The District Profile – Bastar
1. Brief overview of the District
Bastar district is located in south-western part of the state of Chhattisgarh, a central state in
India. The district headquarters is located at Jagdalpur. The district has an area of 4,030.3 square
kilometers. The district is bounded on the north by Kondagaon district, on the east by Koraput
district of Orissa, in the south by Dantewada district and on the west by Narayanpur district.
Bastar was one of the 16 districts of Madhya Pradesh earlier. After the formation of the new
state in 1999, the district was divided into present day districts - Bastar, Dantewada and Kanker.
In January 2012 the existing Bastar district was further split. A separate Kondagaon district
was formed. Bastar now comprises the seven development blocks namely Jagdalpur, Bastar,
Bakawand, Lohandiguda, Tokapal, Bastanar and Darbha. There are about 618 villages, 317 Gram
Panchayats and 164 patwari circles.
2. History
The ancient history of Bastar district is obscure. According to the
Puranas
Bastar is a part of
the Dandakaranya region of the kingdom of “Dandak-Janpad”. From the 4
th
century onwards
there are evidences that Nala, Trikuta, Vakatakas and rulers of Sharabpuri ruled Bastar and its
adjoining areas. These dynasties were engaged in intermittent battles and skirmishes for the
control of the area and therefore the rulers of these dynasties ruled Bastar for short periods.
From 400 AD to 700 AD Nala dynasty ruled over the area. The area, thereafter, passed into the
control of the Ganga Dynasty. The Kings of Ganga Dynasty had Barsur as their capital and the
antique remains at Barsur proclaim its glorious past. The Bastar region came under the reign of
Naga dynasty known as Chhindaka Nagas of Chakrakot.
This Kingdom subsequently formed
part of the Warangal Kingdom of the Kakatiya dynasty.
A number of inscriptions belonging
to this ruling family have been discovered in Bastar region. As the imperial Gazetteer of India
shows the eastern Chalukyas of Godavari region ruled the post Naga Chakrakot. From the 13th
century onwards Raja Annam Dev and his lineage ruled Bastar. Lala Jagdalpuri, a historian, in
his book "Bastar: History and Culture" mentions about 19 descendants of King Annam Dev till
Pravir Chandra Bhanj Dev who was shot dead in 1966.
In 1948, Bastar state was merged with the
Indian Union.
3. Climate
There are three distinct seasons observed here summer (April - June), Monsoon (July – Sep.) and
winter (Oct - March). In summer the temperature is very high. It soars up to 40 degrees Celsius
and in winter drops to 11 degrees Celsius. The atmospheric condition is moderate and is good for
agricultural and silvi-cultural practices. Average rainfall is 1359 m. (annexure – 1)
4. Rivers
The largest and the most important river in Bastar district is the Indravati which has numerous
tributaries, the largest being the Pamer Chinta. The Indravati River originates from Rampur
Thuamul in the Orissa state and flows through the Bastar division for about 400 Kms. and finally
merges into the Godavari at Bhadrakali in Dantewada district.
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