Chhattisgarh Travel Guide

Chhattisgarh is a state in the Eastern part of India. It is surrounded by the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh in the north, Andhra Pradesh in the south, Odisha in the east, and Madhya Pradesh in the west.

Of the 135,133 sq km area, about 45% is densely forested. Raipur is the capital city.

Top Cities

Here are some of the most notable cities.

• Raipur — the capital of Chhattisgarh
• Jagdalpur — the city close to various waterfalls and caves
• Bilaspur — second largest city in Chhattisgarh near to the old capital of the Chhattisgarh state, Ratanpur
• Korba — known as the power capital of Chhattisgarh because of its power plant
• Mainpat — picturesque village where many Tibetan refugees have settled
• Bhilai — a major city and often called Steel City because of its steel plants
• Durg — an agricultural and industrial city of great importance
• Kanker — the Kanker Palace Heritage is located in this town

Things To Do

Almost a dozen National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries provide a real treat for nature lovers.

The forests abound in wildlife like the Tiger, Leopard, Wild Boar, Chital, Deer, Langur, Rhesus Monkey, Barasingha, Sambhar, Bison, Wild Buffalo, Civet Cat, and Bear.

Photo: Deer by The Art of Travel Partners

Indravati National Park

A famous Tiger Reserve and park that has hilly terrain, forest, and grasslands. This habitat provides home for the tiger, water buffalo, and deer. There is also a rich diversity of birds, smaller mammals and reptiles inhabiting the area.

Kanger Ghati National Park

A dense area with several waterfalls and limestone caves. Several species of animals and a wide tribal population are present in this beautiful park. The diversity of landscapes makes ideal habitats for many species. Wildlife includes tigers, langurs, sloth bears, lizards, snakes, peacocks, and parrots to name a few.

Ancient Caves

The hilly terrain and forests of the virgin Kanger Valley National Park, in the epicenter of the tribal Bastar district, house a number of ancient caves.

The Caves are closed during the monsoons and for some time thereafter. They normally open around the time of Bastar Lokotsav. Guides take tourists in and out safely. However, it is advised that children below 8 years, those above 60 years, and those suffering from claustrophobia avoid the Caves. Wear walking shoes with a sturdy grip as the floor is often uneven and occasionally slippery.

A nominal entrance fee is charged. This covers the cost of the guide who takes you in and out of the Caves and also provides a torch.

Waterfalls

Chhattisgarh has India’s finest waterfalls, comparable to the best in the world. Some of them are:

Teerathgarh Falls

Photo by Aashishsainik CC-BY SA 3.0

This 300 ft high waterfall is actually situated in the Kanger Valley National Park (about 15 minutes from the park entrance), about 35 km south of Jagdalpur. Teerathgarh makes a lovely picnic spot. The best time to visit is from October to February.

The fall here splits into multiple falls, creating a stunning vista. While the Teerathgarh falls are not as wide as Chitrakote, you may stand almost under them, or walk across the top to sit on a rock rising up out of the middle.

Well-Maintained steps lead down to the bottom. There is a small temple on a large rock opposite the falls. All around are the ruins of a 1,000-year-old, advanced, Hindu civilization.

Chitrakot Falls

Photo by Iamg CC-BY SA 3.0

The Chitrakote Falls is a natural waterfall located to the 38 km west of Jagdalpur on the Indravati River. The height of the falls is about 29 meters. It is the widest waterfall in India.

Because of its width and widespread during the monsoon season, it is often called the Niagara Falls of India.

Other Waterfalls

If you have more time in hand, consider exploring some of these other waterfalls.

• Mandwa Waterfalls
• Chitradhara Waterfalls
• Tamda Ghumar Waterfalls
• Mendri Ghumar Waterfalls
• Bodhghat Saath Dhara, Dantewada
• Malanjhkudum Waterfalls, Kanker
• Charre-Marre Waterfall, Kanker
• Amrit Dhara Waterfall, Koriya
• Ramdaha Waterfall, Koriya
• Gavar Ghat Waterfall, Koriya
• Akuri Nala, Koriya
• Pawai Waterfall, Surguj
• Kendai Waterfall, Surguj
• Rajpuri Waterfall, Jashpur
• Danpuri Waterfall, Jashpur
• Rani Dah Waterfall, Jashpur
• Devpahri, Korba

Palaces

A number of Chhatisgarh’s 16 districts were formerly princely states, leaving a legacy of picturesque palaces. Some famous palaces are:

