Della Moris
Located on the Malwa plateau, Dewas is an ancient city in Madhya Pradesh. During the early 18th century, the Puar clan of Marathas had a stronghold on the city. In British India, Dewas served as the capital of two princely states. In present times, the city is most-known for its many popular temples and historical monuments.
The name ‘Dewas’ can be loosely translated to ‘Devon ka vaas’ meaning ‘Abode of the Gods’. The city is named after the Devi Vashini Hill, which stands in the centre of the town. Also known as the ‘Devi ki Tekri’, this conical hill houses the temples of Devi Tulja Bhavani, Chamunda Mata, and Kalika Mata.
Some of the best sights to see in Dewas are:
Dewas Tekri
The Dewas Tekri is located right in the centre of the city. With an elevation of about 91 meters, this hill is the highest point in Dewas. Tourists can get a clear bird’s eye view of the entire city from the top of the hill. The Tekri is visited by large number of tourists who come here to pay their respects to Devi Tulja Bhawani, Chamunda Mata and Kalika Mata. There are two paths to climb up the hill – one you have to walk on a steep slope way, and second you have to climb up a difficult flight of stone steps. It is a beautiful route with scenic views. There is another alternative too, a ropeway facility run by Damodar Ropeways & Infra Limited [DRIL], a leading ropeway constriction company. This 400 meter long ropeway ride starts from the base of the hill to the Chamunda Mata Temple, and has been operational since 2017. Visitors can enjoy a memorable ropeway riding experience at Dewas.
Pawar Chattries
The Meetha Talaab Lake is a picturesque natural site with serene surroundings. Located right next to it are the Pawar Chatries of Dewas, a living testament to the bygone era of Maratha rule. These majestic structures adorned with beautiful designs will surely be a highlight of the trip for any architecture or history lover. They tell a forgotten tale of the splendor and royalty of the Maratha kings.
Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary
Established in 1955, the Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Dewas District of Madhya Pradesh. Spread over an area of 122.7 sq km, this dry deciduous forest mainly consists of teak and bamboo species. It is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna including leopards, tigers, chital, sambar, blue bull, four-horned antelope, wild boar and barking deer. The sanctuary is also rich in bird life with around 125 species of birds found here.
Kela Devi Temple
The Kela Devi or Kaila Devi Temple in Dewas is the largest Kaila Devi Temple in Madhya Pradesh. Built by South Indian artists, the temple houses a 51 foot statue of Lord Hanuman. It was established in the year 1995. The original Kaila Devi Temple is located on the banks of the Kalisil River in Karauli district of Rajasthan. The temple is devoted to the tutelary deity, Goddess Kaila Devi, of the former princely rulers of the Karauli state.
Mahadev Temple
Located in Shankar Garh on top of a hill, the Mahadev Temple was built by the Dewas ruler Shrimant Sadashive Rao Maharaja (Khase Saheb) in the year 1942. In olden days, of Hindu religious saints used to stay here and impart their religious teachings to the residents of Dewas.
Mahakaleshwar Bilawali Temple
Situated about 3km north of Dewas, the Mahakaleshwar temple in Bilavali village is another major attraction for the tourists. It is believed that the size of the Shivling in this temple increases every year.
So as you see, Dewas is full of amazing places to visit. From temples to exotic wildlife, Dewas is a great destination for a weekend getaway.
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