For a really different (and educative) holiday Satish Rajen decided to take his family on a trip to the interior of Chhattisgarh. A young state but an ancient land, as the tourism board puts it, this is a thickly forested state with two-thirds of its population being tribal.
The Rajens made their base at Kawardha, a former princely state at the foot of the Maikal hills, 140km from Raipur and 124km from Bilaspur. They booked into the KawardhaPalace, now a resort, and explored the surrounding areas, including the Bhoramdeo temple know for its erotic sculptures.
KawardhaPalace - this is the former royal palace turned heritage resort, replete with marble floors, antiques and chandeliers.
Bhoramdeo Temples (18 km from Kawardha) are 11th century Shiva temples known for their exquisite stone carvings and referred to as the Khajuraho temples of Chhattisgarh.
Gond and Baiga villages - you can visit the villages of the local tribals and see them at work, making the famous Bastar handicrafts. The local markets are interesting for their colourful atmosphere and ethnic items.
BASTAR REGION
Highlights:
Jagdalpur is the district headquarters and a small sleepy town.
BastarPalace is open to visitors. One side is occupied by the erstwhile royal family, while the other side is the medical college.
Sunday haat - this colourful weekly market is where you can see the throbbing pulse of tribal life.
Dalpat Sagar on the River Indravati is a large man-made lake built over 400 years ago by Raja Dalpat Deo Kakatiya for rain water harvesting. You can go here to see the beautiful sunrise, and see the fishermen set off on their daily trips. Boating on the lake, especially at evening is a pleasant experience.
Maria Menhirs - a short drive on the NH 16 from Jagdalpur you see these tribal stones erected in memory of the departed.
ChitrakoteFalls on the IndravatiRiver and TiratgarhFalls near Jagdalpur, are spectacular sights.
Crafts of Chhattisgarh - Chhattisgarh is a state renowned for its rich metal crafts and other traditional craft products made out of bamboo, wood etc.,
Capital of Chhattisgarh - Portal of Raipur, the Capital of Chhattisgarh. About Raipur, Historical Raipur,Culture,Health,Festivals,
Govt. Offices,Industries, IT Companies, Maps, Pride of Raipur etc.,
Official Websites
Government of Chhattisgarh - Chhattisgarh Government portal covering diverse topics including health, tourism, culture, climate, Tenders and e-Governance.
Tourism site - Chhattisgarh Tourism Government portal - Official website of Dept. of Tourism, covers Chhattisgarh Entry formalities, Places of Interest in Chhattisgarh and Tourism in Chhattisgarh.
Other Useful Links
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.,
Chhattisgarh Portal - Welcome to Chhattisgarh. All you wanted to know about Chhattisgarh: People, Culture, Tourism, Festivals, Places etc.,
