Murwara

Murwara, also called Katni, city, east-central Madhya Pradesh state, central India. It is situated in an upland basin on the Katni River, a tributary of the Mahanadi River.

Murwara was the property of a wealthy Brahman family. The city’s name is derived from mund (“head”) to commemorate the fact that an ancestor of the family lost his head in battle. Murwara was constituted a municipality in 1874.

It is a rail junction and a leading trade centre. Major industries include rice and flour milling, fuller’s-earth processing, and various manufactures. Important bauxite and limestone works are nearby. Murwara has an industrial school. Pop. (2001) 187,029; (2011) 221,883.