The area in the eastern part of the state of MP and the adjoining southern part of Sonbhadra district in the state of UP is collectively known as Singrauli. Singrauli is emerging as India’s Energy capital, the place earlier known as Shringavali, named after the sage Shringi, was once upon a time covered with dense and unnavigable forests and inhabited by wild animals. The place was considered so treacherous that it was used by the Kings of Rewa State, who ruled the area till 1947, as an open air prison for detaining errant civilians and officers.
Just two generations ago, small holders were tending their parcels of land here, and the original inhabitants were gathering honey and herbs in the forest. In the late fifties, a large scale dam banked up the water of the River Rihand. The dam known as Govind Vallabh Pant Sagar, was inaugurated by Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru in 1962. Later, rich coal deposits spread over an area of 2200 km² in the state of M.P. (eastern part of Sidhi District) and U.P. (southern part of Sonebhadra District) were discovered close to the artificial lake that could be used to generate electricity.
On 24 may 2008 ,Madhya Pradesh government has declared Singrauli as its 50th district by separating from Sidhi with 3 tehsils viz. Singrauli, Chitrangi and Deosar.On 1 April 2012 two new tehsils are added viz. Mada and Sarai.
This area has group of Rock cut caves made in 7-8th century A.D. in Mada which is 32 km from waidhan.Mada is situated in Mada tehsil of Singrauli district.Famous caves include Vivah Mada, Ganesh Mada and Shankar mada, Jaljalia and Ravan Mada.These caves are not only a beautiful examples of rock cut caves but it is spendid also from the point of view of iconography.
Besides rock cut caves, singrauli also has Painted rock shelters. Ranimachi, Dholagiri and Goura pahad lies in Chitrangi tehsil of Singrauli.These painted rock shelters belong to the Mesolithic age of Microlithic implememts culture.These
