Pawai

Geography

Pawai is located at 24.27°N 80.17°E / 24.27; 80.17. It has an average elevation of 344 metres (1128 feet). Pawai is the administrative headquarters of Pawai tehsil, one of the largest tehsils of Panna district. It is situated on the bank of River Patne (Devanāgarī देवनागरी- पतने नदी)

Temples

It is having alongside the Mata Kalehi Temple (Devanāgarī देवनागरी- कलेही माता). Pawai has an old Hanuman temple known as Hanuman Bhata (Devanāgarī देवनागरी- हनुमान भाटा). Under the pawai taluka Kuataal mela is organised in every chaitra Ram navmi near the Badkhera & Banouli gram about 30 km from Pawai.It is a large fest with many shops,food stalls & other activities. Pawai is surrounded by hills. Shiva statue situated near maa kalehi temple is worth watching.It is 24 ft. statue gives beautiful view of maa kalehi temple & sorroundings.

Transport

Pawai is connected by road from Katni (60 km) and its district headquarters Panna (62 km). Bus facility is available from both the places on an hourly basis; the nearest railway station is Katni Junction (60 km) and Satna. The bus stand serves as a medium of transportation to the people living there to other villages and cities. Other places from where one can reach by bus route are Satna, Chhatarpur, Jhasi (via Chhatarpur) and Jabalpur.The nearest airport is the DUMNA Airport in Jabalpur which is 150 km from Pawai.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Pawai had a population of 12,003. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Pawai has an average literacy rate of 57%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 65%, and female literacy is 47%. In Pawai, 19% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Employment

Agriculture is main source of the livelihood and due to lack of irrigation facilities people depend on a single crop. People are mainly dependent on monsoons for crops. Most cultivated crops are Wheat, Grams, Pulses.

Education

Pawai is known for some disciplined and developing schools in panna, among these are Saraswati Higher Secondary school and Govt. Higher Secondary School. Saraswati H S school run by Saraswati Shiksha Parisad, Madhya Pradesh is well known in the division for discipline, culture and giving Merits in Board Exams. Govt. Govt. PG college is one college in the division.

Climate

Sub-tropical climate. Summers are somewhat scorching and temperature touches 40–45 Celsius. Winters are cold and comfortable and the minimum temperature generally remains under 8°C. Monsoon touches this region in June and continues till mid-September. The best time to visit is during winters (October to February).

Places of interest

The major place to visit in Pawai includes the glorious and a master piece of old architect Pele Kothi at Latoriya Mohalla. It is believed that, Peli Kothi was the residence of the Kings of Pawai; the Latoriyas who were famous for their courage and kind bigheartedness. The latest descendants of Latoriya dynasty includes young Manu Latoriya; currently working as a corporate lawyer.

Mata Kalehi Temple, situated alongside river of Patne, is temple among visitors, also known for its annual festival, pawai mela in the area. The area where the river patne and Mata Kalehi Temple is situated is known as Kalehan. Pawai is also having an old Hanuman Temple Known as Hanuman Bhata (Devanāgarī देवनागरी- हनुमान भाटा). Pyramid-shaped hillock known as Toriya is also well known among visitors.There is also a Jain temple which is very famous. Silver Fall(regionally known as Chande) (approx 10 km) during Monsoon season, it is full of greenery and flanked by dargah of Baba Jhoolan Shah.Pawai have an other interesting place named Panni naala next distance 3 km from silver fall.