Anuppur: Temples, springs and nature

At Narmada Mandir in Amarkantak, a sacred kund is located at the source of the Narmada River. Anuppur also offers temples with diverse religious and architectural connections, springs, trekking and outdoor village experiences.

Temples, worship and history

The grounds of Narmada Mandir include about twenty smaller temples. Historical references date the construction of Narmada Mandir to the Kalachuri period around the 12th century; however, there is no specific evidence for when it was built. A description of Narmada Temple mentions an evening aarti ceremony. Amarkantak Nagar also hosts an eight-day fair on the occasion of Mahashivaratri.

The Shree Sarvodaya Jain Temple in Amarkantak houses a 24-tonne Ashtadhatu statue of the first Tirthankara, Lord Adinath. The Shree Yantra Temple reflects a different religious and architectural tradition: it is built as a three-dimensional projection of the Sri Yantra, or Sri Chakra, the core of Sri Vidya worship in Hinduism. At the entrance stands a large sculpture with four heads representing Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kali and Bhuvaneshwari.

Karan Temple is also located in Amarkantak, in Anuppur. Jwaleshwar Temple, another religious attraction, lies 8 km from Amarkantak. In Silhara, Anuppur, caves with inscriptions dating to the 1st century AD offer an archaeological point of interest. Together, these places showcase different aspects of religious architecture and history.

Springs and nature

Mai ki Bagiya, also called Charanotdak Kund, lies about 1 km east of Narmada Mandir and is known for its natural beauty. Sonmuda is considered the source of the Narmada tributary Sonbhadra: there, the two pools Sona and Bhadra converge, and the river begins. The Sonbhadra Waterfall is also located at Sonmuda, and its height is given as 300 feet.

The Amarkantak region in Anuppur is also known for its diversity of flora and fauna and is considered a biodiversity hotspot. The hills and forests around Amarkantak are suitable for trekking, making outdoor exercise and nature observation other interests to combine with temple visits.

Trekking around Amarkantak

The roads in Amarkantak within a 3 km radius are excellent trekking routes. Bhrigumandal is a different option: it lies about 3 km from Amarkantak and can be reached via a difficult forest trekking trail. The information describes two different things—the radius around Amarkantak for the roads, and the approximate distance to Bhrigumandal and the difficulty of the trail. If you are considering both options, keep this distinction in mind when planning.

Umargohan: lake and village experiences

Umargohan is a tribal village in Anuppur district, surrounded by hills and waterfalls. The village has a quiet lake. Activities there include boating on the lake for families and groups, as well as fishing. Cycling and walks in the surrounding forest are also options. Before your visit, check whether your preferred activities are currently available.

If the Mahashivaratri fair is the main reason for your visit, check the event dates before planning around it.

Discover more destinations: Kothi, Amarkantak, Anuppur, Bhopal, Katni, Dhar, Guna, Sehore.

For the main travel overview: Madhya Pradesh.