Kaimur (Bhabhua)

Geography of Kaimur (Bhabhua)

Geographically, Kaimur (Bhabhua) district covers an area of about 340447 Hectares and can be divided into two parts viz. (i) Hilly area and (ii) Plain area. The hilly area comprises of Kaimur plateau. The plain area on the western side is flanked by the rivers The Karmanasha and the Durgawati. The Kudra river lies on it eastern side. The district of Buxar of Bihar State and the district of Ghazipur of U.P. State bound it on the North. On the south is the district of Garhwa of Jharkhand State and on the West is the district of Chandauli and Mirjapur of the U.P. State. On the East is district of Rohtas of Bihar State. The district has close linkage with the history of Shahabad, which was its parent district also. The old district of Shahabad had four subdivisions of which Bhabua was one. The present district of Kaimur has been formed from the whole of this Bhabua subdivision.

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Climate

The climate of the district is somewhat extreme in nature, i.e., quite hot during the summer and fairly cold during the winter. January is the coldest month when the mean minimum temperature comes down to approximately 4 degree C.. The temperature starts rising from March and reaches its peak in May when the mercury touches about 450C. Rain starts sometime in mid June and lasts till mid September. The district gets easterly winds from June to September, and from October to May wind direction reverses. Maximum rains occur during the months of July and August (289 mm). Sometimes winter rains occur in Jan-February.

River

Originating from the Kaimur hills, the river Karmanasha passes through Mirzapur district of U.P. and forms the western boundary of the district for about 170 Kms. The river Kudra, which forms eastern boundary separating Rohtas district, is a branch of the river Dhoba rising in Kaimur Plateau South-West of Tilauthu, and ultimately joins the river Karmanasha. The River Durgawati originates from Kaimur hills and flows in the northern direction. It is joined by the Kudra River before it merges finally into the river Karmanasha. The river Durgawati is perennial in nature and inundates a large area of land during heavy rains.

Forest

The alluvial plain extending up to the foothills of Kaimur ranges is extensively cultivated. Rice, wheat, pulses are the chief crops and the area is dotted with bamboo clumps and mango orchards. The Forests found in the Kaimur hills have suffered indiscriminate felling of trees in the recent past. The plateau is generally covered with long grasses, viz. Kush and khas. Sal trees of poor quality and vast stretches of bamboo are also found. Firewood, Tendu leaf and Chiraunji are the important forest products.
The number of fauna and game birds has gone down considerably with the increase in the area of cultivation due to increase in irrigation facilities.

Irrigation

Durgawati and the Karmanasha rivers are the perennial sources of surface water. A high level canal from Indrapuri (Dehri) has been irrigating the southern parts of this district. The canal is about 84 Kms long and irrigates about 34000 hectares of land during Kharif season and about 9000 hectares of land during Rabi season. The southern part of Kaimur district has a number of canal systems such as Durgawati Main Canal, Garachaube canal etc.
In the hilly tracts of Adhaura, Chainpur and Bhagwanpur blocks, only ditches and ponds are used to conserve rainwater. New techniques of water conservation and harvesting practices are needed in plain as well as these hilly areas to utilise rainwater. Reservoir tanks can store water from hill streams and rivulets especially when "Hathia" rain falls, which also provide irrigation during Rabi season. Water table in the plain areas is low and high yielding tube wells can sustain at a depth of 70-100 meters whereas small tube wells may get the aquifer zone within 25-30 meters depth. The normal depth of water table is 5-10 meters in winters and up to 15 meters in summers.

Land Use Pattern

Out of the total geographical area of the Kaimur district 31.22 % is covered by the forest, mainly in Adhaura, Chainpur and Bhagwanpur blocks. Paddy, Wheat, Barley and Maize are the main cereal crops of the district. Among pulses, gram occupies the maximum area of cultivation, followed by Mansur, Arhar, Moong and Urod. Sugar cane and potatoes are the main cash crops.
Timber, Bamboo, Firewood, Chiraunji and Kendu leaf are the main forest produce while the minor produce consists of honey, and fodder grass.

Mines and Minerals

Sands of the Durgawati and the Kudra River are exploited as building material. The hilly tracts of Kaimur ranges are a part of very old Vindhyan system of mountains; hence, there is possibility of limestone, sulpher and pyretic iron ores to be found here. The mineral wealth needs more study and is yet to be explored properly.

Industrialisation

The district is scantily industrialised. A few private rice mills, however, are found here mainly in Mohania Subdivision. Mohania block in credited with a DRDA sponsored Dairy and a BSTDC hotel known as, the Kaimur Hotel.

Transport Facilities

NH 2 (G.T. Road) crosses through the center of the district from Karmanasha to Kudra for about 50 km. NH 30 originates from it near Mohania and connects this district with the capital Patna via Arah. Apart from these, there are also a few State Highways in the district.
Mohania Block is situated on Gaya-Mughalsarai Section of Grand Chord Railway line; the railway station is called Bhabua Road. The district headquarter is located at a distance of 14 Kms southward from the railway station or the G.T. Road.

Commerce

Banarasi Sari, Silk, Kaleen, Dari and Agricultural produces are the main articles, which are traded in and out of the district.

Electricity and Energy

Pusauli power station is being constructed at a distance of 8-10 Kms form the Sub-divisional Headquarters of Mohania. The possibility of tapping solar energy is also great in the district.

Culture of Bhabhua

Cuisine of Bhabhua

Places of interest in Bhabhua

Places of Religious, Historical & Archeological Importance

Adhaura
It is situated at a height of 2000 feet from the sea level on Kaimur plateau at a Distance of 58 Kms from Bhabua. Hills and surrounding forest make it an ideal tourist spot.

Baidyanath
Baidyanath Village is situated at 9 kms south of Ramgarh block headquarters. A Shiva temple built by the late Pratihar dynasty is located here. Coins and valuables of historical importance have been unearthed here.

Bhabua
Bhabua is the headquarters of Kaimur district. This municipal town lies 14 Km south of G. T. Road connected by a road to be reached from Bhabua Road Railway station on Grand Chord Railway line.

Bhagwanpur
Bhagwanpur is situated 11 Km south of Bhabua near the Kaimur hills. It is said to have been the seat of power of Kumar Chandrasen Saran Singh, who claimed his descent from Paras. It was confiscated by Sher Shah from Raja Shaliwahan but later restored to his successor during the reign of Akbar.

Chainpur
Situated 11 Km west of Bhabua headquarters it is credited with a great mausoleum of Bakhtiar Khan, who is said to have married the daughter of Sher Shah. The fort at Chainpur is a structure of Suri or Akbar period. The Hindu shrine of "Harsu Brahm" is famous in the locality. It is said that Kanyalkubya priest of Raja Shaliwahan, named Harshu Pandey, ended his life in protest against demolition of his house but during his cremation was seen standing at the cremation site at Varanasi.

Chorghatia
Chorghatia village in Adhaura block is an excellent beauty spot with a waterfall amidst beautiful scenery.

Durauli
Durauli village situated 8 Km North -East of Ramgarh contains two old temples built by the Cheros.

Ramgarh
Ramgarh village in the Bhagwanpur block in Bhabua Subdivision contains the famous Mundeshwari temple, built on a hilltop at a height of about 600 feet. Inscriptions of archeological importance found here describe the temple to be old enough to have been built around the year 635 A.D.

Events in Bhabhua