• Palace Kawardha
• Kawardha Kanker Palace
• Bastar Palace

Temples

In ancient times, Chhattisgarh was the region known as Dakshin Koshal, which finds mention in both the Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Over time it was ruled by a succession of Hindu dynasties, and they have left it a legacy of temples, ranging from modest to imposing. Some of the popular temples are:

• Laxman Temple and Gandheswar Temple, Sirpur
• Danteshwari Temple, Dantewada
• Barsoor
• Shivani Temple, Kanker
• Chandi Temples, Dongargarh
• Mahamaya Temple, Surguja
• Kudargarh, Surguja
• Shankar Temple, Deepadih, Surguja
• Vishnu Mandir, Janjgir Champa
• Pithampur Shiv Mandir, Janjgir Champa
• Madanpurgarh Devi Mandir, Janjgir Champa
• Ghatadai (Paharia) Tripur Sundar Devi, Janjgir Champa
• Shivarinarayan Laxminarayan Temple, Janjgir Champa
• Kharud Nagar Laxmaneshwar Temple, Janjgir Champa
• Turridham Shiva Temple, Janjgir Champa
• Adbhar Ashtbhuji Temple, Janjgir Champa
• Chandrahasini Devi Temple, Janjgir Champa
• Ganga Maiya Temple, Durg
• Temples of Ratanpur
• Mallhar (Saravpur)
• Talagram
• Champaran
• Rajim
• Sarwamangla Temple, Korba
• Madwarani Temple, Korba
• Kosgai Pahad, Korba
• Bhawani Mandir, Korba

Tribal Culture

Chhattisgarh is home to many tribes. In fact, the state has India’s oldest tribal communities, and it is safe to assume that the earliest tribals have been living in Bastar for over 10,000 years, since the time the Aryans occupied the Indian mainland and the rich plains became (a) war-infested and (b) de-forested for agriculture.

The main tribes in Chhattisgarh are:

• Bastar – Gond, Abujmaria , Bisonhorn Maria, Muria, Halba, Bhatra, Parja, Dhurvaa
• Dantewara – Muriya, Dandami Mariya or Gond, Dorla, Halba
• Koriya – Kol, Gond, Bhunjia
• Korba – Korwa, Gond, Rajgond, Kawar, Bhaiyana, Binjwar, Dhanwar
• Bilaspur and Raipur – Parghi, Savra, Manji, Bhayna Gariabandh, Mainpur, Dhura
• Dhamtari – Kamar
• Surguja and Jashpur – Munda

Language

The languages prevalent are mainly Hindi and the local language, Chhattisgarhi. A few tribal Munda languages are also spoken in parts of the state including Korku, Kharia, and Korba.

Local Cuisines

The special delicacies like jalebis, rakhia badi and petha are the main appeals of Chhattisgarh Food. The people of the state have an inclination towards tangy recipes and sweet delectables. Maize, wheat, and jowar are the basic diet of the inhabitants of Chhattisgarh. Since the state is quite opulent with an abundance of crops such as rice and oilseeds, so the people of the place are never short of their staple food.

The food of Chhattisgarh is categorized under two different heads, tribal recipes, and non-tribal menus. The tribes of Chhattisgarh primarily add the various types of fruits that are commonly found in the forest areas of Chhattisgarh. Rakhia badi and petha are the two distinctive food items that are prepared by the tribal population of Chhattisgarh during major festivals.

Jalebi is another lip-smacking sweet dish of Chhattisgarh which is prepared in almost every household of the state. Since the people of Chhattisgarh like to have something sweet at the end of their meal, jalebi has become an integral part of the food menu of the state. Lentils such as chana dals with which a special recipe called bafauri is made in the state are also used as a staple diet by the local people.

Drink

Try these local drinks:

• Pasiya
• Kosna

Getting Here

Your journey will most likely begin in Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh.

By plane

Raipur Airport is served by the following operators:

• Air Deccan Bhubaneswar, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Ranchi
• Air India (Bhopal, Delhi)
• Jet Airways (Delhi, Mumbai)
• Indigo (Bangalore, Hyderabad)

By train

By train, Raipur is accessible from major cities of India like Mumbai, Kolkata, New Delhi, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Bhubaneshwar, Bhopal, Pune, Jamshedpur, and Ambikapur.

By car

Jagdalpur is 300 km from Raipur with a very good road connection that takes five hours.

By bus

Raipur is well connected by bus services with Nagpur, Amravati, Mandla, Jagdalpur, Ambikapur, and Sambalpur.

Getting Around

For traveling from the Airport to the city, it is better to book a taxi in advance. The charges of travels counter in the airport is quite high. The taxi wallahs outside the airport also seem to be linked to the counter inside the airport and charge the same rates.

November 17, 2018 5:01 pm Published by Salil Jha