Tikamgarh city is the head quarter of the Tikamgarh district. The district takes its name from the head quarter town as Tihri, in Orchha state. In the year 1783 Raja Vikramajit shifted his capital from Orchha town to Tihri and renamed it as Tilakgarh. Tilakgarh officially got approved its name on 1887.

History
Tikamgarh district was the part of vast empires successively ruled by the Mayuras, the Sungas and the Guptas. It was in the first quarter of ninth century A.D., that Mannuka founded a new dynasty as Chandella in this area. Tikamgarh was at that time came under this dynasty. Then successively it was ruled by Khangras and then by Bundelas. In 16th century Bundeli chief Raja Rudra Pratap, changed his capital to Tihri, about 40 kilometer south of Orchha, where Tikamgarh fort was situated and the capital was named after it as Tikamgarh. Until independence of India, Tikamgarh was called as Tehri.

Geography
Tikamgarh is situated in the northern part of Madhya Pradesh. It extends between the latitude 24° 26` and 25° 34`N between 78° 26` and 79° 21`Longitudes. The maximum length of the district is 119 kilometer. Tikamgarh district east is bounded by Chhatarpur, west by Lalitpur district of Uttar Pradesh, southern part by Sagar and northern part by Jhansi.

The maximum temperature of the district is 43° C and minimum is 23° C. except monsoon the climate is very dry through out the year. The average rainfall of the city is 40 inch. Two big rivers bound the western and eastern boundaries of Tikamgarh. The Betwa flows and Dahsan. Both the rivers flows towards the northeast.

Economy
Most of the people are surviving through cultivation. Both the kharif and rabi are important in this district.
The main corps of this district are Jower, Wheat, Paddy, Urad, till, Soya bean. Besides Gram, Moong, Masur and Tur dal are cultivated under different pulses. Rape, Mustard and linseed are the prominent oil seeds cultivated.Well, Canal, Tank are the main source of irrigation in Tikamgarh.

There is no any large or small industry in Tikamgarh. Only minor village industries such as woodwork units, handlooms weaving, pottery, brick making, utensil making and golden, silver and lac ornaments making are running by the village artisans class who inherited the skill of their craft.

Government and Politics
As usual other districts, the collector is the chief functionary of the State Government and is the chief coordinating authority at the district level.

Transport
By Air: Gwalior is the nearest airport to Tikamgarh.

By Rail: Nearest railhead lies at Jhansi, lying on Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Jhansi main lines.

By Road: There are regular bus services connected to Orchha.

Division
Tikamgarh district has divided into six tehsils. Mainly grouped into three subdivisions of Tikamgarh, Niwari and Jatara. The Tikamgarh subdivision compreises Tikamgarh and Baldeogarh tehsils, Niwari subdivision comprises Niwari and Prithvipur tehsils, Jatara subdivision comprises Jatara and Palera tehsils.

Demographics

As per 2001 Census, Tikamgarh had a population of 68,572. Male constitute 53% and female 47% of the total population.15% of the total population is coming under six year of age. Tikamgarh has an average literacy rate of 71%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. Male literacy rate is 77% and female literacy rate is 63%.

Culture
In Madhya Pradesh different religion people are living so festivals are also celebrating in a broader sense. There are many numerous festivals including Buddhist festival, Christian festival, Hindus festivals, Jain Festivals, Muslim Festivals. Except all these few local tribal festivals of Tikamgarh are Madai, Bhagoriya, Dussehra of Bastar, Karma

Tikamgarh city has one library named Devendra Pustakalaya, established in the year 1930. Now it is changed as district Library.

Visiting Places of Tikamgarh
Ahar- A village of Baldeogarh tehsils Ahar lies on the side of Tikamgarh-Chhattarpur road at a distance of 25 km. This village was once an important Jain centre. There are three old Jain temples located in this village, from which one have an image of Shantinath, having height of 20 feet.

Achroo Mata- This temple comes under Prithvipur tehsils. This Ahroo Mata temple is famous for its kund, which is never dried. Every year in the month of March and April, there is a fair organized during Nav Durga festival.

Baldeogarh-It is a rock fort situated on the Tikamgarh- Chhatarpur road at a distance of 26 km from Tikamgarh. It is standing above the beautiful tank Gwal-Sagar. This area is also known for its betel-leaf cultivation. The importance of the temple lies in its famous temple of Vindhya Vasini Devi. An annual seven days VindyaVasini fair is organize in the month of Chaitra.

Kundar - Kundar was the capital of the state till 1539 when it was shifted to Orchha. On the top of the small hill stands a fort built by Maharaja Birsingh Dev.

Kundeshwar- This palace is famous for Kundadev, Mahadev temple. In the south of this place there is a picnic spot known as `Barighar` with a beautiful water fall known as `Usha water fall. Annually three big melas or fairs are organized in Kundeshwar.

Madkhera- In this village there is a famous Sun temple is situated. Its entrance is from east and one Sun idol was established there.

Orchha- Orchha is a famous village of Prithvipur tehsils. It is famous religious center of Hindus. This place is full of religious cultures, which includes Ram Raja Temple, Jahangir Mahal, Chaturbuj Temple, Laxmi Temple, Phool Bagshish Mahal, Kanchana Ghat, Chandra Sekhar Azad Memorial, and Keshav Mahal etc.

Papora- It is an old village famous for its Jain temples. The village contains total 80 Jain temples. The famous Jain temple of twenty-four Tirthankaras is the main attraction of devotees. Every year a famous Jain fair is organized in the month of Kartika Sudi Purnima.

Prithvipur-This place is famous for its temples and forts. Among various temples Somnath temple, Ramjanki temple and Atan ke Hanumanji temple are more famous.

Education
Except the schools there are six Degree and Post Graduate colleges and few other professional Institutions.

They are: -

•Govt.Post Graduate College, Tikamgarh
•Govt. Birangana Rani Avanti Bai Lodhi Girls College.
•Govt Degree College, Niwari
•Govt. Degree College, Prithvipur.
•Govt. Degree College, Palera
•Govt. Degree College, Jatara
•Govt. Polytechnic Tikamgarh.
•Govt Technical School Tikamgarh.
•Basic Training Institute, Kundeshwar.
•School for the cultivation of fine Arts, Music and Dancing
•Govt. Devendra Sanskrit Vidyalaya, Tikamgarh.