Palamu district

District of Jharkhand in India

Palamu district

District of Jharkhand

Palamu fort

Location of Palamau district in Jharkhand

Country|  India
State|  Jharkhand
Division| Palamu
Headquarters| Medininagar
Government

• Deputy Commissioner| Smt. Sameera S (IAS)
• Superintendent of police| Smt. Reeshma Ramesan (IPS)
• Lok Sabha constituencies| 1\. Palamu, 2. Chatra (shared with Chatra district)
• Vidhan Sabha constituencies| 5
Area

• Total

| 4,393 km2 (1,696 sq mi)
Population

• Total

| 1,939,869
• Density| 440/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Languages

• Official| Hindi
• Regional| Nagpuri, Magahi
Demographics

• Literacy| 63.63%
• Sex ratio| 928
Time zone| UTC+05:30 (IST)
Vehicle registration| JH-03
Major highways| NH 39, NH 139
Railway Station| Daltonganj station
Website| palamu.nic.in

Palamu district is one of the twenty-four districts of Jharkhand, India. It was formed in 1892. The administrative headquarters of the district is Medininagar, situated on the Koel River. Palamu district lies in north-western part of Jharkhand. It shares border with Chatra, Garhwa & Latehar Districts of Jharkhand state.

## History

[edit]

The Palamu district has sites of Neolithic and Chalcolithic settlement in the confluence of the Son and North Koel rivers in Kabra-Kala mound.[1]

During 12th century, Khayaravala dynasty ruled the japila territory.[2] In the early 16th century, the Chero dynasty in southern Bihar. Sher Shah Suri sent one of his generals, Khawas Khan, to destroy the Chero chief Maharta Chero.[3]

In the late 16th century, the Raksel Rajputs controlled Palamu. The Mughal commander Man Singh had invaded Palamu, but in 1605 after Akbar died the Mughals were driven out. The Chero ruler Sahabal Rai had become a prisoner in Delhi due to his constant raiding of Bihar. His son, Bhagwat Rai, continued the same policy, but was soon attacked by Mughal forces and fled to Dev Sahi, a Surwar Rajput holding the fort of Dhaudanr (near Sasaram). With Puran Mal, Dev Sahi's son, he took service with the Raja of Palamu Man Singh. When Man Singh had gone to Surguja in 1613, Rai killed the Raja's family and took his throne. Under Bhagwat Rai's grandson Medini Rai, the Chero kingdom expanded to the height of its territory: covering large parts of what is now southern Bihar, as well as Hazaribagh. Medini Rai was able to launch expeditions against the Maharaja of Chota Nagpur and built the Fort of Palamu.[3]

In 1629, the Mughal subedar of Patna Ahmad Khan forced the Cheros to pay an annual tribute to the Mughals. In 1641, Chero ruler Pratap Rai refused to pay tribute to then-emperor Shah Jahan. Shaista Khan was sent to destroy the Chero kings with an expedition of 15,000 infantry and 5,000 cavalry, which penetrated as far as Ara and laid siege to the Palamu Fort. During the siege, in 1642, the Cheros attacked a Mughal party, but was soon itself defeated, forcing Pratap Rai to give a sum of Rs. 80,000. Pratap Rai was then betrayed by two of his uncles, Tej Rai and Darya Rai, who convinced Itikad Khan, Shaista Khan's successor, to support their coup if Pratap Rai was sent to Patna. The coup was successful, but Tej Rai still held Pratap Rai, so Darya Rai promised to give the fort of Deogan if Itikad Khan supported him with an army. Itikad Khan's army took over Deogan in October 1643 and defeated Tej Rai's force, allowing Pratap Rai to retake Palamu Fort. However as the Mughal army arrived, Pratap Rai surrendered and went to Patna. He agreed to pay Rs. 1 lakh in annual tribute and was made commander of 1000 horse and given Palamu as jagir.[3]

