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Pleasure resort and
capital of the Gond Kings during the 12th century, Jabalpur was later
the seat of the Kalchuri dynasty. The Marathas held sway over Jabalpur
until 1817, when the British wrested it from them and left their
impression on the spacious cantonment with its colonial residences and
barracks. Today Jabalpur is an important administrative centre, abustle
with commercial activity.
The original settlement
in this area was ancient Tripuri and the rulers of this city, the
Hayahaya, are mentioned in the Mahabharata. It passed successively into
Mauryan and then Gupta control until, in 875 AD, it was taken by the
Kalchuri rulers. In the 13th century it was overrun by the Gonds and by
the early 16th century it had became the powerful state of Gondwana.
Though besieged by Mughal armies from time to time, Gondwana survived
until 1789 when it was conquered by the Marathas. Their rule was
unpopular, due largely to the increased activities of the thuggees who
were ritual murderers and bandits. The Marathas were defeated in 1817
and the thuggees subdued by the British who developed the town in the
mid 19th century.
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