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Chattisgarh Tourism

Bordered by Orrisa on the east, Madhya Pradesh on the west, Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh on the north and Andhra Pradesh on the south, Chhattisgarh was formed on November 1, 2000, as India's 26th state, carved out of Madhya Pradesh. This historic land finds its mention as "Dakshin Kosala" in ancient texts, inscriptions, literary works, and accounts of foreign travellers. Chhattisgarh is believed to be the place where Lord Rama spent some part of his exile. A tribal-dominated state, Chhattisgarh is an exquisitely scenic, covered with dense forest and crisscrossed by two mighty rivers, Indravati and Mahanadi. Ancient underground caves and gurgling waterfalls dot the breathtaking landscape. Incredible natural beauty blended with rich cultural heritage make Chhattisgarh one of the most promising tourist destinations of India.

A major part of the Chattisgarh (Bastar) as we know today was known as Dandakaranya in the ancient times. Other parts were known as Dakshina Koshal. In the medieval period, the region, which falls south of the Vindhyas, came to be known as Gondwana. Earliest human settlements were established in this region much before they came into existence in any other part of the country. Historians and anthropologists are trying to establish the exact date for the earliest human settlement in this region.

Right from the beginning, Chattisgarh has been swarmed with migrants from nearby places, who now constitute a major part of the population. Right from the days of great Magadha Empire, Chattisgarh remained part of every empire that ruled the country from north to south, but their dominance was political only. As the region was extremely inaccessible, not much interference could be made in the lifestyle of the tribes. Kalchuris were the first rulers who ruled clearly over this region till 19th century. After the fall of Kalchuris, it was time for the Bhonsles of Nagpur to dominate over this region for a brief period in the 19th century. However with the decline of the Marathas, there prevailed complete lawlessness throughout the region and many tribal chieftains established rule over small tracts of land.

The English recognized the mineral wealth of the region and established a vast network of mines and railway track throughout the region, which marked the beginning of a new phase in the tribal history of Chattisgarh. Today, the state is a heterogeneous mix of races from all over the country working together to create a prosperous Chattisgarh.

FAIRS & FESTIVALS

Ghotul is a better-known event in tribal life and they have aroused considerable interest from anthropologists to study the tradition. Both boys and girls are allowed to spend a night out in the ghotul (kind of rest house), every week. Ghotuls are regarded as a shrine, built by Lingo Pen, a Gond (a tribe) cult hero. Here, the unmarried boys of the village learn songs and dance from their leader. Besides, every week, there is a dance carnival as well in which the girls also take part. Moreover, It is treated like a pilgrimage.

Dussehra is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Jagdalpur every year.

Tourist Destinations                                                                                                                    
     
Bijapur
Bilaspur
Dantewada
Dhamtari
Durg
Jashpur
Kanker
Kawardha
Korba
Koriya
Mahasamund
Raigarh
Raipur
Rajnandgaon

Surguja


Wildlife in Chhattisgarh                                                                                                     

The newly formed state of Chhattisgarh situated in central India, is one of the most naturally rich states of India. It abounds in eco diversity and supports a wide variety o wildlife population. The dense jungle, grasslands, hilly terrain and sprawling water bodies shelters the wide wildlife species of the region. 44% of the land in Chhattisgarh has been declared as forest zone. Wildlife tourism is rampant in Chhattisgarh. From warmth loving mammals to a rich population of avian life can be found in this bio diversity rich state. Wildlife in Chhattisgarh constitutes a major portion of the tourism in Chhattisgarh. If you are an animal enthusiast Chhattisgarh is the perfect destination for you. Moreover the Government of Chhattisgarh has initiated the construction of many guest houses and lodges beside these National parks and wildlife sanctuaries in order to raise the tourism factor in the state.

Wildlife in Chhattisgarh is a study of different colors, of the prey and the predator. There are at least 3 National Parks and as many as 11 wildlife sanctuaries in Chhattisgarh. If you are planning a Tour to Chhattisgarh don't miss out on the three National Parks - Indravati National Park, Kanger Ghati National Park, and Guru Ghasidas National Park. The most commonly sited animals here are Chinkara, the Indian Gazelle and Chital or Spotted Deer. If you are lucky enough you might catch a glimpse of the rare hill Mynah.