For the next twenty years however, the Cheros neglected to pay their tribute and continued to make raids into Mughal territory in Bihar. At the time Palamu was described as a well-populated city protected by two strong forts. In 1660, however, Subedar of Bihar Daud Khan had enough and invaded Chero territory. Khan first conquered Kotna, which the Cheros had abandoned, proceeded to Palamu Fort which took months due to the thick jungle. After a long struggle, Khan conquered the fort of Palamu and forced the Chero king to flee. The Cheros briefly regained the fort of Deogan, but soon lost it due to conflict with Namudag estate(Surwar rajputs Gaur royal family )and Palamu was placed under a Muslim faujdar. In 1666 it fell under the direct control of the Subedar of Bihar, and became a fief. The Cheros still held the southern part of the district, but the northern part was given to various nobles. The Raja of Sonpura was the most important of these families, but had fallen out of favour with the Mughal court and lost his lands to Ghulam Hussain Khan after a protracted struggle. Khan controlled much of the northwest of present-day Jharkhand, even as far as the Chota Nagpur kingdom.[3]

In 1720, Palamu was invaded again due to refusal to pay tribute, although the expedition leader was bought off with a large sum of gold and diamonds, and the Mughals invaded again in 1740. At this time the Raja of Ramgarh was the most powerful hill chieftain, and making alliance with several other rulers he took over the fortress of Ramgarh. The Raja offered no resistance to the Maratha general Raghoji I Bhonsle, who passed through the district on his way to raid Medinipur in Bengal.[3]

Due to dynastic struggles, a Chero pretender had made claim to a British agent in Patna to be the rightful ruler of Chero domains in Palamu. The British took the opportunity to take over Palamu Fort. In 1800, one of the Chero rajas enacted a policy against tenants, who rebelled in the Chero insurrection. This rebellion was put down by British troops, who annexed the district into their own territory.[3]

## Geography

[edit]

The district lies between 23°50′ and 24°8′ north latitude and between 83°55′ and 84°30′ east longitude. It is bordered on the north by Son River & Bihar and on the east by the Chatra district on the south by Latehar district and on the west by Garhwa district.

The major rivers flowing through Palamu district are Son, Koel and Auranga. The major crops grown are Rice and Sugarcane. Many minerals are found here like Iron ore, Bauxite, Lithium, Dolomite and Coal.[4]

### National protected area

[edit]

* Betla National Park is a national park located on the Chota Nagpur Plateau in the Palamu and Latehar district of Jharkhand, India.

## Politics

[edit]

This section is transcluded from 6th Jharkhand Assembly. (edit | history)

District  | No.  | Constituency  | Name  | Party  | Alliance  | Remarks

|
|
|
|
|
|

Palamu | 75  | Panki | Kushwaha Shashi Bhusan Mehta |  | Bharatiya Janata Party |  | NDA |
76  | Daltonganj | Alok Kumar Chaurasiya |  | Bharatiya Janata Party |  | NDA |
77  | Bishrampur | Naresh Prasad Singh |  | Rashtriya Janata Dal |  | MGB |
78  | Chhatarpur | Radha Krishna Kishore |  | Indian National Congress |  | MGB | Cabinet minister
79  | Hussainabad | Sanjay Kumar Singh Yadav |  | Rashtriya Janata Dal |  | MGB |

## Administration

[edit]

Palamu district is headed by Deputy Commissioner (DC) who is an (IAS) officer. Palamu district consists 3 Sub-divisions and 21 Blocks. The following are the list of the Blocks in Palamau district:

Subdivision  | Blocks

|

Sadar Medininagar  |

* Medininagar
* Chainpur
* Patan
* Bishrampur
* Panki
* Manatu
* Satbarwa
* Nilambar-Pitambarpur
* Tarhasi
* Padwa
* Pandu
* Untari Road
* Nawa Bazar
* Ramgarh

Chhatarpur  |

* Chatarpur
* Hariharganj
* Naudiha Bazar
* Pipra

Hussainabad  |

* Hussainabad
* Mohammadganj
* Haidernagar

## Economy

[edit]

In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Palamau one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640).[5] It is one of the 24 districts in Jharkhand currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).[5][6]

