World Water Day--2011

                                       Today, on the 22nd March we are celebrating the World Water Day, as a means of focusing attention on the importance of fresh water. The objective of World Water Day 2011 is to focus international attention on the impact of rapid urban population growth, industrialization and uncertainties caused by climate change, conflicts and natural disasters on urban water systems. 
                                       Coping with the growing needs of water and sanitation services within cities is one of the most pressing issues of this century. Sustainable, efficient and equitable urban water management has never been as important as in today’s world.  
                                        Here are some facts and Figures---
 * Every second, the urban population grows by 2 people.
 * 5 million city residents are joining the urban population in the developing 
    world each month.
 * 95% of the urban population growth in the next decades will take place 
    in the developing world.
 * in Africa and Asia the urban population will double between 2000 and 2030.
 * 827.6 million people live in informal settlements, often lacking adequate 
    drinking water and sanitation facilities.
 * 27% of the urban population in the developing world does not have piped water 
    at home.
 * 250-500 m³ of drinking water leaks from the supply systems in many 
    mega cities each year.
 * 493 million people in cities share their sanitation facilities. 
    in 1990 this number was 259 million.
 * One in four city residents worldwide – 794 million in total – live without 
    access to improved sanitation facilities.
 * A lack of safe water and sanitation in cities leads to cholera, malaria 
    and diarrhoea.
 * The poor pay more. Someone living in an informal settlement in Nairobi pays 
    5 to 7 times more for a litre of water than an average North American citizen.
                                  LET US SAVE WATER

Bhedaghat-The Water Falls (Dhuandhar)

                                          The Narmada, making its way through the Marble Rocks narrows down and then plunges in a waterfall known as Dhuandhar or the smoke casade. So powerful is the plunge that its roar is heard from a far distance. The falls and the breaking of the volume of water at the crest present an awesome spectacle of Nature's power unleashed.

 The Marble Rocks at Bhedaghat rise to a hundred feet on either side of the Narmada. 

Chausath-Yogini (Sixty Four female Yogis)

                                                  This Temple, in the court of Chausath-Yogini temple enshrining an image of Gauri Shanker inscribed as Varesvera was originally erected in A.D.1155 by the kalchuri Queen Alhana devi, during the reign of her son Narsimhadev. There is an inscription on the front wall of the sanctum referring to the daily worship of the deity by Gosaldevi, mother of kalchuri king Vijaysimha. 
                  Of the original temple only the lower portion of the sanctum has survived. 

One of the unique features of this temple is that both Shiva and his consort Parvati appear together riding on the Bull or the Nandi. 

               Situated atop a hill rock and approached by a long flight of steps,the Chausath-Yogini Temple commands a singularly beautiful view of the Narmada flowing through the jagged gorge of Marble Rocks in Bhedaghat.

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this 10th century temple has exquisitely carved stone figures of deities belonging to the Kalchuri period,  arranged in a circular order

               According to local legends, this ancient temple is connected to the Gond Queen-Mother Durgavati's palace of Singaurgarh in Sangrampur as well as to the Maharaja Madansahi's Madan-Mahal bastion through underground passages. These passages offered safety to the visiting royalties in addition to allowing escape route in times of distress.

Madan Mahal Fort (Jabalpur)

                                 Built by the Gond ruler Maharaja Madan Sahi, in 1116 atop a rocky hill, the fort dominates the skyline and provides a panoramic view of the town and the country side around it.

It rises to an approximate height of 500 meters above the ground and was once the Pleasure Palace of Raja Madan Shah, the son of Rani Durgavati.

Queen Durgavati had used it as a Watch tower and the architecturally designed rooms in front of the main structure were probably used to house the military troops of the rulers who lived here.

A View of the Jabalpur City From Atop the Madan Mahal Fort.