Chhattisgarh
If you love to travel what could be better than take a few days off and escape from the hectic schedules of our daily lives and go somewhere to get lost in the embrace of nature. Well there are many wonderful holiday destinations all around the world and amongst them our own country India is indeed a traveler’s paradise. So if you are in love with India and looking for a getaway in a place of peace and quiet with beautiful scenery and a taste of amazing tribal culture then Chhattisgarh can be an ideal destination for you. This particular state is sure to lure you with its bio-diversity and mesmerize you with its scenic beauty. One of the best things about this particular place is that you also get to experience some amazing and interesting tribal culture which is bound to fill your heart to the fullest.
Location
Chhattisgarh has recently been declared as an independent state after in the year 2000 and cut out from its roots which belonged to Madhya Pradesh. This beautiful piece of land is typically located in the central region of India. The states which border Chhattisgarh are as follows: Madhya Pradesh on the North West, Maharashtra on the west, Andhra Pradesh on the south, Orissa on the east, Jharkhand on the north east and lastly Uttar Pradesh on the north. The state is particularly constituted by 36 small states and is the tenth largest state of India. Raipur stands as the capital of this state.
Places to see
Bastar: This particular district of the state can certainly be considered as one of the largest of all the districts of our great country. The district may remain as an enigma in your mind when you visit it due to its exquisite natural views. The state is mainly covered with a huge tribal population. The state also constitutes a considerable amount of iron and mica mines too. But the main attraction of this place is definitely its pristine natural beauty. The district is covered in forests in almost 60% of areas. The place typically consists of modern yet ancient cultures. It truly speaks of the raw natural power through its forests and waterfalls. Especially the Kanger valley national park along with Flora and Fauna, the ancient caves, exquisite waterfalls and flowing rivers are bound to take your heart away. Well the people over here are truly religious and are dedicated to the goddess Dhanteshwary who is definitely the tutelary deity of the Bastar district. The place is full of legends and folklores which can be a great food for the little minds of children of your family and also amuse the adults as well.
Bastar is a great place if you plan to experience some true tribal spirit of India. Almost 75% of its population belongs to various tribal groups. You can easily taste the local dialects, foods cultures and also enjoy the pristine natural beauty of place at the same time. This place is also famous for its crafts and you get plenty to shop for at the local village markets. But the most interesting thing of this place is certainly the Ghotul where the tribal Muria kids with their adults gather for educational purposes through tribal customs including music and dance as well. The vast expanse of its forests along with paddy fields and waterfalls and rivers will be truly a delight to your eyes.
Bilaspur: This is also another significant district of Chhattisgarh which can easily be considered as the cultural capital of the state. You can easily get to see some modern lifestyle here along with some local fragrance. The place is famous for its cultural festivals and events. The city is over 400 years old and legend says that the name of this particular place was derived from a fisherwoman named Bilasa. It mainly acts as a gateway to enter the native and interior parts of the state.
Sirpur: It is a small town situated just 84 kilometers away from the capital city of Raipur. The place is mainly famous due to its archeological value as you can find many significant historical monuments and relics over here. If you have a keen interest in ancient history then this place will surely please you. The Laxman temple stands out as an epitome of its beauty. This is described as one of the finest brick temples of the whole country. The unique and original patterns, crafts, carvings acts as a true delight to the eyes of the beholder. This particular temple holds a lot of significance in the history of our country and believed to belong to the 650 A.D.
Raipur: Raipur indeed has a lot to offer you in terms of combination of modern urban life mixed with the essence of raw nature and variety of wildlife found in the forests around here. The district includes many forests and wildlife sanctuaries that include a variety of species which can literally leave you wanting more. The place also is also significant from a religious point of view as Saint Vallabhacharya took birth in the Champaran city of the district.