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical populationYear| Pop.| ±% p.a.

|
|

1901| 308,256| —
1911| 341,869| +1.04%
1921| 364,579| +0.65%
1931| 407,004| +1.11%
1941| 453,731| +1.09%
1951| 490,037| +0.77%
1961| 589,337| +1.86%
1971| 738,316| +2.28%
1981| 950,839| +2.56%
1991| 1,192,801| +2.29%
2001| 1,537,465| +2.57%
2011| 1,939,869| +2.35%
source:[7]

According to the 2011 census Palamu district has a population of 1,939,869,[8] giving it a ranking of 243rd in India (out of a total of 640).[8] The district has a population density of 442 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,140/sq mi).[8] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 25.94%.[8] Palamu has a sex ratio of 929 females for every 1000 males,[8] and a literacy rate of 63.63%. 11.65% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Tribes make up 27.65% and 9.34% of the population respectively.[8]

Religion in Palamu district (2011)[9]

Religion |  | Percent
Hinduism |

| 86.77%
Islam |

| 12.28%
Other or not stated |

| 0.95%

According to the census, 86.77% of the population follows Hinduism, while 12.28% follow Islam.[9]

### Languages

[edit]

Languages of Palamu district (2011)[10]

1. Hindi (65.49%)
2. Magahi (24.44%)
3. Urdu (6.87%)
4. Palmuha (1.15%)
5. Others (2.05%)
6. khortha (0.5%)

At the time of the 2011 Census of India, 65.49% of the population in the district spoke Hindi, 24.44% Magahi, 6.87% Urdu and 1.15% Palmuha as their first language.[10]

## Education

[edit]

* The only university in Medininagar is Nilamber-Pitamber University, created on January 17, 2009.[11][12] The Chief Minister of Jharkhand declared that the Nilamber-Pitamber University would be set up in Medininagar in 2001.[13]
* There are 66 primary schools, 30 middle schools, 17 Navsirijit schools, 10 high schools.[14]
* There are two B.Ed. Colleges in Palamu district,
* Kumaresh International B.Ed. College situated in Rajwadih, Daltonganj,(Palamu), Jharkhand.
* Elite Public B.Ed. College Situated in Ranchi Road, Chianki, NH 75, Medininagar, Jharkhand.
* There is 1 Law Colleges in the Redma, Medininagar in the Palamu district is Bhishma Narain Singh Law College founded by the Babusahab Bhisma narain Singh of Namudag royal family.
* There are 2 Medical Colleges in the Palamu district,
* Medini Rai Medical College and Hospital, Palamu (Jharkhand Govt. medical college)
* Laxmi Chandravansi Medical College and Hospital, Palamu
* There are 2 Engineering Colleges in the Palamu district
* Government Engineering College palamu (GEC Palamu)[1] is situated in Basaura, Lesliganj, Medninagar formerly Daltonganj, Palamu (Jharkhand), PIN-822118. It was established in 2022. The Institute is approved by AICTE, New Delhi and Affiliated to Jharkhand University of Technology, Ranchi. It is the 2nd State Government engineering college of Jharkhand after BIT Sindri under the department of Higher and Technical Education Govt. of Jharkhand.
* DAV Institute Of Engineering & Technology (DAVIET) , Medininagar, Jharkhand was established in 2008.The Institute is approved by AICTE, New Delhi and Affiliated to Nilamber-Pitamber University, Medininagar, Palamau (Jharkhand). This is the first degree level Engineering institute started by the DAV College Trust and Management Society, New Delhi in Jharkhand.

## Transport

[edit]

### Roadways

[edit]

* NH 39 which passes through Medininagar, formerly Daltonganj (Palamu district) which connects Ranchi and Jhansi(in U.P.) by which Daltonganj is connected by Garhwa, Latehar and Ranchi city.
* NH 139 which connects Medininagar, formerly Daltonganj (Palamu district) to Patna (in Bihar) by which Daltonganj is connected by Aurangabad, Daudnagar, Arwal and Patna city.
* Jharkhand State Highway 10 which starts from Daltonganj and passes through Lesliganj & Panki in Palamu district and ends in Balumath in Latehar district by which Daltonganj is connected by Chatra and Hazaribagh.

