Kulpahar कुलपहाड़ |
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City | |
View of the city from Senapati palace
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Location in Uttar Pradesh, India | |
Coordinates: 25°19′08″N 79°38′28″E / 25.319°N 79.641°ECoordinates: 25°19′08″N 79°38′28″E / 25.319°N 79.641°E | |
Country | India |
State | Uttar Pradesh |
Region | Bundelkhand |
District | Mahoba |
Named for | Clan mountain |
Government | |
• Type | City council |
• Body | Kulpahar Municipality |
• Chairperson | Mrs Vimala Devi Anuragi |
Area | |
• Total | 2.75 km2 (1.06 sq mi) |
Population (2011) | |
• Total | 20,096 |
• Density | 7,334/km2 (18,990/sq mi) |
Languages | |
• Official | Hindi |
Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
PIN | 210 426 |
Telephone code | 91-5283 |
Vehicle registration | UP-95 [1] |
Kulpahar is a city in Mahoba district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is a historical town in the Bundelkhand region. Before 11 Feb 1995 Kulpahar was a Tehsil of Hamirpur District. On 11 Feb 1995 Mahoba District was carved out of Hamirpur, and Kulpahar is now a part of the Mahoba District. Kulpahar is the largest Subdivision of Uttar Pradesh. Kulpahar is known for its closeness to Khajuraho and other historic places like Mahoba, Charkhari, Kalinjar Rath, Orchha, and Jhansi. This town holds relics of temples and man-made water bodies of the Chandela Dynasty.
Historians have different theories about the origin of its name, primarily there are two opinions about the name.
i. Two village theory - According to the Imperial gazetteer of United Province of Agra and Oudh -1909 there were two different villages Kulhua and paharia which later jointly became the town of Kulpahar; even the folklore says the same. It doesn't have any supporting evidence for the theory; it seems that the British writer of the gazetteer went by the folklore.
ii. Second theory is based on some historical facts dating back early 17th century. There was a cult gossain in the central India and one of the descendant of the followers of this cult Himmat Bahadur Gossain who actively took part in Indian freedom struggle was born in Kulpahar and Kulpahar had connection with this cult since the origin of the cult. Gossain cult is believed to be originated/started from Kulpahar. Historians who relate Kulpahar with the gossain cult gave the theory that Kulpahar word is composed of two words Kula and pahar means Clan mountain. Some relates it with a tantrik rite Kaula Tantra. Kulpahar was a site to perform secret tantrik rituals of gossain cult on a hill near Gahra lake; hence the town got its name Kaula pahar which as the time passed became Kulpahar.