Janjgir-Champa: This is another small district of the state. The place truly speaks of a golden era of ancient times which has been lost in the due course of time but the remains can still be found scattered here and there. The Vishnu Mandir is a must see in this district which is of immense historical importance. The crafts of this temple will definitely please your eyes with its beauty as the temple is one of the masterpieces specially created by the ancient Vaishnab community.
How to reach
By Air: You can easily get a flight to Raipur from any parts of the country and from there you can easily enter the state by railway or by road.
By Rail: The state is truly well connected to almost every part of India by Indian railways.
By Road: If you wish to go by road you can also do so with the two major national highways that is connecting Chhattisgarh with the entire nation. They are:
National Highway-6 which runs west to east and typically connect Nagpur, Bhubaneswar and Kolkata.
National Highway-43 which runs north south and connects Raipur, Jagadalpur, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh.
What to do
Well now comes the most interesting part which is related to what is to do when you are enjoying your holidays in Chhattisgarh. There are plenty of things to do here from adventure sports to enjoying wildlife, mountaineering, and camping going for a picnic and many more exciting activities and the list is endless. The best thing to do is to lay down on a deck chair in the balcony of your hotel and enjoy the natural views around you. But you may not agree so here’s a quick peak at the things you can do while you are in the state:
Visiting Wildlife: There are many wildlife sanctuaries in the region which includes some of most endangered species. So if you are an avid fan of raw natural wild life then you can surely enjoy the thrill of visiting any of the national parks around here such as Kanger Valley national park, Indravati national park and many others like them.
Visiting waterfalls and camping around: Well if you are in Chhattisgarh and fail to visit one of its cascading waterfalls then it will truly leave you half satisfied. Some of the most significant falls in the region includes Chitrakote falls, Tirathgarh falls and Mandra falls. You can easily go for camping by the side of these falls, put up a tent and live on nature’s lap itself.
Adventure: Well if you are seeking some adventure on your way then you can go visit some of ancient caves around the region such as Kutumsar caves and Kailash Gumpha, Dandak cave and plenty more. These natural caves are definitely going to thrill you. You can also go for trekking in the hilly regions of Bastar and other districts and enjoy some real rock climbing adventure. But if you are still not fully satisfied then you can go for river rafting in the whitewaters of the region.
Visit Tribal Culture and Places of Archeological Importance: Chhattisgarh is an ancient place and most of its population belongs to the native tribes of this regions. If you really want to enjoy some true tribal spirit then visit Bastar along with other districts as well which has a significant amount of tribal population. Due to its ancient past this particular state is of immense historical significance. If you love ancient relics then these regions with its ancient relics and inscriptions along with the legends and folklores will truly leave you spellbound.
Shopping and Entertainment: You can go for some shopping as well in the cities and towns of the regions but if you are looking for local crafts then visit the village markets to shop for some exquisite handmade crafts made by the tribes and the locals. As far as entertainment is concerned you are always welcome to enjoy the tribal music and local dance along with some exotic local delicacies served to you.
Best time to visit
The convenient time to visit this place is definitely the monsoons as the summers over here are extremely hot and scorching. But in monsoon the state gets covered in green and the rain provides a relief from the heat of summer days. But the most intriguing part of this all is that the waterfalls provides a magnificent view with their dancing flow of water. You can also visit the place in winter as the atmosphere will be comforting enough and you can also enjoy some of the important tribal festivals at that time.
History
Though Chhattisgarh is a pretty new state as it was separated from Madhya Pradesh in the year of 2000 to be declared as an independent state. But its history dates back to the ancient time. There are evidences that predict that it dates back to the Dravidian periods and even Raipur was once the capital of the Mourya Empire. There are evidences of existence of kingdoms even in the 2nd and 3rd century A.D. in later times during the Indian Independence movements the tribes over here took an active part in the movement also.
Climate
The climate of this place can be considered as hot humid kind with scorching heat in the summer days where the temperature can reach up to 40 degrees. It can also be cold during the winter months due to it altitudinal heights. The place gets to see plenty of rainfall during the months of the monsoon which lasts from June to September.
