Maihar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maihar
Mai Ka Har
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City
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Maa Sharda Mandir, Maihar
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 Maihar
Location in Madhya Pradesh
Maihar
Location in India
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| Country |  India |
| State | Madhya Pradesh |
| Region | Baghelkhand |
| District | Maihar |
| Elevation | 367 m (1,204 ft) |
| Population
(2023)
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| • Total | 54,000 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Hindi |
| • Local | Bagheli |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| Pin Code |
485771
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| Telephone | 07674 |
| Vehicle registration | MP-19 |
Maihar is a city in the Maihar district of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is the main administrative center for the Maihar District. The city is famous for the Maa Sharda Mandir, a very important temple. This temple is considered one of the Shakti Peeths, which are special holy places for worshipping the Mother Goddess.
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What's in the Name Maihar?
The name "Maihar" has a special meaning. It is believed that when Lord Shiva was carrying the body of the dead Mother Goddess Sati, her necklace (called har in Hindi) fell at this spot. Since "Mai" means "mother" in Hindi, the place became known as "Maihar," meaning "the necklace of the mother."
There's also a fascinating story about Maihar connected to two famous warriors, Alha and his brother Udal. These warriors served King Paramardideva Chandel. They were very devoted followers of Sharda Devi. Local stories say they were the first to visit the goddess in this faraway forest. They called her "Sharda Mai," and that's how she became known as "Mata Sharda Mai." It's said that Alha prayed for 12 years and received special blessings from Sharda Devi.
Behind the temple, there's a pond called Alha Pond. About 2 kilometers from this pond, there's an "akhara" (a wrestling ring) where Alha and Udal used to practice kushti (wrestling). Many people in Maihar believe that Alha is still alive. They say he comes at 4:00 AM every day to worship Goddess Sharda. This amazing belief has even been shown on television news channels!
A Look at Maihar's History
Maihar has a very old history, going back to the Paleolithic Age (Stone Age). The town used to be the capital of the princely state of Maihar. This state was started in 1778 by the Jogis clan. They were given land by the ruler of the nearby state of Orchha.
In the early 1800s, Maihar became a princely state under British India. It was first part of the Bundelkhand Agency. Later, in 1871, it moved to the new agency of Bagelkhand. In 1933, Maihar returned to the Bundelkhand Agency. The ruler of Maihar was called "Raja."
In 1901, the state covered about 407 square miles (1,054 square kilometers) and had a population of 63,702 people. The Tamsa River flowed through the state, making its soil fertile. A large part of the state was covered by forests, which provided goods for trade. Maihar faced a severe famine in 1896–1897.
Maihar became a stop on the East Indian Railway line (now part of the West Central Railway). It is about 97 miles (156 kilometers) north of Jabalpur. Around the town, you can find many old ruins of shrines and buildings.
Places to Visit in Maihar
Maihar is home to several interesting places, especially temples.
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Night view of Maa Sharda Mandir from a local market.
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Pond of Alha and Udal near Maa Sharda temple Maihar.
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Alha Dev temple near Maa Sharda temple Maihar.
Maa Sharda Mandir
The most famous spot is the Maa Sharda Mandir. This temple, built around 502 CE, sits on top of Trikut hill. It's about 5 kilometers from the railway station. To reach the top, you can climb 1,063 steps. There is also a ropeway, which makes it easier for visitors to go up.
Ustad Allauddin Khan Maqbara
This is the resting place of Padma Vibhushan "Sarod Samrat" Ustad Allauddin Khan. He was a very famous musician who chose Maihar as his home. He started the Maihar Gharana, a special style of music, here. He wished to be buried in Maihar.
Other Temples in Maihar
- Golamath Temple: This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It was built in the Nagara style during the Kalchuri period (10th–11th century CE). People say it was built in just two weeks!
- Oila Temple: This temple was started by Neelkanth Maharaj. It is believed that visiting this temple can make your wishes come true. It is located on Satna Road.
