SHAHDOL

also spelled Sahdol, town, northeastern Madhya Pradesh state, central India. It lies along the Murna River, about 110 miles (177 km) northwest of Bilaspur. The town is an agricultural market and is a rail and road junction. It has a government college and a law school affiliated with Awadesh Pratap Singh University. Hindu ruins situated just southeast of the town date from the 12th century. The surrounding area consists of a portion of the former Rewa princely state and occupies the upper Son River valley between the Kaimur and Maikala ranges. Rice, millet, wheat, and sesame are the chief crops grown in the region. Pop. (1981) town, 44,342; metropolitan area, 49,631.