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During my stay, I had the opportunity to roam around the village, and to interact with the villagers. At that time, I was totally unaware about its earlier history. Though I had heard about the National Park of Shivpuri, and that it was earlier included within the princely state of Gwalior, I still did not know much about the actual history or even the significance of other places within Shivpuri.
Then it was a chance landmark on the highway which introduced and took me to the Historic Narwar Fort, an account of which I have already related in my earlier blog. The Hill Fort, a reminder of the strength of the earlier ruling principalities, is also an indication of how several historically important places have been left to decay almost unattended and unnoticed. Several other neglected sites around Narwar also need to be fully explored in order to recreate a complete picture of the earlier eras, missing so far from our History Books.
I was pleasantly surprised at Satanwada, when I encountered a vast multitude of archaeological remains, which lay scattered around in sheer neglect. Invaluable statues and carvings which should have found their places of respect in historical museums, were seen lying around either in the debris covered by bushy growth, or as readymade construction material used in the dwellings of people. Another lot remained scattered around to be found by the inquisitive visitor.
Even in the state of neglect, the remains clearly demonstrated the historical importance of Satanwada, and also vindicated the origin of its name. The name Satanwada is probably derived from “Santan wada” i.e. the abode of Saints indicating the inhabitation by religious mendicants at the place in the past. It must once have been a holy town and is likely to have been a centre of pilgrimage.
To be continued........