIN is an activity within the Java Community Process, developing APIs for the creation of telephony (voice and data) services. ...

In the 12th century, the Rajput Chauhan rulers of Ajmer challenged the Chandelas. The Muslim conquests of the early 13th century reduced the Chandela domains, although they survived until the 16th century as minor chieftains. Bundela Rajputs grew to prominence starting in the 16th century. Orchha was founded in the sixteenth century by the Bundeli chief Rudra Pratap, who became the first Raja of Orchha. In 1545 Sher Shah Suri, the only Indian king to defeat Mughals and sit on Delhi throne, was killed while attempting to capture Kalinjar from the local Bundeli kings. The Chauhans or Chahamana are a clan who ruled parts of northern India in the Middle Ages. ... Ajmer , or Ajmere, is a city in Ajmer District in Indias Rajasthan state. ... (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ... The Bundelas are a Rajput clan who ruled several states in central India. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... Events February 27 - Battle of Ancrum Moor - Scots victory over superior English forces December 13 - Official opening of the Council of Trent (closed 1563) Battle of Kawagoe - between two branches of Uesugi families and the late Hojo clan in Japan. ... For the recipient of the Victoria Cross see Sher Shah (VC). ... The Mughal Empire (alternative spelling Mogul, which is the origin of the word Mogul) of India was founded by Babur in 1526, when he defeated Ibrahim Lodi, the last of the Delhi Sultans at the First Battle of Panipat. ... Known in India as the Lotus Temple, the Baháí House of Worship is one of the most famous landmarks in Delhi. ...

The region came under nominal Mughal rule during the 16th-18th centuries, although the hilly, forested terrain of the sparsely populated region made it difficult to control. Akbar's governors at Kalpi maintained a nominal authority over the surrounding district, and the Bundela chiefs were in a state of chronic revolt, which culminated in the war of independence under Chhatrasal. On the outbreak of his rebellion in 1671 he occupied a large province to the south of the Yamuna. Setting out from this base, and assisted by the Marathas, he conquered the whole of Bundelkhand. On his death in 1732 he bequeathed one-third of his dominions, including Jalaun and Jhansi, to his Maratha allies, who before long succeeded in controlling the whole of Bundelkhand, with the local rulers as tributaries to the Marathas. Under Maratha rule the country was a prey to constant anarchy and strife. By the end of the 18th century, the Bundelas had freed themselves to some extent from Maratha power. Ali Bahadur, a grandson of the Maratha Peshwa, sought to restore Maratha control of Bundelkhand from his base at Banda. Ali Bahadur warred with the Bundelas from 1790 until 1802, when he died while attempting to capture Kalinjar. The Mughal Empire (alternative spelling Mogul, which is the origin of the word Mogul) of India was founded by Babur in 1526, when he defeated Ibrahim Lodi, the last of the Delhi Sultans at the First Battle of Panipat. ... Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar (Persian: جلال الدین محمد اکبر), (alternative spellings include Jellaladin, Celalettin) also known as Akbar the Great (Akbār-e-Azam) (October 15, 1542 – October 27, 1605) was the son of Humayun whom he succeeded to become ruler of the Mughal Empire from 1556 until 1605. ... KALPI, is a town in the Jalaun district of Uttar Pradesh state in India, on the right bank of the Yamuna. ... Stamp issued by India in 1987 shows the the king on horseback. ... Events May 9 - Thomas Blood, disguised as a clergyman, attempts to steal the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London. ... Shivaji and his faithful Maratha comrades The Marāthās is a collective term referring to an Indo Aryan group of Hindu, Marathi-speaking castes of warriors and peasants hailing mostly from the present-day state of Maharashtra, who created a substantial empire, covering a major part of India, in... Events February 23 - First performance of Handels Orlando, in London June 9 - James Oglethorpe is granted a royal charter for the colony of Georgia. ... Map of Jalaun External links | Jalaun Government Website JALAUN, a town and district of British India, in the Allahabac division of the United Provinces. ... Jhansi is a city of Uttar Pradesh state, India. ... The Maratha Empire at its peak in 1760 Statue of the great Baji Rao, near Shaniwar Wada, Pune The Peshwa (also known in Marathi as Peshwe) were Brahmin Prime Ministers to the Maratha Chattrapatis (Kings), who began commanding Maratha armies and later became the hereditary rulers of the Maratha empire... Banda is a city and district of Uttar Pradesh state, India. ...

