Umaria is an important north eastern district in shahdol division of Madhya Pradesh state, having a global location between north latitude 2338' to 2420' and east longitude 8028' to 8212'. The town of Umaria is the district headquarters. The district is part of Shahdol Division. The total geographical area of the district sums up to 4548 square kilometers and has a population of 515,963. Umaria is enriched with its vast resources of forests and minerals. The coal mines are a steady source of revenue for the district. The most important mineral found in the district is coal and as a result 8 mines are being operated by South Eastern Coalfields Limited in the district. The famous Bandhavgarh National Park (Tala) and Sanjay Gandhi Thermal Power Station at Mangthar (Pali) are located in the district. Umaria was formerly the headquarters of the South Rewa District and thereafter the headquarters town of the Bandhavgarh tehsil. It is situated at a distance of about 69 km. from Shahdol, the parent district. Metalled roads connect the town with Katni, Rewa Shahdol, etc., on which regular buses ply. Umaria is also a railway station on the Katni-Bilaspur section of the South-Eastern Railway. As of 2011 it is the second least populous district of Madhya Pradesh (out of 50), after Harda.[1]
