Darekasa, with in
1971 a population of 186 is a small village in Gondia tahsil situated on
the railway line. It was the headquarters of the former Darekasa
zamindari. There are some interesting caves, partly natural and party
artificial, in the Chandsuraj hills near here. They are called Kachgad
or iron fort, kacha being the Gondi word for iron. About 200 persons can
sit in one cave formed out of single rock. In a well-known Gond folk
song recorded by Rev. Mr. Hislop, Mahadev is said to have shut up
the Gonds in the Kachikopa Lohagad or " The iron cave of the red
hill" closing the mouth of the cave with large boulder.
Lingo, the leader of the tribe, rolled away the stone and liberated 16
score of Gonds who were the ancestors of the whole tribe. It is quit
possible that the scene of this legend may have been taken from Darekasa.
At a little distance from Darekasa there is a waterfall forming into a
fine pool known as Ramidoh with some picturesque scenery.