Panna famous by the name of ‘The City of Diamonds’ is only 45 KM from Khajuraho situated between the picturesque mountain ranges of Vindhyanchal, north-east part of Madhya Pradesh. The current form of Panna district is in combination with Panna and Ajaygarh State, Charkhari, Bijawar, Chhatarpur and United Provinces.
In the Puranas, the ancient name of Panna is known asPadmavati Puri. In the 41st canto of Valmiki Ramayana, Sugriva has mentioned its name as Kilkila Khand (the place of origin).
It is believed that this region is also known as the capital of King Dadhichi and the capital of King Padmavati in Satyuga. Panna district is a historical town and it has been mentioned in Vishnu Purana and Padma Purana. Panna district was also known as Kilkila region in ancient times. The goddess Padmavati of Nagavansh whose temple is still present on the banks of river Kilkila. This place was named Panna because of Goddess Padmavati. First it was named Padma then Parna Waterfall, finally its name was changed to Panna.
A predecessor state was founded by one of the Raj Gond chiefs of the area around 1450. Almost three centuries later Panna was the capital chosen by a leader Chhatar Sal, the founder of Panna State, after leading a revolt against the Mughal Empire. He established an alliance with the Maratha Peshwa and made Panna his capital. After conquering Mahoba in 1680 Chhatar Sal extended his rule over most of Bundelkhand. Upon his death in 1731, his kingdom was divided among his sons, with one-third of the kingdom going to his son-in-law, the Peshwa Baji Rao.
The name of Panna district is named after the Padmavati Devi Ji temple near Panna District Headquarters. Panna is also known as the town of Maharaja Chhatrasal.
The famous temple of Padmavatipuri Dham, adorned with divine luster, is located in Panna town at the center of Vindhyachal in Madhya Pradesh. The itinerant sage Mahamati Prannath and his disciples reached Panna with a divine message of awakening one’s soul. Seeing a desert island, he decided to unfurl the flag of Jagani there. He helped the king Chhatrasal and adorned him with the title of Maharaja. He remained there for eleven years, and took samadhi inside the dome. The place, therefore, is known as the seat of salvation or Padmavatipuri Dham.
Panna has Diamond Mines, as well as famous for its ancient and beautiful temples. For this reason it is also called ‘City of Temples’. The temple of Shri Prannath Ji, Badi Devi Mandir, Jugal Kishor Ji, Ram Janki Ji and Shri Baldev Ji located here are famous among the pilgrims. Panna also has a National Park where Panna Tiger Reserve and many rare wildlife are found.
The tourists also go to visit Kalinjar Fort which is 60 KM & Ajaygarh Fort which is only 35 KM far from Panna.