Encircled by dense forests, the cityscape of Shahdol is studded with magnificent temples and beautiful stretches of greenery. A brilliant mesh of the different cultures and ethnicities intertwined here embellish the city with a colorful heritage of traditions. The serene temples and places of worship spread across the city evoke awe and admiration with their unbending spiritual legacy. The city is named after Shahdolwa Ahir, who is believed to be its first ever resident. This was in accordance with the promise made by Jamni Bhan, the founder of Sohagpur, that any new settlements around his town would be named after the primary settler. Located in the hilly district of the same name, Shahdol is also known for its rich store of natural resources. It is today one of the major mining hubs in Madhya Pradesh.
Shahdol is renowned for its religious and spiritual legacy. Housing a number of temples dedicated to several deities, the city is indeed a pilgrim’s delight. The ancient Virateshwar Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is among the most popular attractions of Shahdol. Built between the 10th and 11th centuries by Maharaja Yuvraj Deva of the Kalchuri dynasty, it is known for its religious as well as historical significance. An ornate structure adorned by beautiful sculptures of various deities, the temple is an excellent specimen of Kalchuri architecture. Some of the other noteworthy religious sites include several Kali temples, the Jagannath Temple, and the Jain Temple.
Festive occasions are a great time to visit Shahdol and experience its multicolored culture. The Ramnavmi celebrations in March-April and Durganavmi festival in October-November are particularly memorable.
The local markets of Shahdol offer a delightful shopping experience. The tribal bamboo and cane artifacts make for beautiful mementos of your visit. You can also shop for hand-woven traditional garments at popular marketplaces like Suraj Market and Sindhi Bazaar among others.
Being popular among travelers, local transport is easily available in Shahdol. Government operated city bus services ply on major routes in and around the city. However, the most common and convenient means of traveling within Shahdol is by hiring auto-rickshaws. They can be found on most streets in the city. Tourists can also rent private taxis or cars for sightseeing.
On a daily basis there are approximately 10 flights that operate at Jabalpur Airport.Air India and SpiceJet are the most popular airline brands that fly frequently to this airport.
Besides flying you can also reach Shahdol through train.Shahdolis one of the most popular train stations in Shahdol.On an average about 61 trains pass through Shahdol on a daily basis.Anuppur to Shahdol, Bilaspur to Shahdol, Pendra to Shahdolare some of the most popular routes to Shahdol with 81, 78, 75 trains weekly respectively.
By road Shahdol is surrounded by Pasan, Kurasia, Murwara (Katni ) which are 61.67 km, 63.76 km, 70.53 km away respectively. These places are ideal spots for people to plan their short weekend break.