FACTS
& FIGURES
Area : 5 sq km
Population : 553 (1991)
Altitude : 211 m above sea level
Languages : Hindi and English
Best time to visit : September to May
STD Code : 02904
LOCATION
Deogarh is situated in the north Indian state of Uttar
Pradesh at a distance of around 235 km off Gwalior and
123 km off Jhansi. Located on the banks of River Betwa,
the place has a picturesque landscape. The place is
well connected by road and rail networks to other parts
of the region.
CLIMATE
Deogarh has an extreme climate with
hot and humid summer and cold winter. The temperature
in the summer months hovers around 40°C while in
the winters it can come down to below 10°C. Monsoon
arrives around July and continues till mid-September.
The best time to visit this place is from September
to May.
PAST
Deogarh (literally, the Fort of the
Gods) is situated on the right bank of the Betwa River
at the western end of the Lalitpur range of hills. Due
to its strategic location on the main route to Deccan
from Delhi, Deogarh was a bone of contention for several
empires starting from the Guptas to the British. The
first written evidence about Deogarh has been in the
literature of the Gupta age. In the later phase, Deogarh
finds mention in the history of Gujarat Pratiharas and
Gondas. The place remained a cause of disagreement even
in the times of Muslims, Marathas, and British.
SITES TO VISIT
Dashavatar Temple is a fine architectural extravaganza
dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is the earliest known Panchyatan
temple in north India. The terraced basement above the
high plinth is decorated with sculpted panels. The figures
of Ganga and Yamuna adorn the carved doorway leading
to the sanctum sanctorum. Three large carved panels
along the sidewalls-the Gajendramoksha panel, the Narnarayan
Tapasya, and the Anantshayi Vishnu-depict scenes from
Vaishnava mythology. However, only the lower portion
of the spire remains today.
Of somewhat later in origin than the Vishnu temple,
but no less remarkable, are the 31 Jain temples here.
They are situated inside the Karnali Fort on the hills
overlooking the Betwa. The site was a Jain center from
the sixth to the 17th century. The temples abound in
panels depicting scenes from Jain mythology, Tirthankara
images, votive pillars, votive tablets, Jain images
visible from all sides, and pillars carved with a thousand
Jain figures.
The Deogarh Archeological Museum has a fine collection
of sculpture, discovered from the nearby areas.
SITES NEARBY
Chanderi, in Madhya Pradesh, is famous
for its gossamer-like saris. It also has fine examples
of Rajput and Sultanate architecture. A magnificent
Mughal fort dominates the skyline. Among the interesting
sites are the Koshak Mahal, the Badal Mahal, the Jama
Masjid, and several ancient Jain temples.
Barua Sagar is named after the Barua Sagar Tal, a large
lake created about 260 years ago when Raja Udit Singh
of Orchha built the embankment. The Barua Sagar Fort,
picturesquely located at a height, commands an excellent
view of the lake and surrounding landscape. The town
is situated on the road to Khajuraho from Jhansi.
Orchha is a 16th-century city in Madhya Pradesh located
on the banks of the Betwa River. The temples and palaces
here are fine examples of Bundela architecture.
Other interesting excursions include Matatila Dam,
Tal Behat, and Lalitpur.
 WHERE
TO STAY
There are not many places in Deogarh that can provide
good accommodation. UP Tourism has its tourist bungalow
in Deogarh that provides accommodation as well restaurant
facilities to its guests. The Jain Dharmshala provides
simple but quality accommodation to its guests.
HOW TO REACH
By Air
The nearest airport is Gwalior around 235 km
from Deogarh. There are flights to Delhi, Indore, and
Mumbai from Gwalior.
By Rail
The nearest railway stations are Jakhlaun (13
km) and Lalitpur (23 km). Jakhlaun can be reached by
the Jhansi-Babina passenger train. However, Lalitpur
is a better option as it is connected to Delhi, Chennai,
Hyderabad, Bhopal, Mumbai, and Agra by several express
trains.
By Road
Deogarh is linked by bus to several important
centers in the region. The distances of some of the
important centers from Deogarh are: Lalitpur, 23 km;
Matatila Dam, 93 km; and Jhansi, 123 km.
Local Transport
Buses, jeeps, rickshaws, and taxis are the
most convenient means of local transport in Deogarh.
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