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Named as Daityavakra in the Mahabharata, the city of Datia is blessed with history and divinity. The city is home to numerous temples, with a few of them dating back to the prehistoric times; due to this fact, the place is fondly called Laghu Vrindavan which in translation means Small Vrindavan.
The city of Datia is home to countless stories which date back to time immemorial; they take you back in time and leave you awestruck. Datia was a former princely state in the Bundelkhand region and lies near Gwalior, surrounded by other princely states of Central India with an exception made in the eastern direction, where it borders with the United Provinces.
Formed in the year 1626, the place along with the rest of the Bundelkhand agency became a part of Vindhya Pradesh in 1950; later in 1956 Vindhya Pradesh and a few other areas merged to form the state of Madhya Pradesh.
Places To Visit
1. Sonagiri Temples
PC: Official Site
Sonagiri is a hillock which is home to a large number of Jain temples which were built in the 9th and 10th centuries. The place is considered very holy amongst the followers of Jainism, as it is believed that it was the place where millions of saints are said to have attained enlightenment. There are 77 temples on the hill and many more in the village below, the main temple here is the 57th one which is dedicated to 8th Tirthankara Bhagavan Chandraprabhu.
2. Bir Singh Palace
PC: Official Site
Also known as the Datia Palace, the Bir Singh Palace is located on one of the hills over which the town is formed. The gorgeous palace is built entirely with only stone and bricks in a square form with four octagonal towers, one at each corner, and showcases beautiful stone lattice work across five storeys.
3. Peetambara Peeth
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Peetambara Peeth is a complex of temples; according to legends the place was the Tapasthal to many mythological characters as well as saints living amongst us. The Shivalingam at the shrine of Shree Vankhandeswar is said to be as old as the Mahabharata, the place is also one of the Shakti Peethas in the country and witnesses a large number of visitors throughout the year.
4. Unao Balaji Temple
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The Unao Balaji Temple is a very rare shrine dedicated to the sun god and is well known for its unique architecture. The deity is installed in a brick platform which is covered with black-plates and has 21 triangles engraved in the shrine; the triangles represent the 21 phases of the sun. The deity is well known for curing skin ailments; you have to dip in the river Pahuj flowing below the temple.
How To Reach
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By Air: The nearest airport is the Gwalior airport which is located at a distance of 67 km from here. The airport has regular flights connecting to major airports across the country, such as Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, etc.
By Train: Datia has a railway station of its own which is well connected to major towns and cities across the state of Madhya Pradesh as well as to a number of cities outside the state, such as Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, etc.
By Road: One of the best ways to reach the place is by road, as it offers excellent connectivity by road transport which are either government-run or run by private agents. Jhansi is located at a distance of 40 km from here, while Bhopal is located at a distance of 363 km.
