Banda District is a district of Uttar Pradesh state of India, and Banda is the district headquarters. It is a part of Chitrakoot Division. The district is divided into four tehsils, Banda, Naraini, Baberu and Atarra. The district largely consists of irregular uplands with outcrops of rocks intermingling with lowlands, which are frequently under water during the rainy season. The Baghein River traverses the district from south-west to north-east. Other important rivers are the Ken River in the east and the Yamuna to the north. In 1998, the tehsils of Karwi and Mau, formerly part of Banda District, became the new Chitrakoot District. The economy is predominantly agricultural, with the main crops being paddy rice, wheat and vegetables. Banda is famous for its Shajar stone, used for making jewellery, and the historically and architecturally significant sites Khajuraho and Kalinjar. Khajuraho is a World Heritage Site famous for its elaborately carved temples. The fortress of Kalinjar is famed for its war history and its glorious rock sculptures.
