AMBIKAPUR

formerly Surguja, also called Bisrampur town, eastern Madhya Pradesh state, central India. The town, then known as Surguja, was the capital of the former Surguja princely state. Connected by road with Dharmjaygarh, Patna, and Sonhat, it is heavily engaged in agricultural trade and is a major coal collection and distribution centre. The surrounding region once consisted of the princely states of Surguja, Changbhakar, and Korea. It is a fertile central plateau surrounded on the north, east, and south by massive hill barriers and tablelands. Rice, wheat, and oilseeds are the chief agricultural products of the region around Ambikapur. Forest products are also economically significant. Pop. (1991 prelim.) town, 50,278; metropolitan area, 53,228.