Panna

Location
Panna Wildlife Sanctuary was created in year 1981 and was declared a project Tiger Reserve by Government of India in year 1994. Panna is beautifully calm and serene. Various roll-on meadows dotted with evergreen trees, rocks, hills and forests Panna is famous for its temples, which strikes a very fine blend of Hindu and Muslim architecture. The region is also an abode to some of the best wildlife species in India and is one of the better Tiger Reserves in the country. Panna Wildlife Sanctuary is the 22nd Tiger Reserve of India and 5th in the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India. The park is known worldwide for its wild cats, including tigers as well as deer and antelope. Panna has a very important place in the history of diamond deposits and exploration. Here, the Arthashastra & Mahabharata described the brightest and precious stone - Diamond. The Arabian Knights has added an episode on the Valley of Diamonds, referring to India. The only Diamond City in India is Panna.

Geographical Location
Panna Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the central Indian State of Madhya Pradesh. It forms the northern district of Sagar Commissionerate Division. The district extends from 23o45" N to 25o10" N and from 79o45' E to 80o40' E and its area extends upto 543 sq.-km The shape of district is roughly triangular. The river Ken passes through the park, adding to its scenic beauty. Situated in the Vindhya Mountain Ranges, the park sprawls over Panna and Chattarpur districts in the north of the state. It is close to Khajuraho and forms an ideal halt for people going to Bandhavgarh and Kanha national parks.

History
The oldest reference to Panna is in the Ramayana and various Puranas. The ancient name of Panna was Padmawati-Puri, mentioned in Vishnu Puran and Bhavishya Puran. In the 41st sarg of Valmiki Ramayan Sugriv describes it as Kilkila-Khand and Shrimad Bhagwat calls it Kilkila Pradesh. According to local believers it was the capital of Raja Dadhichi and also of Raja Padmavat during satyug. That was Swami Pran Nathji who told Raja Chhatrasal Bundela, a great medieval warrior, regarding the diamond mines of Panna and thus strengthened his financial position. He also persuaded Chhatrasal to make Panna his capital and arranged his coronation there.

Panna district of today has been carved mainly out of former princely states of Panna and Ajaigarh. Originally a Gond settlement up to the thirteenth century, it was raised to importance by Raja Chhatrasal Bundela who made it his capital.

From explorations, it is proved that primitive men inhabited the district in the earlier pre-historic period. During the Ramayan period the Panna region seems to have been included in the great Dandkaranya. The district was the part of the vast empires of Mauryas, Shungas and Imperial Guptas. From the middle of the 10th century AD to the second half of the 13th century, the Chandellas kingdom included Khajuraho, Kalingar and Ajaigarh. When the Bundelas came to power in the 17th century, the area came to be known as Bundelkhand.

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