Balaghat Pincodes

Located in Central India, the Balaghat district is part of the state of Madhya Pradesh, with the town of Balaghat as its administrative center. The district is notable for its tile manufacturing facilities, rice mills, and extensive forests.

History:

In the early 18th century, the Balaghat district was divided between two Gond kingdoms. The western part belonged to the Gond kingdom of Deogarh, while the eastern part was under the Garha-Mandla kingdom. The Marathas of Nagpur annexed Deogarh in 1743 and later expanded their territory to most of the district. The northern section, along with the rest of Garha-Mandla, was annexed to the Maratha province of Saugor in 1781, which was then under the Maratha Peshwa. By 1798, the Marathas acquired the former Garha-Mandla territories as well.

Following the Third Anglo-Maratha War in 1818, the Nagpur kingdom, including Balaghat, became a princely state under British India. In 1853, the British annexed this region, creating the province of Nagpur, and Balaghat was divided between the British districts of Seoni and Bhandara. In 1861, it became part of the reorganized Central Provinces.

Post-Independence in 1947, it became part of Madhya Pradesh. In 1956, Balaghat joined the Jabalpur Division when districts to its south were reallocated to Bombay State. The name ‘Balaghat’, meaning ‘above the ghats’, was chosen to signify its location above the mountain passes.

By the early 20th century, Balaghat had limited road infrastructure but saw the completion of the Jabalpur-Gondia railway line in 1904. Today, it is part of the Red Corridor and is known for its mineral wealth and forests. It became an independent district in the newly formed state of Madhya Pradesh on November 1, 1956.

Geography:

Balaghat District is situated in the southern part of Jabalpur Division, Madhya Pradesh. It covers the southeastern part of the Satpura Range and the upper valley of the Wainganga River. The district spans from approximately 21°19′ to 22°24′ north latitude and 79°31′ to 81°3′ east longitude, with a total area of 9,245 square kilometers. It shares its borders with Mandla District to the north, Dindori District to the northwest, Rajnandgaon District in Chhattisgarh to the east, Gondia and Bhandara districts in Maharashtra to the south, and Seoni District in Madhya Pradesh to the west.

The primary languages spoken in the district include Hindi, Gondi, Chattishgarhi, and Pawari, with Marathi in the southern part. The district is characterized by the Wainganga River and its tributaries, which play a vital role in the region’s geography. Balaghat town is located on the banks of the Wainganga River, which flows from north to south through the district.
Balaghat is divided into three main areas: Southern Lowlands, Mau Taluka ( a long narrow valley between the hills and the rivers), and the Plateau region.

Economy:

Balaghat District plays a significant role in India’s mineral production, contributing to about 33% of the country’s manganese output. Additionally, the district is known for its vast copper deposit in Malanjkhand, considered the largest in India. Other valuable minerals found in the region include bauxite, kyanite, marble, dolomite, clay, and limestone.

In recognition of its socio-economic challenges, Balaghat was identified as one of India’s 250 most underdeveloped districts by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj in 2006. Currently, the district is among the 24 districts in Madhya Pradesh that receive financial support through the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF) to address development disparities and uplift the local communities.

Demographics:

According to the 2011 census, Balaghat District has a population of 1,701,698, ranking it 288th in India out of 640 districts. The district has a population density of 184 people per square kilometer. The sex ratio is 1021 females for every 1000 males, and the literacy rate is 78.29%. About 14.39% of the population resides in urban areas.

In terms of religion, Hindus make up 89.29% of the population, while Buddhists account for 4.24%, and Muslims comprise 2.26%. Other religions, primarily tribal traditions, make up 3.41% of the population.

Regarding languages, during the 2011 Census of India, 40.85% of the population in the district spoke Hindi as their first language, followed by 16.41% Marathi, 9.64% Powari, 9.35% Gondi, 5.33% Chhattisgarhi, 5.22% Lodhi, and 1.18% Kalari. Additionally, 9.55% of the population spoke another variety classified under Hindi.

Administration:

The district is divided into eleven development blocks or Tehsils for administrative purposes. These Tehsils are Balaghat, Baihar, Birsa, Paraswada, Katangi, Waraseoni, Lalbarra, Khairlanji, Lanji, Kirnapur, and Tirodi.