On the upper reaches of the Narmada River at about 308 km from the capital city of Bhopal lies the city of Jabalpur, the heart of the Indian tribal belt. As one approaches the city, the varied tinted marble rocks on both banks of the Narmada offer a fascinating sight.

The name Jabalpur is believed to have been derived from a saint named Jabali Pattanam or Jabal. Archaeological excavations show that the city has a 4,000-year-old history. It is believed that during the time of Mahabharata, a Hayahaya king ruled the area. Later it passed on to the Mauryan Empire and then to the Gupta Empire. In AD 875, Jabalpur was conquered by the Kalchuris who made it the capital of their new kingdom. During the 12th century, the Gonds took over and by the early 16th century, Jabalpur and its surrounding areas became the powerful kingdom of Gondwana. Jabalpur was taken over the British in 1817 who made it the commission headquarters of the Narmada territories and established a cantonment here.

The summers in Jabalpur are hot and humid. Monsoon starts in June and lasts till September. Winters are quite pleasant and are the best times to visit this place.

Jabalpur is a beautiful place to visit. The splendid environs provide an excellent retreat from the busy life of the metropolitans. The wonderful marble rocks that dot both sides of the Narmada River provide a scenic locale for an evening walk. A visit to wildlife parks nearby makes you familiar with the region’s fauna. The forts present the history of the city through the ages. Some of the interesting places to visit in Jabalpur are Madan Mahal Fort, Sangram Sagar, Rani Durgavati Museum, Marble Rocks, Tilwara Ghat, and Mala Devi Temple.

From Jabalpur one can go on daylong trips to Roopnath, Bilhari, Nohta, Mandla, Ramnagar, Rookhad, Pench National Park and National Park of Fossils. Mandla (95 km) was the capital of the ancient Gond kingdom of Garha-Mandla. A 17th-century fort surrounded on three sides by the Narmada River is the main attraction here. Roopnath (84 km) is the site of a Shiva lingam while Bilhari has archaeological ruins of a bygone era. Nohta village, 81 km from Jabalpur, was the capital city of the Chandela kings in the 12th century. Rookhad and Pench National Parks are known for their wildlife while the National Park of Fossils houses plant fossils.