Overview
Rewa district is an administrative district in the Vindhya Pradesh region of the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. The town of Rewa serves as the district headquarters and as the divisional headquarters of Rewa Division. The district lies on the Rewa Plateau, a part of the larger Vindhyan upland, and is drained chiefly by the Tons (Tamsa) river and its tributaries such as the Bichhiya and the Beehar.
Key facts
| State | Madhya Pradesh |
|---|---|
| Division | Rewa |
| Headquarters | Rewa |
| Region | Vindhya Pradesh / Baghelkhand |
| Major rivers | Tons, Beehar, Bichhiya |
| Country | India |
Geography
The district occupies the northern edge of the Rewa Plateau, with the land sloping gently northwards towards the Ganga plains. The southern parts touch the Kaimur range and feature scarps and waterfalls, including the well-known Purwa Falls on the Tons river and Chachai and Keoti falls on tributary streams. Sandstone, limestone and shale of the Vindhyan Supergroup underlie much of the terrain, and the area is known for high-grade limestone deposits used by the cement industry.
History
The territory of present-day Rewa district formed the core of the princely state of Rewa, ruled by the Baghela Rajputs, which was the largest of the Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand states under the British paramountcy. After India's independence in 1947, the state acceded to the Indian Union and was integrated into the new state of Vindhya Pradesh in 1948. With the reorganisation of states in 1956, Vindhya Pradesh was merged into Madhya Pradesh, and Rewa became one of its districts.
The district has historically been associated with the white tiger; Mohan, the male white tiger from whom most captive white tigers in the world descend, was captured in the forests of the erstwhile Rewa state in the 1950s under the Maharaja Martand Singh.
Administration
Rewa district is divided into a number of tahsils and community development blocks, with subdivisions headquartered at towns such as Rewa, Mauganj, Sirmour, Teonthar and Hanumana. In 2024, the Mauganj area was carved out of Rewa district to form the new Mauganj district, reducing the territorial extent of Rewa district. The district forms part of the Rewa Lok Sabha constituency for elections to the Indian Parliament.
Economy
The economy is predominantly agricultural, with paddy, wheat, pulses and oilseeds being the main crops. The Bansagar Dam project on the Sone river benefits parts of the district through irrigation. Limestone-based industries, particularly cement manufacturing, are significant in the district, and there are coal-bearing tracts in adjoining areas. Solar power has emerged as an important sector with the establishment of the Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Park, one of India's largest solar installations, located in the district.
Education and culture
Awadhesh Pratap Singh University, established in 1968 at Rewa, is the principal university of the region and serves the Vindhya area. The local culture is part of the Baghelkhand cultural zone, and Bagheli is the predominant spoken dialect alongside Hindi. Notable cultural and religious sites in the district include the Govindgarh palace and lake, Deur Kothar Buddhist stupas, and several temples and forts associated with the Baghela rulers.
Demographics
According to the 2011 Census of India, Rewa district was among the more populous districts of Madhya Pradesh. The population is largely rural, with significant Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities, the latter including Kol, Gond and other groups. Hindi and Bagheli are the principal languages.
Related topics
- Rewa
- Rewa division
- Rewa State
- Madhya Pradesh
- Baghelkhand
- Mauganj district
- Awadhesh Pratap Singh University
- Rewa Ultra Mega Solar
- Bansagar Dam
References
- Wikidata: Q526862
- Government of Madhya Pradesh, District portal: Rewa
- Census of India, 2011 — District Census Handbook, Rewa