Unchehra

Unchehra is a block and one of six "tehsils" of Satna district (i.e. Majhganwa, Sohawal, Rampur Baghelan, Nagod, Unchehra, Amarpatan, Ramnagar, Maihar) situted around 24 degree 20 minute North Longitude, 80n degree 44 minute East Latitude in the viscinity of Vindhya Range in Central India.

The region lies on metamorphic rock, a part of Godvana land and siesmic zone 1, about National Highway -7 [which joins Varanasi and Kanyakumari] . The tarred road route joining Chitrakoot and Amrkantak passes though the town. Unchehra is 25 km (15.6 miles) away from Satna district head-quarter along Allahabad-Jabalpur railway track in Western Central Railway zone. The river Barua surrounds the town on three sides except in the south where Bader Hill ranges in whose vicinity Unchehra town is situated. In the north, there are Vaishnava temples known as "Akhadas" in which Janakiraman Akhada is very famous, close to this there is a "mazaar" (seat) of Sufi Saint, Naugaza Baba. In the South, there are Ramdevalaya Mandir and a "Takiya" (seat) of Tajuddin Muhiballi Sain Baba. In East, it Kabir Math and Raj Mandir (Royal Temple) of Parihar Rajputa Maharajas, and a "kothi" (Fort) of maharajas cover the area.

In the 17th century, Raja Chain Singh defeated Dhar Singh (Teli) and established this place. Being at a higher elevation compared to surroundings, it was called ``Uchchakalpa’’. Earlier, Uchchakalpa was made capital of the Nagod State. Later, its name was connoted as Unchehra. Uchchakalpa is now vanished leaving only remains in the name of Khoh village.

According to Sati Lekha (1404 Vikrama Era, Kaimore) Maharaj Shri Rajdeva was ruler of this place and there successors Shri Ramdeva Singh, Shri Chhatrasaal Singh Ju deva are still enjoying the royalty.

Due to vast natural resources (e.g. firewood from nearby forests). "Tamrakars" are pre-eminent inhabitants of this place who do business of brass, bronze metal, and especially of "phool" [an alloy of Copper (Cu-79%) and Tin (Sn- 21%)] works and they are also known as Kasera or Thathera Vaishyas. They wear Yagyopavit, their holy river is Ganga, holy tree is Pipal, and they worship Goddess Devi Vindhya Vasini. They also call themselves Haihaivansi Chhatriya. But their origin is still not identified. Unchehra is very famous for its phool (branze) metal works which is the only special art, still existing with its full glamour.

Unchehra Janpad-Panchayat consists of 20 members and its Vikas-Khand consists of 66 "Gram-Panchayats" which includes a total of 322 villages. Langargawan Railway station (about 15 km from Unchehra towards Satna) comes under Unchehra Tehsil. Work of Unchehra Tehsil started systematically from 2001. In Unchehra, infrastructure and facilities e.g. office block, "Tehsil", police-station (under a Town Inspector), hospital, Office of Forest Department, post-office, Telecom-Office, waiting rooms at Bust Stand and railway rtation (completed in around 1948), schools up to higher secondary, Madhya Pradesh Bhoj university, two "Dharmashalas" are available for people.

Major business is of Tamrakars and others do for general local needs. There are no other factories or industries around it except Cement Factory in Maihar, Satna, and Rewa. This area is treated as backward because educated persons have no jobs in hands except doing general shops for local needs. Now there is awareness for services and jobs in government and public sectors. Students are performing well in their school exams and bring their names in state's merit lists. Further there is new zeal among students, as few of them has performed best in national level examinations.

Unchehra extends from 24 degree 12 minute to 24 degrees 34 minutes in North, and from 80 degrees 26 minutes to 80 degrees 56 minutes in East with total area of convert|310|acre|km2|1 at an average elevation above sea level of 626.06 m (2,035 ft). According to Census 1991, the total population was 112,337 with a growth rate of 24%, a sex ratio of 923, scheduled cast (SC) of 17.73%, Schedule Tribe (ST) 19.75% and a literacy rate of 29.75%. Average rain rate in this area is 900 cm (354 inches). In the summer season, (March-June) temperature rises to a maximum of 40^oC (104^oF). The nearest air port is Khajuraho on NH-75.