Chhattisgarh Travel Guide

Chhattisgarh, situated in the heart of India, is endowed with a rich cultural heritage and attractive natural diversity. The State is full of ancient monuments, rare wildlife, exquisitely carved temples, Buddhist sites, palaces, water falls, caves, rock paintings and hill plateaus. Most of these sites are untouched and unexplored and offer a unique and alternate experience to tourists compared to traditional destinations which have become overcrowded. Chhattisgarh offers the tourist a Destination with a Difference. For those who are tired of the crowds at major destinations, Bastar, with its unique cultural and ecological identity, will come as a breath of fresh air. The Green State of Chhattisgarh has 44% of its area under forests, and is one of the richest bio-diversity areas in the country.

The State has taken a conscious decision to do away with past legacies and to adopt a fresh approach to Tourism Development. The Tourism Policy is focussed on creating a unique image for the State and to position it as an attractive destination for both domestic as well as foreign tourists. Some major objectives of this policy are :

• To promote economically, culturally and ecologically sustainable tourism in the State.
• Encourage and promote private sector initiatives in developing tourism-related infrastructure.
• Limit the role of Government to that of facilitator and provider of public goods.
• Increase the contribution of tourism to the economic development of inter- related sectors.

To harness the true potential of tourism, it is necessary to undertake large-scale development / improvement of infrastructure and create a conducive investment climate. Accordingly, the State will take up Integrated Development of Special Tourism Areas and have constructive collaboration with the Private Sector. Tourism development will be primarily driven by the private sector with the role of Government being that of a facilitator and catalyst. Towards this end, the State has set up a State Tourism Promotion Board as the nodal agency for translation of the Policy into action for the sustained development of the sector.

Eco-tourism

With 12% share of India’s forests, Chhattisgarh’s 3 National Parks and 11 Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks are a major attraction. It has several virgin attractions in protected areas such as Kanger Valley National Park, Barnawapara, Sitanadi, Udanti and Achanakmar Sanctuaries. The endangered Wild Buffalo (Bubalis bubalis) and the even more endangered Hill Myna (Graculis religiosa peninsularis) are the State Animal and State Bird respectively. The State has taken several steps for their preservation. Natural attractions are being promoted with increased local participation and encouragement to herbal gardens and natural health resorts. The mystique of aboriginal tribal ethno-medicine which predates even Ayurveda has been preserved and practised over the millenia. Mainpat (Surguja), Keshkal valley (Kanker), Chaiturgarh (Bilaspur), Bagicha (Jashpur), Kutumbsar caves, Kailash caves, Tirathgarh falls, Chitrakot falls (Bastar) are all exhilarating destinations being promoted for nature and wildlife tourism. Wildlife areas, camping grounds and trekking facilities would be few of the prime attractions.

Culture, Heritage and Ethno-Tourism
Chhattisgarh has identified and is developing ethnic villages and private sector is encouraged for proper maintenance and professional site management of important heritage sites/monuments. Bhoramdeo, Rajim, Sirpur, Tala, Malhar and Sheorinarayan are prime sites for heritage tourism. Festivals like Dusshera at Bastar, Madai at Dantewada and Narainpur, Bhoramdeo, Raut Nacha, Chakradhar Samaroh and Rajim are being marketed for global exposure.

Pilgrim Tourism

The State encourages development of pilgrimage centres. Rajim, Champaranya, Dongargarh, Sheorinarayan, Girodhpuri, Dantewada, Ratanpur, Sirpur and others are prime destinations for pilgrim tourism. Sirpur and Dongargarh would be part of the wider Buddhist tourist circuit.

Adventure Tourism

There is great scope for the promotion of modern adventure sports such as water sports, trekking, rock climbing, parasailing and bungee jumping.

Business and Leisure Tourism

Chhattisgarh encourages investments in establishment of business-cum-recreation centres to cater to the needs of business travellers. State-of-the-art convention centres, seminar halls etc for corporate events are being encouraged. Investments for the entertainment needs of business tourists with high purchasing power, facilities such as hotels, entertainment and amusement parks, multiplexes, health spas, shopping malls and golf courses are being encouraged.

Destinations

• Bastar
• Bilaspur
• Durg
• Koriya
• Raipur
• Rajnandgaon
• Surguja

Bastar-The Paradise of Tourists

Bastar , The Land of Tribals and Natural Resources , is also enriched with natural beauty and pleasant atmosphere. It is surrounded with dense forests ,hilly mountains , streams, waterfalls , natural caves , natural parks etc. It is firmly a tribal area, where the natural beauty can easily attract the tourists at first sight itself. Here the art & culture is the valuable ancient property of the Bastariyas. From the view point of tourists and tourism , Bastar is called the 'Kashmir of Chhattisgarh'. If we place Bastar in the map of tourism , no doubt it definitely attracts the foreign tourists too.

