Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh

Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh Ambikapur
city
Population  (2001)
• Total	65,999

Ambikapur is a small census town in the Surguja district of the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. It is the District headquarters of Surguja district, the largest district of Chhattisgarh. It was the capital of Surguja state before Indian independence. The name of the town is derived from the name of its earlier ruler Ambikeshwar Sharan Singh Deo.

Geography

Ambikapur is located at 23°12′N 83°2′E. It has an average elevation of 603 metres (1978 feet).

The district of Surguja is spread over an area of 22,237 km², and is rich in forests. Most of the terrain of the district is forested and hilly. Major tourist areas near Ambikapur are Mainpat (Mainpat is called as Hill station of Surguja, is a charming hill station situated in Sarguja District of Chhattisgarh.Major tourist attractions include the Tiger Point Waterfall and the delightful Buddha Temple), Ramgarh in Surajpur Distt., Kudargarh in Surajpur Distt.,, Patal Bhairav Mandir,Bhaiyathan in Surajpur Distt., Dipadih (Ancient Sculptors), Rakasganda, Sitabengara, Tattapani (Hot water spring) and Semarsot, kailash gufaa (shivling in a cave and a big water fall)

Natural resources include coal under Surajpur Distt., bauxite, forest products and paddy crops.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Ambikapur had a population of 65,999. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Ambikapur has an average literacy rate of 76%, higher than the national average of 59.4%; with 56% of the males and 44% of females literate. 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Ambikapur is inhabited by people from all over the country. Moderate weather and a serene environment make it an ideal place for settlement. Unlike the capital town, major district population comprises aboriginal population. Among these indigenous tribes are the Pandos and Korwas, who are still living in rural areas.

The place has a large number of migrant Tibetans, who took refuge in India after the Chinese annexation of Tibet in 1959.

Transport

Via train

Jabalpur - Ambikapur Express,Ambikapur - Shahdol, Ambikapur - Surajpur - Anuppur - Bilaspur -Raipur- Durg Express and Bhopal - Chirmiri Passenger are the primary express trains from major cities Bhopal, Gwalior, Katni, Raipur and Jabalpur that connect to Ambikapur directly. Anuppur, a bordering town in Madhya Pradesh is the most convenient transit point to reach Ambikapur from Delhi.One can avail the Shahdol-Ambikapur passenger at 14:00 hrs from the Anuppur station,it reaches Ambikapur at 19:00 hrs( a journey of 4-5 hrs, but one can enjoy the scenic beauty along the way especially in winters and monsoon). Train links to Ambikapur are :

• Jabalpur - Ambikapur Express between Jabalpur and Ambikapur Tri Weekly via. Katni

Ambikapur - Durg Daily* Bhopal - Chirmiri Express.

Alternatively, bus services from Anuppur to Ambikapur via Manendragarh and Surajpur can be used. Alternate railway connecting stations are Bilaspur and Katni. The bus journey from Bilaspur will take around 5 to 6 hours and from Anuppur it will take around 5 to 6 hours. The other bus stand from where there are bus services available for Ambikapur are Renukoot in U.P (170 km), Raipur (345 km) and Gadhwa road in Jhaarkhand (160 km).

Via flight

Ambikapur is well connected with Raipur airport. Daily trains/ Busses are available from/ To ambikapur. The Nearest airport near Ambikapur is Raipur (Capital of Chhattisgarh). One can take flights from Delhi for Raipur and use the connecting bus or train service directly from Raipur (Durg - Ambikapur Express is the best train to reach Ambikapur). Flights available for Raipur are on Indian Airlines, Kingfisher Airlines, Air India, Indigo Airlines and Alliance Air airlines.

Education

The town has a Post Graduation College, a Women's College, an agriculture college, a Polytechnic college and several public schools. IT education institutes are also established here. Recently a Sainik school (23rd in India) was started in Ambikapur. With the establishment of a central University in Bilaspur the procedure for opening a new university based Ambikapur is underway. Holy Cross Women College is the largest residential academic institute in Chhattisgarh. Ambikapur's PG college is also one of the largest in country in terms of number of students studying.Many of the students from Ambikapur have been doing very well in engineering and medical fields.

Recent developments

Recently Ambikapur was connected by rail line to Bilaspur, Raipur and Durg. In the recent assembly elections(2008) Ambikapur became a delimited assembly constituency, after many years it was open for all categories as compared to its S.T. reserved status in the earlier elections. Ambikapur assembly segment was seen as an important battle of crucial symbolic value between the Congress and the Bhartiya Janta Party.

Famous Personality

File:Ram kumar verma.jpg

Shri RAM KUMAR VERMA

Shri Ram Kumar Vermais a writer, satirist and poet, awarded by President and Prime Minister of India. Currently he lives in Ambikapur surgujaChhattisgarh. His father is Avadhesh Kumar Verma and his mother is Chand Vanshi Verma. His wife is Kaushlya Verma, with who he has two sons: Vishal Verma and Vaibhav Verma. Verma's works were published in various local and national newspapers and magazines. He was given an appreciation letter from President of India 4 times and from Prime Minister of India 15 times and all approx overall Governor, chief minister in every state and all cabinet minister of India. He also won Sahitya Ratan. He is a state secratory of Chhattisgarh Hindi Sahitya Parisad. . For more detail in english language click here , For more detail in Hindi language click here

Different Colonies

• sadar road
• Babupara
• Gudari Bazar
• Gandhinagar
• Deviganj Road
• Dutta Colony
• Rawat Residency
• Vasundhara Colony
• Gupta Market
• Kedarpur
• Sattipara
• Rajendra Nagar Colony
• Darripara
• Mayapur
• Fundurdihari
• Bouripara
• Chopra Colony
• B.T.I. colony
• Namna kala
• Thangan Para
• Godhanpur
• School Road
• Parradand or Mominpura