- Badi Mai Temple: This is one of the oldest temples in the area. You can find it on Satna Road in Maihar.
- Bada Akhada: This temple is on Deviji Road in Maihar. There is also a Sanskrit school on its campus.
- Icchapurti Temple: This temple is located inside the KJS Cement Factory campus on Rewa Road.
Maihar's Location and Weather
Maihar is located at about 24.27 degrees North latitude and 80.75 degrees East longitude. It is about 367 meters (1,204 feet) above sea level. The area usually gets a moderate amount of rain, mostly in July and August.
Who Lives in Maihar?
The Maihar Municipality is divided into 18 areas called wards. Elections are held every five years for these wards. According to the 2011 Census of India, Maihar had a population of 40,192 people. Of these, 21,031 were males and 19,161 were females.
About 13% of the population (5,238 children) were aged 0-6 years. For every 1,000 males, there were 911 females in Maihar. This is a bit lower than the state average of 931. The child sex ratio in Maihar was about 875 girls for every 1,000 boys.
The city of Maihar has a high literacy rate of 81.99%. This is higher than the state average of 69.32%. About 87.82% of males can read and write, while 75.62% of females can.
Religions in Maihar
Most people in Maihar follow Hinduism, making up about 81% of the population. Islam is the second largest religion, followed by about 17% of the people. There are also a small number of Jains, about 0.23%.
Schools and Colleges in Maihar
Maihar has many schools for children. There are over 35 schools that teach in both Hindi and English.
Schools
- Maharishi Vidya Mandir
- Santhome Senior Secondary School
- Central Academy English Medium School
- Sarla Higher Secondary School
- Gyan Vihar Vidyapeeth School
- Simran Public Higher Secondary School
- Guru Nanak Mission Higher Secondary School
- Gurukul Convent Academy School
- Maa Sharda Devi Mandir Public School (MSDM)
- Miniland Academy
Colleges
Maihar also has colleges for higher education:
- Swami Vivekananda College
- Sharda Mahavidyalya Sarlanagar
- SSICAIT College, Maihar
Getting Around Maihar
Maihar is well-connected, making it easy to reach. It has both major train routes and is on National Highway 7.
The Mahakoshal Express train offers a direct daily connection from Delhi's Hazrat Nizamuddin station. This train runs between Hazrat Nizamuddin station and Jabalpur station, which is about 722 kilometers (449 miles) past Maihar. The Maihar railway station is located between Katni and Satna stations on the West Central Railway line.
During the Nav Ratra festivals, many pilgrims visit Maihar. Because of this, all trains stop at Maihar during these days to help passengers. The closest airports are Jabalpur and Khajuraho. Bus services are also available in the city, with active road networks.
Maihar's Economy
Maihar is becoming an industrial town because there is a lot of limestone in the area. Limestone is used to make cement.
There is a large cement factory near Maihar called Maihar Cement Factory. It can produce 3.1 million tons of cement. The factory and its town are about 8 kilometers (5 miles) from Maihar city. KJS Cement is another big cement industry located on Rewa Road. In 2014, Reliance opened its first cement plant near Maihar. However, due to financial issues, the M.P. Birla Group took it over in 2016.
Most people in Maihar work in agriculture. Many families depend on farming as their main way to earn money.
Maihar's Culture and Music
Maihar holds a special place in Indian classical music. It is known as the birthplace of the Maihar Gharana, which is a unique style or school of Hindustani music.
One of the greatest Indian classical musicians, Ustad Allauddin Khan (who passed away in 1972), lived in Maihar for a long time. He was the court musician for the Raja of Maihar's palace. His students helped make this music style famous in the 20th century. Some of his well-known students include Pandit Ravi Shankar and Nikhil Banerjee.
The first Ustad Allauddin Khan music conference was held in 1962. Every year, Maihar hosts a 2 or 3-day cultural event in February to remember Ustad Allauddin Khan and celebrate his music.
See also
In Spanish: Maihar para niños