Places to See in Chhattisgarh                                                                                          


Kawardha

The small age-old town of Kawardha is a tranquil retreat offering breathtaking views of nature and a rich tribal life. The royal palace of Kawardha introduces you to some finer glimpses of Indian royalty. The palace was built in the year 1936-37. The palace now caters to the accommodation needs of the tourists. Besides, the city also has a Radha Krishna Temple which is another source of attraction for the tourist. Bhoramdeo Mandawa Mahal and the Madan Manjari Mahal are other places worth a visit in Kawardha.

Chitrakote Falls

These horse shoe shaped waterfalls are 100 feet in height. One can often spot beautiful birds sitting at the corner of these waterfalls adding to the beauty of the place. The noise created by the falls is so loud that it is almost impossible to hear anything behind their noise. The falls are extremely beautiful to look at during the rainy season when the water acquires the brown color due to erosion of soil.

Kanker

This thousand year old town offers a splendid combination of forest, waterfalls and exquisite tribal villages for the amusement of the visitors. The palace at Kanker is still resided by the royal family of the area. The palace attracts a large number of tourists visiting the city of Chhattisgarh.

Bhoramdeo

It is often referred to as the Khajuraho of Chhattisgarh because of its beautifully carved erotic sculptures. The temple is built in Nagar style. The Shiva Linga in the temple is a beautiful piece of architecture. The outer walls of the temple are adorned with 54 erotic sculptures in various poses.

Champaran

The city of Champaran was the birthplace of Saint Vallabhacharya. Here, the birth anniversary of the revered saint is celebrated every in the months of April-May. It is one occasion that witnesses a large conglomeration of people to the place. An annual fair held in the months of Jan- Feb also attract a lot of visitors to the place.

Bastar

This near-perfect tribal land seems to send a wild invitation to the lovers of wildlife to explore the forests with waterfalls, wild animals, age-old temples, tribal dances and music. It is one of the most important eco-tourism destinations of the country. Bastar was once one of the largest districts in India.

Seorinarayan

The place is associated with legends in the Ramayana. The place derives its name from Shabri, a woman who served Lord Ram and his wife Sita while they were living in exile. Some consider the 10th or 11th century temple to be even more sacred than the temple of Lord Jagannatha in Puri. The walls of the Nar Narayan Temple in Seorinarayan have figures from Hindu mythology made on them. The annual festival held here attracts a large number of tourists from across the country.

Indravati National Park

Indravati National Park boasts of being the only tiger reserve in the state of Chhattisgarh. One can spot a wide variety of wildlife here.

Apart from these the state boasts of 3 National Parks and 11 Wildlife Sanctuaries with a multitude of wildlife. Among these, Kanger Ghati National Park and Achanakmar Sanctuary are important tourist attractions in Chhattisgarh. Some endangered species like wild buffalo and hill myna are spotted here.

Chhattisgarh  Ancient Caves

Chhattisgarh  Waterfalls

Chhattisgarh  Temples


Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks of Chhattisgarh                                                                   

Barnawapara Sanctuary

Sita Nadi Sanctuary

Udanti Sanctuary

Indravati National Park

Kanger Valley National Park

Sanjay National Park



Best time to visit Chhattisgarh

The ideal time to visit Chhattisgarh is from October to March as the climate is quite salubrious and pleasant during this part of the year.



HOW TO REACH                                                                                                              
BY AIR - Raipur is the capital of the state and only centre to be linked up with an air network. Indian Airline connects the city with Delhi and Nagpur by regular flights.

BY RAIL - Almost all the state is connected with good railway network internally as well as externally. Raipur and Bilaspur are the major railway stations connected to every part of the country.

BY ROAD - National Highways 6, 43, and 16 connect all the major cities of the state to other parts in the country like Bhubaneswar, Calcutta, and many places in the western India. There is a good internal road network in the state connecting all the major parts with the state capital.

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