British rule, 1802-1947

The Marathas ceded parts of Bundelkhand, which were later called later British Bundelkhand, to the British in the 1802 Treaty of Bassein. After 1802, many of the local rulers were granted sanads (leases) by the British, which entitled them to the lands they controlled at the death of Ali Bahadur, in return for the rulers signing a written bond of allegiance (ikrarnama) to the British. A political officer attached to the British forces in Bundelkhand supervised British relations with the sanad states. In 1806 British protection was promised to the Maratha ruler of Jhansi, and in 1817 the British recognized his hereditary rights to Jhansi state. In 1818 the Peshwa in Pune ceded all his rights over Bundelkhand to the British at the conclusion of the Third Anglo-Maratha War. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817 - 1818) was a final and decisive conflict between Britain and the Maratha empire in India, which left Britain in control of most of India. ...

The sanad states were organized into the Bundelkhand Agency in 1811, when a political agent to the Governor-General of India was appointed and headquartered at Banda. In 1818 the headquarters were moved to Kalpi, in 1824 to Hamirpur, and in 1832 back to Banda. The political agent was placed under the authority of the Lieutenant-Governor of the North-Western Provinces, headquartered in Agra, in 1835. In 1849 authority over the Bundelkhand Agency was placed briefly under the Commissioner for the Saugor and Nerbudda Territories, who appointed a political assistant based at Jhansi. Shortly thereafter, authority over Bundelkhand was placed under the Resident at Gwalior, and the headquarters of the political assistant was moved to Nowgong, which remained until 1947. In 1853 the Raja of Jhansi died childless, and his territory was annexed to British Bundelkhand. The Jhansi state and the Jalaun and Chanderi districts were then formed into a superintendency. In 1854 Bundelkhand Agency was placed under the authority of the newly-created Central India Agency, headquartered at Indore. The Governor-General of India (or Governor-General and Viceroy of India) was the head of the British administration in India. ... KALPI, is a town in the Jalaun district of Uttar Pradesh state in India, on the right bank of the Yamuna. ... Hamirpur is one of the fastest emerging districts in Himachal Pradesh, India. ... United Provinces, 1903 The United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, mainly referred to simply as the United Provinces, was a former province of British India, which existed from 1902 to 1947. ... The Saugor and Nerbudda Territories was a region of British India, located in central part of present-day Madhya Pradesh state in central India. ... Jhansi is a city of Uttar Pradesh state, India. ... Gwalior Residency was a political charge in British India, which existed from 1782 until Indian Independence in 1947. ... Naogaon, also called Nowgong, is a city in Madhya Pradesh state, India. ... Map of Jalaun Jalaun District is a district of Uttar Pradesh state of India. ... Chanderi is a town of historical importance in Ashoknagar district of Madhya Pradesh state in India. ... The Central India Agency was a political unit of British India, which covered the northern half of present-day Madhya Pradesh state. ... Indore is the commercial capital of the Malwa region and the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh (MP). ...

The widow of the Raja of Jhansi, Rani Lakshmi Bai, protested the annexation because she was not allowed to adopt an heir, and because the slaughter of cattle was permitted in the Jhansi territory. The Revolt of 1857 found Jhansi ripe for rebellion. In June a few men of the 12th native infantry seized the fort containing the treasure and magazine, and massacred the European officers of the garrison. The Rani put herself at the head of the rebels, and they captured several of the neighboring British districts and princely states allied to the British. She died bravely in battle in Gwalior in 1858. It was not till November 1858 that Jhansi was brought under British control. Equestrian statue of Jhansi ki Rani Rani Lakshmi Bai also known as Jhansi Ki Rani, was the queen of Jhansi, a Maratha-ruled princely state of northern India, was one of the great nationalist heroes of the War of Independence of 1857, and a symbol of resistance to British rule... An engraving titled Sepoy Indian troops dividing the spoils after their mutiny against British rule gives a contemporary view of events from the British perspective. ... Teli-ka-Mandir Fortress of Gwalior Gwalior is a city in Madhya Pradesh, India. ...

