Bounded by Orissa to the east, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh to the north, Madhya Pradesh to the west, and Telengana to the south, the state of Chhattisgarh was created as a new state from the old Madhya Pradesh on November 1, 2000 as the 26th state. from India. . The state that is important from both geological and archaeological perspectives got its name from Chedisgarh, which means Raj or Empire of the Chedis (Kalchury dynasty).
How to get there?
Chhattisgarh is well connected to the rest of the country by road, rail and air. It has 11 national highways that pass through the state and are approximately 2,184km long. Then there are the state highways and other major district highways that are approximately 8,031 km in length.
The railway network that extends throughout the state is mainly located in the Southeast Central Railway area, with the zonal headquarters in Bilaspur. Many trains on the important Mumbai-Howrah route pass through the state. The main railway stations are Mahasamund, Bilaspur, Durg, Raipur, Champa and Rajnandgaon.
The air infrastructure in Chhattisgarh is lighter compared to other states. Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur is its only airport with commercial air operations. There is also an on-demand air taxi service available from Raipur to Korba, Jagdalpur, Raigarh, Ambikapur and Jashpur.
There are a number of bus operators operating on the popular Raipur-Nagpur and Bilaspur-Jagdalpur-Bailadila routes and operating the Volvo – 2X2 and 2X1 bus services.
Sights
The main travel destinations in Chhattisgarh are Bastar, Banjari Chowk Baba, Amarkantak, Chitrakoot, Kangerghati National Park, Indravati National Park, Jagdalpur, Ratanpur and many more.
You should see
Tourism in Chhattisgarh has many dimensions. From prehistoric caves and ancient sites of archaeological significance, to wild national parks, sparkling waterfalls and the cultural heritage of the tribes, tourism in Bastar has the potential to grow and attract visitors from around the world, although infrastructure must be developed to support that. .
Ancient caves
The Kanger Valley National Park, which is a mix of mountainous terrain and dense forests in the heart of the Bastar tribal district, is home to several ancient caves. The cave is normally closed in Monsoon and normally opens during Bastar Lokotsav. Another, buried deep in the forest near the Tiratgarh waterfalls is the Kailash Gufa, which is an underground cave and has a spectacular formation of stalactites and stalagmites. Another cave found on top of a hill is Dandak Cave. You have to climb about 500 steps to get there.
Waterfalls
Chhattisgarh has some of the most beautiful waterfalls in India. These include the Chitrakoot waterfall in Tiratgarh, the Madawa waterfall, the Ghoomar waterfall, the Bodhdhara Saat Dhaara waterfall and the Jashpur Danpuri waterfall.
Palaces
Palace Kawardha is an impressive 20th century palace made of Italian marble and stone. It was built by Maharaj Dharamraj Singh. The main Durbar Hall, a magnificent vaulted hall with Corinthian pillars, is open to all.
Kanker Palace is a small palace (only 3 rooms) that was originally the House of the Resident in the British Raj, but is now the main residence of the royal family.
Bastar Palace is a 70-year-old palace that is still being used by the former royal family as a residence in one part. The other part is used for medical school.
Temples
Chhattisgarh has several famous temples. Many of them are located in the Bastar district like the Kanger Chandi temple. Others are in Dongargarh (Mahamaya temple), Ratanpur (Durg temples) and other cities.
Dargah sharif
Chhattisgarh has many famous and revered Dargah (mazaar or tomb) of Sufis. Notable among them are Hazrat Sayyed Insaan Ali Shah baba’s Dargah in Lutra Sharif, near Seepat Bilaspur and Hazrat Sher Ali Aga’s Dargah in Banjari Chowk, Raipur.
Tribal culture
Chhattisgarh has a very rich tribal culture. It is home to many tribes, many of whom have lived in Bastar for thousands of years. The main Chhattisgarh tribes are Gond, Halba, Para, Muria, Kawar, Dhurra, Kamar, etc.
Wildlife
Mountainous terrain, deep gorges, denser forests outside the Amazon, and seasonal wildflowers all make up the perfect environment for a diverse species of wildlife. Bastar has a good variety of both resident and migratory birds. Basta Myna, the state bird, is a copycat and expert talker, found here. Other common birds are the jungle crow, patridges, cattle egret, pond heron, babblers, parrots, parakeets, etc. The main wildlife species are Chinkara, Sambhar, Deer, Hyen, etc. Wild bears are common to see, even in cities like Kanker. Reptiles commonly found here are Indian Cobra, Krait, Python, etc.
Local delicacies
Rakhia Badi and Petha are local favorites, especially among the tribal population, as they are prepared with fruits commonly found in the forest. Jalebi is popular in general, as Chhattisgarhi people like to eat something sweet after their meal. There are several restaurants and places to eat in Chhatisgarh, even in the main cities of Raipur, Bilaspur and Durg-Bhilai that can help you to try them.
Pasiya (starch) is a locally popular drink that keeps you cool during the summer and is full of carbohydrates.
Chhattisgarh offers exotic and almost unspoiled tourist spots for visitors, however, given the lack of proper infrastructure, it is very important to plan ahead. There are a number of good Raipur travel agents who know these areas like the back of their hand and can plan the various components like booking tickets, hotels, food, etc. for you. Get help from an expert. It is always cheaper.