The deep forest area ,between bushes and bamboos where one always felt the absence of sunlight , wide and thick forests , costly woods such as Sal , Teak , Sheesam ,Bija etc., between high mountains cool flowing stream , mountain valleys , caves , high waterfalls , sky-touching valleys and in the valleys the spread of greenary and in between this , the huts made by bamboo sticks, the fearless life style of the tribals and their culture, our heart and mind can be fill with new wonders and pleasure.

There are so many places which are worth seeing ,not only in Bastar district, but also in the neighbouring districts Dantewada and Kanker, which are in Bastar division.. Its often heard that there are many places worth seeing which are still unexplored .Bastar imprints an unerasable memory in the mind of a tourist.

The important tourist places in Bastar district are Chitrakot and Tiratgarh , Kotamsar and Kailash caves, Kanger Valley National Park etc.Indravati National Park, known for tigers and wild buffaloes is situated at a distance of 200 Kms, west of Jagdalpur, is another place worth seeing. Another virgin tourist spot is Kurschel Valley, with its gigantics trees, situated at 40 Kms. north west of Narainpur.

Main Attractions

The key attractions in Jagdalpur town are Danteshwari Temple, Bastar Palace, Handicraft shopping complexes, ,Anthropological Museum and a couple of beautiful lakes.

• Danteshwari Temple
• Bastar Palace
• Anthropological Museum
• Lakes
• Handicrafts
• Chitrakot Waterfalls
• Tiratgarh Waterfalls
• Kutumsar Caves and Kailash Gufa
• Kanger Valley National Park
• Mandawa
• Chitradhara
• Thamada Ghumar

Bilaspur

• Ratanpur
• Mallhar
• Talagram
• Rest Houses

RATANPUR - The old capital of the Chatisgarh state - the Ratanpur, is situated Approxmetly 25 km away from Bilaspur hq. in the way of Katghora Road. According to the voice of local people , it was the important place in all four Youg. (Satyug,Dwaper,Treta,Kalyoug).

As per the tourism importantance, there is an old fort which is to day In scraped condition. There is very good attractive old sculpture On stone over the frame of Ganesh gate. In this Gate frame Idols of River Ganga-Jamuna are found to see. On entrence there looks Of the Tandav Dance of God Shivji and statue of Bramha and Vishnu.

MALLHAR - (Saravpur) Once open a time the Saravpur was the State of Capital of ancient Chatishgarh. It is approximately 14 Km. away from masturi block on the way of frtom Bialspur to Raigarh. At this place remaining found of the period from appx. 1000 BC to Culturi regime. The temples of 10th and 11th century old are seen here. Among those Pataleswar kedar temple is one of them where Gomukhi sihv ling is the main point of attraction. The Didneswari temple of Culturi regime is also found. Artisitc idols are found in Deor temple. At this place, there is mesuem having good collection of old sculpture being managed by Central Govt.

TALAGRAM - Talagram is famous for "Deorani-Jethani" temple and is situated appx. 25 Kms. from Bilaspur on Bhojpur-Dagori road. The another name of Talagram is ameri-kapa gram. There is a wondeful statue present in the temple which is approximately 7 ft. height , 4 ft. width and weighed 8 tons. People from all corners of the world come to see the statue. There is no any name has been given to that statue even after several years.

Rest Houses

Durg

• Bhilai Steel Plant
• Maitry Bag
• Parshwanath Tirth Nagpura
• Jhalmala Temple (Ganga Maiya)

The Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP), was conceived by the founding fathers of our nation in the second five year plan as one of the first steps of independent India's drive towards industrialisation and self reliance. This vision became a reality with the signing of the Indo Soviet Agreement on Techno economic Collaboration on February 2, 1955 which envisaged the setting up of a one million tonne steel plant.

Maitry Baugh
The only zoo cum children park available in this region for general public. The Baugh is maintained by the Bhilai Steel Plant Management with all the facilities of playing for children apart from a comprehensive zoo with many birds, animals and reptiles.

Main attraction is the white tiger which are 4 in number. The huge sized Lions and lionesses also attracts all age group of people. People and many school children come for picnic and other functions. Every year a Flower show is organised in the Bag during which many kind of unbelievable sized flowers and vegetables are displayed which are brought from various part of the district.

Uwasaggaharam Parshwa Teerth, Nagpura, Durg; M.P. (India) has a unique distinction of acquiring unprecedented fame and adoration as a pioneer Jan Shrine, hardly within a span of half a dozen years since its formal installation on 5th' February' 1995. Situated on the bank of river Sheonath which had the singular good fortune of washing the holy feet of Shree Parshwanath, thousands of years ago, during his august visit to this area of Chhattisgarh; amidst the breath-taking natural beauty. This holy place not only documents india's glorious past with its rich culturious past with its rich culture and architecture, it tells a tale of unshakeable, faith, unflinching devotion, selfless dedication, voluntary coopertion and above all divine inspiration and Providential Grade also.

