Panna, Madhya Pradesh


Panna is a city and a municipality in Panna district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is known for its diamond mines and temples. It is the administrative centre of Panna District.

History

Panna was a Bundela Rajput State. It was a Gond settlement until the 13th or 17th century, when the Gondi were defeated by the Chandelas they migrated to other parts of Madhya Pradesh. Until that date, there were many rulers of the area. The famous mandir of Padmavatipuri Dham, adorned with divine lustre, is located in Panna town at the centre of Vindhyachal in Madhya Pradesh. The itinerant sage Mahamati Prannath and his disciples reached Panna with a divine message of awakening one's soul. Seeing a desert island, he decided to unfurl the flag of Jagani there. He helped the king Chhatrasal and adorned him with the title of Maharaja. He remained there for eleven years, and took samadhi inside the dome. The place, therefore, is known as the seat of salvation or Padmavatipuri Dham.
Panna was the capital of Chhatar Sal, the Bundela Rajput leader who led a revolt against the Mughal Empire. Upon his death in 1732, his kingdom was divided among his sons, with one-third of the kingdom going to his ally, the Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao I.
The Kingdom of Panna went to Harde Sah, the eldest son of Chhatar Sal Of Bundela Rajput Clan. In the early 19th century, Panna became a princely state of British India, and gained control states of the states of Nagod and Sohawal. Raja Nirpat Singh assisted the British in the Revolt of 1857, and the British rewarded him with the title maharaja. Maharaja Mahendra Yadvendra Singh acceded to the Government of India on 1 January 1950, and the kingdom became Panna District of the new Indian state of Vindhya Pradesh. Vindhya Pradesh was merged into Madhya Pradesh on 1 November 1956.

Tourism

Panna has a tiger reserve which is called Panna National Park. The sightings of tigers in Panna have fallen over recent years, and official tiger population figures were disputed by naturalists. There were plans to relocate two tigresses to Panna in 2009, which happened, but the last male tiger meanwhile disappeared. A male tiger was relocated there. One of the relocated tigresses gave birth to three cubs in 2010. The reserve is home to a wide variety of other animals, many of which can be seen at closer quarters than in other reserves, because Panna has fewer visitors. There are jungle lodges and hotels near the reserve, it can also be reached from Khajuraho. Raneh fall, Pandav fall, brahspati kund and lakhanpur rain fall are also sites tourists visit during monsoon. Panna is also famous for its temples. Temples include Shree jugal Kishore ji, pran nath ji, Jagannath swami ji, ram Mandir and Govind dev ji temple.


Beyond Tiger Reserve Panna is set in the culturally vibrant Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh, Panna Tourism goes far beyond the famed tiger trails, unveiling a rich mosaic of experiences rooted in heritage and nature. From glittering diamond mines and intricately sculpted temples to sacred rivers, prehistoric caves, and Bundeli architecture, Panna is a living canvas of India’s legacy. With spiritual landmarks like the Mahamati Prananathji Temple, the tranquil Ram Janki Mandir, and other hidden cultural treasures, Panna Tourism invites travelers to explore a destination that resonates far beyond the jungle.
Panna Tourism within the town
Often overlooked beside temple towns like Varanasi, Ayodhya, Bhubaneswar, Kanchipuram, Madurai, and Haridwar, Panna quietly shines. Its architecture is stunning. Its spiritual ambiance runs deep. Ujjain may hold Madhya Pradesh’s temple town title. Yet Panna deserves a spot among India’s sacred cities. Walk through its calm lanes. Soak in its rich past. The reverence is unmistakable. Calling Panna a “city of temples” is no stretch. It’s faith etched in stone. It’s devotion preserved through time.
Prannath ji Mandir
A Sacred Confluence of Devotion and Architecture Nestled in a spiritually significant locale, the Mahamati Prananathji Temple stands as an eminent pilgrimage site for Hindus, drawing throngs of devotees—especially during the auspicious occasion of Sharad Purnima. It is believed that Mahamati Prananathji resided here for 11 years before attaining the samadhi. Constructed in 1692, the temple is a remarkable fusion of Indo-Islamic architecture, especially the ornate domes and lotus-inspired motifs. Shri Gummat ji, Shri Bangala ji, Shri Sadguru Mandir, Shri Baijuraj ji Mandir, Shri Chowpada Mandir, and Shri Khejra Mandir are the precious places to see in the temple complex. Each resonating with unique spiritual significance and historical reverence. The temple authorities also built a museum in the Prannath Ji temple complex. They showcased belongings related to Lord Prannath Ji in it. The museum also features an exhibition that presents the life of Lord Prannath Ji.
Jugal Kishore ji Mandir
Raja Hindupat Singh, the fourth Bundela king of Panna, built the Jugul Kishore Ji Temple during his reign between 1758 and 1778. Legends say he brought the idol in the sanctum sanctorum from Vrindavan via Orchha. Artisans crafted the deity’s ornaments and costumes in Bundelkhandi tradition. The temple showcases Bundela architectural features, including the Nat Mandap, Bhog Mandap and Pradakshina Path. Precious diamonds stud the flute of Lord Jugul Kishore Ji.
Baldev ji Mandir
Panna Naresh Mahendra Maharaj Shri Rudra Pratap Singh Ju Dev, a descendant of Bundelkhand Kesari Maharaja Chhatrasal, built the Baldev Ji Temple in 1833. He chose the Italian style for its architecture. The temple combines Western and Indian design elements. Maharaj Shri Rudra Pratap Singh Ju Dev brought the Shaligram idol of Lord Shri Baldev Ji from Vrindavan.
Jagannath Swami Mandir
Built in 1817 by Panna King Shri Kishore Singh Ji, this temple stands within the Raj Complex. It enshrines wooden idols of Shri Jagannath, Shri Balabhadra, and Subhadra Ji. They were brought from Jagannath Puri, and installed in the Sanctum Sanctorum or Garbha Griha of Shri Jagdish Swami Ji temple. Designed in traditional medieval style, the temple features a grand entrance flanked by giant lion’s statues and a beautiful shikhara crowned with a golden urn. The sanctum includes a pavilion, pradakshina path, and ceremonial entryway.
Ram Janki Mandir
Built in 1846 by the Bundela ruler Maharaja Harivansh Rai. Temple is dedicated to Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, and Lakshman. Asper the folklores, Lord Rama visited the site during his exile. Moreover, the temple displays classic Bundeli architecture and preserves centuries old idols, thereby attracting devotees, especially during Ram Navami.
Shri Govind Ji Mandir
It was built by Maharani Govind Kuwari in 1880. Located close to Baldev Ji Mandir, it features Bundeli architecture with a lotus-shaped spire and intricate carvings throughout. The temple is a sacred site for Radha-Govind devotees.
There are many more other places in Panna which are having religious and historical significance.
Siddhnath Temple, Chaumukhnath Temple, Sriyanshgiri Jain Temple, Kankali Mata Mandir, Maa Kalehi Devi Temple, Jhalariya Mahadev Mandir, Bagrajan Devi Temple, Museum, etc.