### Railways

[edit]

* Daltonganj railway station is situated in Medininagar, formerly Daltonganj (Palamu district) is on the Barkakana–Son Nagar line, by which it is connected by Kolkata, Delhi, Ranchi, Patna, Dhanbad, Bhopal, Jamshedpur, Varanasi, Dehri-on-Sone.

### Airways

[edit]

* Chianki Airport situated in NH 75, South Redma, Daltonganj (Palamu), Jharkhand 822101

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "KABRA – KALA". www.asiranchi.org. Archived from the original on 2013-10-08. Retrieved 2019-08-29.
2. ^ Prabhu, T. L. (4 August 2019). Majestic Monuments of India: Ancient Indian Mega Structures. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
3. ^ a b c d e f "Bihar and Orissa District Gazetteers : Palamau". INDIAN CULTURE. Retrieved 2022-07-30.
4. ^ "About District | Palamu | India". Retrieved 2020-05-11.
5. ^ a b Ministry of Panchayati Raj (September 8, 2009). "A Note on the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme" (PDF). National Institute of Rural Development. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 5, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2011.
6. ^ "Puff penalty for Rampal". Archived from the original on December 22, 2017.
7. ^ "Table A-02 Decadal Variation in Population Since 1901: Jharkhand" (PDF). census.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
8. ^ a b c d e f "District Census Handbook: Palamu" (PDF). censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General of India. 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-30.
9. ^ a b "Table C-01 Population By Religion: Jharkhand". census.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
10. ^ a b "Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Jharkhand". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
11. ^ "Nilamber Pitamber University acquires ownership rights of 15-acre land - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
12. ^ "Nilamber-Pitamber University". Retrieved December 27, 2012.
13. ^ "Chapter IX: Social Services". Jharkhand Draft Annual Plan 2001 - 2002. Archived from the original on March 12, 2005. Retrieved 2007-07-10.
14. ^ "Palamu District: Education Profile". Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-07-10.

## External links

[edit]

* Official district government website
* Daltongnaj This website contains much information about Palamu Archived 2016-11-14 at the Wayback Machine
* Jharkhand Tourism

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to Palamu district

| Rohtas district, Bihar | Aurangabad district, Bihar | Gaya district, Bihar

|
|

|  |
Garhwa district |

Palamu district

| Chatra district
|  |
| Latehar district |

Links to related articles

* v
* t
* e

State of Jharkhand

Capital: Ranchi

Topics|

* History
* Government
* Geography
* Education
* People
* Tourism
* Highest point
* Cities by area

Divisions
and
Districts|

| Palamu|

* Garhwa
* Palamu
* Latehar

|

North
Chotanagpur|

* Chatra
* Hazaribagh
* Giridih
* Koderma
* Dhanbad
* Bokaro
* Ramgarh

South
Chotanagpur|

* Ranchi
* Lohardaga
* Gumla
* Simdega
* Khunti

Kolhan|

* West Singhbhum
* Seraikela Kharsawan
* East Singhbhum

Santhal
Pargana|

* Deoghar
* Jamtara
* Dumka
* Godda
* Pakur
* Sahebganj

Major cities|

* Jamshedpur
* Dhanbad
* Ranchi
* Bokaro
* Deoghar
* Phusro
* Hazaribagh
* Giridih
* Ramgarh
* Medininagar
* Sahebganj
* Chaibasa
* Dumka

* v
* t
* e

Palamu district

Cities and
towns|

* Deorikalan
* Hussainabad
* Medininagar
* Mohammadganj
* Naudiha Bazar
* Panki
* Rajhara

