Royally Rocking! Sang - E - Marmar of The Heart of India
Written by : Amita Roy
Dated: January 09,2018
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Marble Rocks of Bhedaghat © Amita Roy
Sang - E - Marmar, an oft repeated term associated in depicting the luxury of an aristocratic or royal architecture in the alleys and daily lives of royal families and nobility since Mughal era had it's linguistic origins in Arabia. It traveled to India since the Turkish invasions. Sang means stone, Marmar means white in Arabic. But why are we speaking of Sang - E - Marmar here?!
Sang - E - Marmar is nothing but white marble stones. Marble is a form of hard crystalline metamorphic of lime stone with colored streaks, which can be polished, mostly used in sculptures and architectures. Geologically, India had been blessed with vast reservoir of marble stones which on record, since Islamic rule started in 13th century, had been used in various forms, especially for the rich, elite and powerful class. The grandest example of white Marble is certainly Taj Mahal built in 17th century in Agra, made of Makrana variety. Beside Makrana, other varieties of marbles found in India are Rajnagar, Andhi, Salumber, Yellow, Bidasar, Ambaji, Abu Aswad, Katni, Jabalpur, Green Marble.
But it is the Jabalpur marble which befits the term - Sang - E - Marmar as they are dolomitic marble of excellent whiteness, often used for industrial purposes.
Jabalpur, located in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh is a growing industrial hub well connected to the rest of the country by rail, air and roads. It is the Marble Rocks of Jabalpur which is also a major tourist attraction for many people visiting the place. The marble found over here are white in color and normally quite cheap in price when used for construction or interior decoration purposes for nearby residential or official hubs. Marble Rocks are actually a gorge along the River Narmada which flows through entire Madhya Pradesh. The gorge was so narrow earlier that monkeys could cross over from one side to another, giving it a local name, ‘Bandar-Kudni’ or ‘Monkey Jumping Place’!!
These white marbles are closer in hardness to soft stone and can easily be scalped out using a scalpel. The area also has blue and green marble, making some parts of Narmada appear, blue and green. Once you reach Bhedaghat in Jabalpur, take a boat ride which is damn cheap and just enjoy the great view that comes along as you go. The ride ends as we approach the Dhuandhar Falls. The area has cable cars, row boats and customized guided tours as per requirements.