After the revolt, Jhansi was given to the Maharaja of Gwalior, but came under British rule in 1886 when it was swapped for Gwalior fort. In 1865 the political assistant was replaced with a political agent. The eastern portion of the Agency was detached to form Bagelkhand agency in 1871. The state of Khaniadhana was transferred to the authority of the Gwalior Resident in 1888, and in 1896 Baraunda, Jaso, and the Chaube jagirs were transferred to Bagelkhand. In 1901 there were 9 states, 13 estates, and the pargana of Alampur belonging to Indore state, with a total area of 9851 sq. mi. and a total population of 1,308,326 in 1901. The most important of the states were Orchha, Panna, Samthar, Charkhari, Chhatarpur, Datia, Bijawar and Ajaigarh. Deforestation accelerated during British rule. The population of the agency decreased 13% between 1891 and 1901 due to the effects of famine. In 1931 Bagelkhand Agency, with the exception of the state of Rewa, was merged into Bundelkhand. Gwalior State was an Indian kingdom ruled by the Sindhia dynasty. ... Bagelkhand (or Bagelkhand) is a region in central India, in northeastern Madhya Pradesh state. ... Khaniadhana is a town in Madhya Pradesh state of central India. ... A Jagir is a small territory granted by a ruler to an army chieftain (called a sardar in Marathi language) in recognition of his military service. ... Indore is the commercial capital of the Malwa region and the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh (MP). ... 1901 (MCMI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Orchha (or Urchha) is a town in Tikamgarh district of Madhya Pradesh state, India. ... Panna is a town in western Madhya Pradesh state of central India. ... Charkhari, covering an area of 745 sq mile and currently a part of Madhya Pradesh state, was one of the Princely states of India during the period of the British Raj. ... Chhatarpur is a city and district in Madhya Pradesh state of India. ... Datia is a city and district in northern Madhya Pradesh state, India. ... Bijawar, covering an area of 2520 sq km and currently a part of Madhya Pradesh state, was one of the Princely states of India during the period of the British Raj. ... [[Image:|thumb|right|300px|The Royal Flag of Ajaygarh]] Ajaigarh, or Adjygurh, is a former princely state of India, in Bundelkhand, under the Central India Agency. ...

Independent India, 1947-present

After Indian independence in 1947, the princely states of Bundelkhand Agency were combined with those of the former Bagelkhand Agency to form the province of Vindhya Pradesh, which became an Indian state in 1950. On November 1, 1956, Vindhya Pradesh was merged into Madhya Pradesh. Famous dacoits like Phoolan Devi and Malkhan Singh once ruled the area. Currently the area is economically and industrially one of the most backward areas in India. Lack of resources, poor communications, and infertile land are some of the reasons for under-development in the region. Bagelkhand (or Bagelkhand) is a region in central India, in northeastern Madhya Pradesh state. ... Vindhya Pradesh is a former state of India. ... India is subdivided into twenty-eight states, six union territories and the National Capital Territory. ... 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... November 1 is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 60 days remaining. ... 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Phoolan Devi Phoolan Devi (फूलन देवी) 10 August 1963 - 25 July 2001), aka The Bandit Queen was an Indian dacoit-turned-politician. ...

A number of local politicians have advocated that the region become its own state. The proposed state includes the districts of Chhatarpur, Damoh, Datia, Panna, Sagar, and Tikamgarh in Madhya Pradesh, and Banda, Chitrakoot, Hamirpur, Jhansi, Jalaun, Lalitpur, and Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh. Chhatarpur District is a district of Madhya Pradesh state of central India. ... Damoh District is a district of Madhya Pradesh state in central India. ... Datia District is a district of Madhya Pradesh state in central India. ... Panna District is a district of Madhya Pradesh state in central India. ... Sagar District is a district of Madhya Pradesh state in central India. ... Tikamgarh District is one of the districts of Madhya Pradesh. ... Banda District is a district of Uttar Pradesh state of India, and Banda is the district headquarters. ... Chitrakoot district is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state of India, and Chitrakoot town is the district headquarters. ... Hamirpur district is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state of India. ... Jhansi District is one a district of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. ... Map of Jalaun Jalaun District is a district of Uttar Pradesh state of India. ... Lalitpur district is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state of India. ... Mahoba district is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state of India. ... Uttar Pradesh (Hindi: उत्तर प्रदेश, Urdu: اتر پردیش), also popularly known by its abbreviation UP, is the most populous and fifth largest state in the Union of India. ...

External links

• Bundelkhand Home Page (About Bundelkhand)
• Check dam project in Bundelkhand (Development Alternatives)

References

• Hunter, William Wilson, Sir, et al (1908). Imperial Gazetteer of India, Volume 12. 1908-1931; Clarendon Press, Oxford.

This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain. Encyclopædia Britannica, the 11th edition The Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition (1910–1911) is perhaps the most famous edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica. ... The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ...