Singrauli has a rich history which dates back to almost the Prehistoric periods. It is a place which is straddling the old and the new with aplomb. While industrial development has given rise to new and modern architectural wonders, the city also preserves it natural heritage which is reflected in its rock cut caves, cave paintings etc. Some of the important places to visit in Singrauli are:

Mada Caves

This area has a group of rock cut caves made in the 7-8th century AD in Mada, 32 km from Waidhan. The Mada caves are situated in Mada tehsil of Singrauli district. Famous caves include VivahMada, Ganesh Mada and Shankar Mada, Jaljalia and RavanMada. Besides rock cut caves, Singrauli also has painted rock shelters. Ranimachi, Dholagiri and Gourapahad lie in Chitrangi tehsil of Singrauli. These painted rock shelters belong to the Mesolithic age of microlithic implements culture. These paintings are representative of the early history of Indian art and are made of red ochre.

Vivah Mada

Vivah Mada is one of the caves in the series and it is a single long cave divided into three portions. This cave faces north and the legend has it that Lord Ram and Sita were married in this very cave. The cave is built such that there are rooms, which are supported, by pillars and large verandahs all around with a Shivling in the middle. It is a two-storey structure but only the lower storey has survived today but some evidences of an upper storey construction are still visible.

Shankar Mada- Ganesh Mada Caves

These are twin caves, with Ganesh Mada facing north and Shankar Mada facing south. Ganesh Mada consists of three rooms of which the middle room contains of the Shivling on a raised platform made of stone. The most fascinating aspect of this cave is that the entrance to the cave lies on the top, in the roof of the cave, which also has a Ganesh statue. Shankar mada caves is carved out of the same mountain on the other side as the Ganesh Mada and has a statue of Lord Shiva in Natraj avatar. There are also two Shivalingas on top of the mountain with the large one called Pathiya and the smaller one called Paila.

Raavan Mada Caves

These caves are north-east facing and also cut out of a single mountain. This cave has some of the most beautiful architectural nuances and is one of the most famous in the region. Legend has it that Raavan stayed in this very cave resulting in it being called Raavan Mada.

Jaljaliya Mada Caves

This cave complex consists of two caves of which one is a temple cave and the other is an underground cave which in the form of a pool. The temple consists of Lord Shiva statue and the statue of a goddess. The most interesting aspect is that the pool cave has an unidentified source of water and was probably used as a bathing pool in ancient times. Legend has it that the devotees who used to come to the temple for worship probably used the underground bathing pool to bathe and wash and the cave as changing rooms. About 200 meters away from this cave, there is a small temple dedicated to Goddess Sita known as Sita Kuti. Near this is a small waterfall, which is also known as the wish-fulfilling waterfall and hence popular among the locals.

Jhinga Jhariya

This is about 4km away from the Mada cave complex and the Mada market. This is a popular picnic spot. The most interesting aspect is that there is a river which flows right through the forest making it ideal for a fun day out in the woods with the family.

Best time to Visit

The best time to visit is from October to March as summers can get very hot in Central India. But the best time to enjoy the local culture and traditions is during the Diwali fair held coinciding with the Diwali week.

Painted Rock Shelters

The painted rock shelters at Dhaulagiri, Chitrangi tehsil are living examples of Prehistoric man’s perception of art. The paintings in these caves are of Mesolithic micro stone implement culture. These paintings depict early man’s day to day life and his surroundings like the animals, trees etc. The paintings belong to different time periods and give us a view into the life of the early civilizations which inhabited the region.

Rihand dam

Rihand river is an important tributary of river Son which rises from the Matiranga hills and traverses the region of Singrauli before joining the Son. Rihand dam was constructed in 1962 for hydropower generation and the reservoir impounded behind the dam is called Govind Vallabh Pant Sagar. This dam is both an engineering marvel and also a scenic tourist destination. The view during the monsoons is particularly breathtaking when the water is in full flow and all the gates of the dam are opened.

Tippa Jhariya Dam

Located in the Jhingurdah area of the Northern Coalfields Ltd., this dam is maintained by the Jhingurdah project. Surrounded by plush greenery, this place is a popular tourist destination and a famous picnic spot.

Chilka Park, Shaktinagar

This lake and park is a part of the Shaktinagar area of the NTPC colony. It is a scenic spot in the midst of lush green cover and an ideal getaway from the bustle of the city. The industrial townships have incorporated the natural scenic locales into their layout making these ideal pockets of greenery and also areas of breathtaking views.

Rose Garden (Jayant Project)

The Rose garden of the Jayant Project of the Northern Coalfields Ltd is another scenic spot ideal for family picnics and quiet getaways. This is also a part of the Industrial Township and beautifully curated and maintained garden with stunningly picturesque views.

Jwalamukhi temple

This temple is located in Shaktingar and dedicated to Goddess Jwalamukhi. It is believed that this Goddess has the powers to fulfill the desires of her devotees and hence is one of the most popular temples in the region. The devotees tie coconuts and pray in this temple to please the Goddess. The Temple fair held during Rama Navami is very popular and celebrated with much fanfare.

Hanuman Temple

The Adi Hanuman Temple is located in the Jhingurdah Project of the Northern Coalfields Ltd. and is maintained by the Jhingurdah Society. This temple is very popular for worship and the surrounding area of Tippa Jhariya is a famous tourist spot. The most interesting feature of this temple is that it lies in the region bordering the states of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh; hence few of the stairs leading to the temple lie in the Madhya Pradesh side while the rest of the stairs lie on the Uttar Pradesh side of the border.