Diamond mining

A large group of diamond deposits extends North-East on a branch of the Vindhya Range for or so, and is known as the Panna group. They do not cover an area of more than. Great pits, in diameter and, perhaps, in depth, are dug for the sake of reaching the diamond conglomerate, which, in many cases, was only a very thin layer. According to Valentine Ball, who edited the 1676 'Travels in India' of Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, Tieffenthaler was the first European to visit the mines in 1765 and claimed that the Panna diamonds could not compare in hardness and fire with other locations in India. No really large diamonds have come from this area. The most productive mines were in the 1860s and were found in Sakaria, around from Panna. Four classifications were given to the Panna diamonds: first, Motichul, clear and brilliant; 2nd, Manik, with a faint orange tint; 3rd, Panna, verging in tint towards green; 4th, Bunsput, sepia coloured. Mines is situated in the interior of Panna district. Diamond mines in Panna are managed under the Diamond Mining Project of National Mineral Development Corporation, a Public Sector Undertaking owned by the Government of India. In other mines the land is leased to prospective miners every year by the government agency. The diamonds unearthed are all collected by the district magistrate of Panna and are auctioned in the month of January. Auctions are open to the public and require a Rs. 5000 deposit. Upwards of 100 diamonds of different carat and shade are offered for auction.

Panna State

  • Bundela Rajput Raja Chhatrasal
  • Raja Harde Sah
  • Raja Sabha Singh
  • Raja Aman Singh
  • Raja Hindupat Singh
  • Raja Anirudh Singh
  • interregnum
  • Raja Dhokal Singh
  • Raja Kishor Singh
  • Raja Harbans Rai
  • Maharaja Mahendra Nirpat Singh
  • Maharaja Rudra Pratap Singh born 1848.
  • Maharaja Mahendra Lokpal Singh
  • Maharaja Mahendra Madho Singh
  • Maharaja Mahendra Yadvendra Singh

Geography

Panna is located at. It has an average elevation of 406 metres.

Climate

Panna has humid subtropical climate with hot summers, a somewhat cooler monsoon season and cool winters. Heavy rainfall occurs in the monsoon season from June to September.

Transport

Panna Airport is currently non-operational, the nearest functional airport is Khajuraho Airport. Nearest rail head is Satna 75 km away, Khajuraho 45 km away. Bus service is available to all parts of Madhya Pradesh and some cities of other states like New Delhi, Faridabad, Agra, Kanpur, Jhansi, Gwalior, Nagpur, Allahabad. For Indore, Gwalior, Jabalpur and Bhopal sleeper/luxury/AC buses are available.

Demographics

As of the 2011 Census of India, In 2011, Panna had population of 59,091. Panna has an average adult literacy rate of 64.79%, lower than the national average of 74.04%: male literacy is 74.14%, and female literacy is 54..44%. In Panna, 16.10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

People from Panna