Jabalpur is an ancient city located on the shores of river Narmada in Madhya Pradesh. An industrial city, Jabalpur is now gaining popularity as a tourist destination because of its splendid ghats, the 98-foot high Dhuandhar waterfall, marble art, and historical and cultural structures.
The Bhedaghat-Marble Rocks and Dhuandhar Falls are the most prominent tourist attractions in Jabalpur. Apart from this, the 17th-century Madan Mahal Fort situated near Narmada river and the famous Chausath Yogini Temple located near Roopnath are must-visits. Besides them, Balancing Rock is another site which is a must-see for tourists in Jabalpur.
A bustling city with modern amenities, it is home to varied working-class people and some British architecture along with beautiful natural landscapes. Kanha National Park and Bandhavgarh National Park are also nearby making Jabalpur a central location to visit these wildlife locations.
Places to Visit
Dhuandhar Falls
Dhuandhar falls are located in the Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh. The beautiful falls cascade down for 30 m and are also one of the most visited tourist attractions in Jabalpur. The river Narmada flows through the famous marble-like falls, narrows down and plunges into a waterfall so forcefully that it creates a bouncing mass of mist and results into the Dhuandhar falls. The plunges are so powerful that its uproar can be heard from a far-off distance.
Viewing platforms have been constructed along the side to facilitate proper views. Make sure that you do not cross these railings. There lies a bed of white and grey marble rocks below the water that further enhances the whitish colour of the waterfall. The view is spectacular and the surroundings are always chock-full with tourists wanting to get a glimpse of the falls.
Boat Ride to Bhedaghat
From Panchvati Ghat to Bhedaghat, one can enjoy riding on a motorboat from morning 7am to 7pm on a 22km path. The whole way is very picturesque.
Sea World Water Park
Only water park in Jabalpur, this is a fun water park for children and teenagers. The fees are around Rs.100 per person and the timings are around midday to 5pm.
Bhedaghat Marble Rocks
Situated 25 km away from the main city of Jabalpur on the banks of Narmada river, the marble rocks at Bhedaghat rises to a height of a hundred feet and spread across 25 kms. These marble stones reflect sunlight and cast shadows on the pristine water of Narmada, creating a serene and spellbinding environment. These marble like magnesium limestone rocks cast different colours in different lights and look especially beautiful in the moonlight.
This area can be reached by taking a motorboat from the jetty at Panchvati Ghat (Rs. 30 per head) and it’s a 50 minutes ride along the river Narmada. One can reach Bhedaghat by road by hiring a taxi from Jabalpur and it will take just 30-40 minutes to reach here. Government buses and shared auto-rickshaws are also available from Jabalpur to take you to Bhedaghat.
Madan Mahal Fort
Prettily nestled on the top of a rocky hill, the Madan Mahal Fort was built by Gond ruler, Raja Madan Shah in the year 1116 AD. This fort dominates the skyline and provides a panoramic view of the town and the countryside around it.
Treasure Island
Located in Bhim Nagar, this mall is one of the most famous malls in Jabalpur and it caters to all kinds of shopping needs.
Cable Car across Dhuandhar Falls
To get from one side to another, there is a cable car which takes around Rs. 60 for a return trip. This ropeway gives a magnanimous view of this magnificent waterfalls.
Balancing Rock
The Balancing Rock formations of Jabalpur, which are basically eroded volcanic rock formations have also survived earthquakes of magnitude up to 6.5 on Richter scale. It is believed by the local people that nothing can disrupt the balance of these rocks.
Chausath Yogini Temple
Located an hour’s drive away from Jabalpur, history has to offer one of its oldest religious sites – the Chausath Yogini Temple near Bhedaghat region. Chausath translates to sixty-four in English and the name has a direct relation to the structure of the temple. There are exactly 64 carved figures of Yoginis, each one in her own designated shrine, skirting the inner wall of the circular premises of the temple. As a bonus, the panoramic view of the mighty Narmada from the high open courtyard presents to you a lovely scene to be captured in the camera as well as to be remembered in the mind.
Built by the Kalachuri dynasty way back in the 10th century, Chausath Yogini has seen powers rise and fall uncountable times. However, some of them were not so good for the temple, as its construction suffered severe blows from Muslim rulers in later centuries who were determined to wipe away any reminiscence of Hinduism. However, this temple has stood the test of time and religious hatred and is now a favourite historical retreat for travellers.
Once you climb the 150-something stairs up to the central area, you get a prolific idea of 10th-century central Indian architecture as well the significance of Yoga tantric beliefs. This is also the only place where you will find the grandest couple of Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva and his consort Goddess Parvati riding the symbolic Nandi Bull. The idols of Shiv-Parvati stand in the Gauri-Shankar temple in the centre which is believed to be built at a later time than the original temple with Yoginis.
Shopping In Jabalpur
Marble stone statues and souvenirs can be bought from Bhedaghat or some other souvenir shops inside the city. Otherwise Jabalpur is a modern city and there are multiple malls across the city to cater to all kinds of shopping needs.
Must Try Food in Jabalpur
1. Clock Tower Chinese Restaurant
2. Panchvati Gaurav
3. Wok N More
4. RH Chicken Point
5. Asanzo
6. Best Choice
7. Kamling Chinese Restaurant
8. Arq – The Courtyard
9. Lazeez Lawn & Restaurant
10. Indian Coffee House
How To Get Here
Jabalpur has its own airport and frequent flights are available from all major cities of India. Jabalpur also has a railway station which lies on very prominent rail routes, thereby connecting it to almost all parts of the country with superfast trains. Road connectivity is good too and one can easily take a bus or a cab from nearby places to reach here. The National Highway NH7 passes through here which connects Varanasi to Kanyakumari. NH12 also connects Jabalpur to Jaipur and other towns in the route.
By Air
Traveling via the Dumna Airport is the fastest way to reach the city. Jabalpur is well connected to Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Pune, Nagpur, Bhopal, and Indore by a number of regular flights from various carriers.
Nearest Airport: Jabalpur Airport (JLR)
By Road
National Highway No. 7 connects Jabalpur to cities like Varanasi, Nagpur, Bhopal, Jaipur, Raipur, Allahabad, Hyderabad and others. There are bus services from several cities in and around Madhya Pradesh.
By Train
Jabalpur has regular express and superfast trains from major cities of the country. One can opt for any of the 5 stations near to the city- Jabalpur Junction, Madan Mahal, Deori, Adhartal or Jamtara Paraswara.