Blocks|

* Bishrampur
* Chainpur
* Chatarpur
* Haidernagar
* Hariharganj
* Hussainabad
* Japla
* Lesliganj
* Manatu
* Medininagar
* Mohammadganj
* Naudiha Bazar
* Nawa Bazar
* Padwa
* Pandu
* Panki
* Patan
* Pipra
* Ramgarh
* Satbarwa
* Tarhasi
* Untari Road

Villages|

* Bedani
* Birdhaur
* Buchi Lami
* Kabra Khurd
* Ladigarh
* Majuraha
* Namudag
* Naudiha
* Polpol
* Rupaundha

* v
* t
* e

Cities and towns in Palamu division

Garhwa district|

* Garhwa
* Sinduria

Latehar district|

* Balumath
* Barwadih
* Chandwa
* Latehar
* Netarhat

Palamu district|

* Daltonganj
* Deorikalan
* Hussainabad
* Rajhara

Related topics|

* Palamu Division topics

Cities and towns
in other divisions|

* North Chotanagpur
* Kolhan
* Santhal Parganas
* South Chotanagpur

* v
* t
* e

Palamu division topics

General|

* Betla National Park
* Palamau Tiger Reserve
* Chota Nagpur Plateau
* Palamu Forts

Districts|

* Garhwa
* Latehar
* Palamu
* List of Jharkhand districts ranked by literacy rate

Community development
blocks|

| Latehar|

* Balumath
* Chandwa

|

Palamu|

* Bishrampur
* Chainpur
* Chatarpur
* Daltanganj
* Hussainabad
* Lesliganj
* Manatu
* Pandu
* Panki
* Patan
* Satbarwa

Rivers, waterfalls, dams|

* Amanat
* Auranga
* Burha
* Damodar
* Kanhar
* North Koel
* Son
* Punpun
* Lodh or Burhaghaugh Falls
* Lower Ghaghri Falls

Languages, people|

* Hindi
* Kurukh
* Mundari
* Sadri
* Santali

Transport|

* National Highway 75
* National Highway 138
* National Highway 22
* South Eastern Railway zone

Mining activities|

* Daltonganj Coalfield

Lok Sabha constituencies|

* Palamu

Vidhan Sabha
constituencies|

| Chatra|

* Latehar
* Panki
* Manika

|

Palamu|

* Daltonganj
* Garhwa
* Bhawanathpur
* Chhatarpur
* Hussainabad

See also|

* Cities and towns in Palamu Division
* Villages in Palamu district
* Son Basin

Other divisions|

* North Chotanagpur
* South Chotanagpur
* Kolhan
* Santhal Pargana

* v
* t
* e

Son basin

Rivers|

* Auranga
* Amanat
* Burha
* Kanhar
* North Koel
* Rihand
* Son

Dams, barrages|

* Bansagar Dam
* Indrapuri Barrage
* Rihand Dam

Geographical features|

* Maikal Hills
* Kaimur Range
* Chota Nagpur Plateau

Riparian districts|

| Madhya Pradesh|

* Anuppur
* Shahdol
* Sidhi
* Singrauli

|

Chhattisgarh|

* Jaspur
* Surguja

Uttar Pradesh|

* Sonbhadra

Jharkhand|

* Garhwa
* Palamu
* Ranchi
* Gumla

Bihar|

* Aurangabad
* Rohtas
* Arwal
* Bhojpur
* Patna

Languages/people|

* Baiga
* Gondi people
* Kurukh
* Munda
* Hindi
* Bagheli
* Bhojpuri

Coalfields|

* Sohagpur
* Umaria
* Singrauli

Transport|

* NH 75
* Grand Trunk Road
* NH 2
* NH 30
* NH 98
* Howrah–Delhi main line
* Grand Chord
* Gaya–Mughalsarai section
* Koilwar Bridge
* Nehru Setu
* Jawahar Setu

Other basins|

* Damodar
* Godavari
* Kosi
* Mahanadi–Brahmani–Baitarani
* Narmada

24°01′48″N 84°04′12″E﻿ / ﻿24.03000°N 84.07000°E﻿ / 24.03000; 84.07000

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States
* France
* BnF data
* Israel

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