Area : 5 sq km
Population : 553 (1991)
Altitude : 211 m above sea level
Languages : Hindi and English
Best time to visit : September to May
STD Code : 02904

LOCATION
Deogarh is situated in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh at a distance of around 235 km off Gwalior and 123 km off Jhansi. Located on the banks of River Betwa, the place has a picturesque landscape. The place is well connected by road and rail networks to other parts of the region.

CLIMATE
Deogarh has an extreme climate with hot and humid summer and cold winter. The temperature in the summer months hovers around 40°C while in the winters it can come down to below 10°C. Monsoon arrives around July and continues till mid-September. The best time to visit this place is from September to May.

PAST
Deogarh (literally, the Fort of the Gods) is situated on the right bank of the Betwa River at the western end of the Lalitpur range of hills. Due to its strategic location on the main route to Deccan from Delhi, Deogarh was a bone of contention for several empires starting from the Guptas to the British. The first written evidence about Deogarh has been in the literature of the Gupta age. In the later phase, Deogarh finds mention in the history of Gujarat Pratiharas and Gondas. The place remained a cause of disagreement even in the times of Muslims, Marathas, and British.

SITES TO VISIT
Dashavatar Temple is a fine architectural extravaganza dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is the earliest known Panchyatan temple in north India. The terraced basement above the high plinth is decorated with sculpted panels. The figures of Ganga and Yamuna adorn the carved doorway leading to the sanctum sanctorum. Three large carved panels along the sidewalls-the Gajendramoksha panel, the Narnarayan Tapasya, and the Anantshayi Vishnu-depict scenes from Vaishnava mythology. However, only the lower portion of the spire remains today.

Of somewhat later in origin than the Vishnu temple, but no less remarkable, are the 31 Jain temples here. They are situated inside the Karnali Fort on the hills overlooking the Betwa. The site was a Jain center from the sixth to the 17th century. The temples abound in panels depicting scenes from Jain mythology, Tirthankara images, votive pillars, votive tablets, Jain images visible from all sides, and pillars carved with a thousand Jain figures.

The Deogarh Archeological Museum has a fine collection of sculpture, discovered from the nearby areas.

SITES NEARBY
Chanderi, in Madhya Pradesh, is famous for its gossamer-like saris. It also has fine examples of Rajput and Sultanate architecture. A magnificent Mughal fort dominates the skyline. Among the interesting sites are the Koshak Mahal, the Badal Mahal, the Jama Masjid, and several ancient Jain temples.

Barua Sagar is named after the Barua Sagar Tal, a large lake created about 260 years ago when Raja Udit Singh of Orchha built the embankment. The Barua Sagar Fort, picturesquely located at a height, commands an excellent view of the lake and surrounding landscape. The town is situated on the road to Khajuraho from Jhansi.

Orchha is a 16th-century city in Madhya Pradesh located on the banks of the Betwa River. The temples and palaces here are fine examples of Bundela architecture.

Other interesting excursions include Matatila Dam, Tal Behat, and Lalitpur.

WHERE TO STAY
There are not many places in Deogarh that can provide good accommodation. UP Tourism has its tourist bungalow in Deogarh that provides accommodation as well restaurant facilities to its guests. The Jain Dharmshala provides simple but quality accommodation to its guests.

HOW TO REACH

By Air: The nearest airport is Gwalior around 235 km from Deogarh. There are flights to Delhi, Indore, and Mumbai from Gwalior.

By Rail: The nearest railway stations are Jakhlaun (13 km) and Lalitpur (23 km). Jakhlaun can be reached by the Jhansi-Babina passenger train. However, Lalitpur is a better option as it is connected to Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bhopal, Mumbai, and Agra by several express trains.

By Road: Deogarh is linked by bus to several important centers in the region. The distances of some of the important centers from Deogarh are: Lalitpur, 23 km; Matatila Dam, 93 km; and Jhansi, 123 km.

Local Transport
Buses, jeeps, rickshaws, and taxis are the most convenient means of local transport in Deogarh.