Ganga maiya temple is located at Jhalmala panchayat just 4 KM East of Balod t of Balod Tehsil on Durg-Balod main road. Its is 58 KM. from Durg & Rajnandgaon District Head Quarters and 40 KMs from Dhamtari with well connected by road has become a premium place of religious importance in Chattisgarh.

Koriya

• Amrit Dhara Water fall
• Ramdaha Water fall
• Gavar Ghat Water fall
• Akuri Nala

Amrit Dhara Water fall :- This is extremely beautiful natural waterfall on the Hasdo River. It is about seven kms. far away from Nagpur on the Manendragarh-Baikunthpur Road. Height of water fall is about 80-90 feets. and width is about 10-15 feets. It creates a beautiful cloudy atmosphere around the fall. In 1936, Ramanuj Pratap Singh Judeo, King of Koriya State, started a Mela (fare) on Mahashiv Ratri duration that is follow by people of Koriya to day also. Shiva's Temple is also added the extra beauty of this place.

Ramdaha Water fall :- This is another natural water fall in the District Korea .About 160 Kms. far away from Baikunthpur ,this fall is situated on the Banas river near the Bhavarkhoh village .Hight of this water fall is about 100-120 fts.and width is about 20-25 fts.Forests, rocks add extra beauty to the spot.

Gavar Ghat Water fall :- This is the another natural water fall in Korea.About 40 kms. from Baikunthpur this fall is situated on the Hasdo river about 5 kms. from Tarra village . Height of this water fall is nearly 50-60 feets and width about 10 fts. This area is full of forests and rocks.

Akuri Nala ( Natural AC in Korea in summar season ) :- This is called the natural AC of Korea district . About 65 kms. from Baikunthpur near Bansipur village this place exist. Small water fall is also there .About 100 mt. area is covered from both sides by rocks . In side people can walk freely. Water drops are continuosly drop there in summar season. anybody can bath from these drops. There are also naturare are also natural rops in that area by using that one can hang and enjoy with water drops . On extreme summar this place is very cold. The surrounding area is full of forests and rocks.

Raipur

All the important Towns of the Region like Bhilai (25 km), Durg(41 km), Jagadalpur (297 Km), Rajnandgaon(70 km), Bilaspur (115 km) Jabalpur (369 km) and Bhopal(712 km) are connected with Raipur by Road. Visitors can also go to Hirakud Dam near Sambalpur and Puri (Orissa) by Road for which Bus Service is available. Raipur offers an attractive altenate Road route to Kanha National Park and enroute the traveller may also visit Bhoramdeo too. The route is Raipur-Kawardha- Bhoramdeo-Bodla- Chilpi- Supkhar-Muddi (178Km).

Raipur was founded by the Kalchuri King Ram Chandra of Raipur last quarter of the 14th century AD. Now, Raipur is the Headquarters of the District and Division of the same name Centrally located in the newly formed State Chhattisgarh. Raipur is the biggest city of the Region and a fast developing important industrial centre. The establishment of Chili Steel Plant in the country has given added momentum to the pace of development of the city.

Raipur is connected by Air with Delhi-Bhubaneshwar, Bhopal,and Jabalpur. It is an important station of S.E. Railway on Mumbai, Nagpur-Calcutta Route. The National Highway 6 passes through the city and National Highway No.43 links it with Vijaya Nagaram.

Rajnandgaon

Dongargarh
A tehsil headquarter, Dongargarh is the main tourist as well as piligrimage of the district. The famous temple of MAA BAMBLESHWARI, is on a hilltop of 1600 feet in the town of Dongargarh. This temple is referred as BADI BAMBLESHWARI. Another temple at ground level is situated about 1/2 k.m. from the main temple complex. This temple is reffered as CHOTTI BAMBLESHWARI. Lakhs of people from in and around Chattisgarh flock the shrine during the navratris of Kavar (during Dashera) and Chaitra (during Ramnavmi). During these navratris melas (fair) are organised in the premises of the temple, which run 24 hours. Many companies and organisations display their product during this mela. The added tourist attraction is the ropeway. It is the only passenger ropeway in the state of Chhattisgarh.

Surguja

• Mahamaya Temple
• Thinthini Patthar
• Kudargarh
• Ramgarh and Sita-Bengra
• Tata-Pani (Source of hot water)
• Pawai Water Fall
• Kendai Water Fall
• Deepadih
• Mainpat