Full of surprises! Chhattisgarh is an unexplored state cradled in the wild and pristine nature. When one thinks of Chhattisgarh, they do not know what to expect, and that is what makes it special. Home to exotic wild species, magical waterfalls and a flourishing steel industry, this state is bountiful.

The winter months from October to February is considered the best time to visit Chhattisgarh, with a dramatic drop in temperatures offering the highest number of activities and experiences in store.

Chhattisgarh Cuisines are rice-based. Rice is a widely used grain in the State. The traditional foods of Chhattisgarh are Batkar, Iddhar Arsa, Chousela, Bafauri, Kusli. Chhattisgarh is quite popular for its Tribal food, “Red Aunt Chutney”. Locally, it is known as “Chapada chutney”. The local alcoholic drinks of Chhattisgarh are” Handia” and “Mahua”. You will also find Tangy & Sour dishes in the Traditional food list.

There’s a wide range of stuff you can buy here, such as decorative items, showpieces, wood and bamboo products, bell metal and wrought iron goods, terracotta products, stone sculptures, cotton fabrics, and handloom products. Sadar Bazaar is one of the famous and loved markets in Raipur and is known for its eye-catching jewellery and delicious authentic Chhattisgarh food.

Chhattisgarhi is the most widely spoken language, followed by Hindi; both are official languages of the state. Many of the Gond speak Gondi. Marathi, Urdu, Oriya, Gujarati, and Punjabi are spoken by significant numbers.

1. RAIPUR

The capital of Chhattisgarh, Raipur is the largest city in the state. With more than hundreds of steel mills and six steel plants, Raipur is also one of the largest industrial centres of the country. Besides steel, it is also home to the aluminium and coal industries. A primary business and industrial hub, Raipur is even fast emerging in the tourism sector, attracting tourists from across the world. The city is known for its temples, lakes, factories, educational centres as well as the development of Naya Raipur. Naya Raipur is a newly planned city and is about 17km away from the current town.

Places to visit in Raipur: Ghatarani Waterfalls, Nandan Van Zoo, Purkhauti Muktangan, Swami Vivekanand Sarovar

2. BARNAWAPARA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Situated in the Northern part of Mahasamund district, the wildlife sanctuary was established during 1976 on a huge area of 245 Sq.km. The sanctuary is a huge hit and ranks the seventh position in the popular attractions of Raipur. Lying on a flat and terrain area, the sanctuary gives shelter to number of Tigers, leopards, porcupine, pythons, antelopes, bison and many other species.

3. JAGDALPUR

Jagdalpur has a rich history of political activism and has developed a very rich culture over time. Today, it is most famous for the monuments and palaces in the city as well as the natural wonders like lakes, waterfalls and forests that are still untouched by tourist activity.

Places to visit in Jagdalpur: Chitrakote Falls, Tirathgarh waterfall, Dalpat Sagar, Kanger Valley National Park

4. CHITRAKOTE FALLS

The broadest waterfall in India, Chitrakote is popularly known as the Niagara of India, because of its width. Situated in the west side of Jagdalpur in the Bastar District of Chhattisgarh, this waterfall originates from the Indravati river. Chitrakote Falls is at the height of about 30 metres with a width of 985 feet, and during monsoons, you can watch the falls at its full glory. The fall cascades from the top of the cliff in 3 streams during summers.

A significant attraction below the fall is the shrine of Lord Shiva with many small Shivalingas. During the low season, locals and tourists are seen to be swimming, bathing or even using paddle boats on the river.

5. KANGER VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

The park has drawn its name from the Kanger River flowing along the area of the national park; The Kanger Valley National Park has a diverse range of flora and fauna and a considerable population of tribals. One of the densest national parks within India, it is located in the 34 kilometer long stretch of Kanger Valley. The national park amasses an area over 200 square kilometres of predominantly hilly topography and has lush green landscapes, caverns and serene waterfalls throughout the park. The park has a jeep safari that takes you to the Kanger Dhara Waterfall, Deer Park and the Kotumsar Caves, all within the National Park. Some of the key species found within the Kanger Valley National Park are Tigers, Leopards, Barking Deer, Pythons, Crocodiles among many others.

6. KANKER

Officially declared as a district in the year 1999, Kanker forms an important tourist attraction in Chhattisgarh. Offering magnificent views with mountains, waterfalls, and five rivers namely River Doodh, River Mahanai, River Hatkul, River Sindhu, and River Turu, Kanker will make you fall in love with its beauty. These essentially comprise the chief Tourist Attractions in Kanker. The place also boasts of historical significance which dates back to the Stone Ages.

Places to visit in Kanker: Gadiya Mountain or Kila Dongri, Malanjhkudum Falls, Kanker Palace, Charre-Marre Waterfall, Maa Shivani Temple

7. CHARRE MARRE WATERFALLS

Charre Marre Waterfalls is one of the attractive places in Kanker, Chhattisgarh. The beautiful Charre Marre Water Fall is situated 17 km away from Antagarh in Kanker. On the way to Aamabera, there is a place called Charre Marre. This waterfall is produced by the river Jogidhara. The height of this waterfall is 16 m. This zigzag waterfall is a major tourist attraction and a famous picnic spot too.

8. SIRPUR

Sirpur is a small village situated on the banks of river Mahanadi. It is 35 km away from the Mahasamund district and around 78 km away from the city of Raipur, which is the capital of Chhattisgarh. The village of Sirpur is an archaeological wonder. Inspiration to many architects, this village is rich in its temple culture. A quaint hidden gem, it has a deep connection to the Buddhism world and a treasure for archaeological findings from the 8th century. There are numerous temples one can visit, and is generally a hub for passionate historians.

Places to visit in Sirpur: Lakshman Temple, Baleshwar Temple, Rama Temple, Buddha Vihara, Teevardev, ASI Museum

9. MAINPAT

Mainpat is an underrated hill station with green pastures, deep valleys, breathtaking waterfalls, dense forests and untouched rivulets. The hill station hasn’t been completely commercialised yet and receives a relatively smaller influx of tourists compared to its counterparts. Mainpat is often called as Shimla of Chhattisgarh and Mini Tibet owing to its huge Tibetan population and influence over the area. The Tibetan refugees were rehabilitated in Mainpat after the Chinese invasion of Tibet and have since found a home in Mainpat. That’s another great thing about Mainpat, the confluence of cultures and diverse traditions only add to the picturesque village’s charm.

Places to visit in Mainpat: Dhakpo Shedupling Monastery, Tiger Point Waterfall, Parpatiya Sunset Point, Jaljali, Mehta Point, Bhutahi Jalprapat, Daroga Jharna

10. AMBIKAPUR

A place of forests and hills, Ambikapur is an ancient city that dates back to the mythological epics of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. It is widely believed that Lord Rama, Lakshman and Sita visited this region during their 14-year-long exile. A number of rivers flow through its beautifully sculpted terrain, adding to the scenic landscape. Archaeological remains from past eras dot Ambikapur, even as ancient temples and Buddhist stupas attract many religious devotees to their thresholds through the year.

Places to visit in Ambikapur: Maa Mahamaya Mandir, Tattapani, Jogimara Caves, Thinthini Patthar

11. MADKU DWEEP

Madku dweep is a beautiful island situated near the silent river, Shivnath, in the Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh. The name Madku stems out from the fact that the island is of the shape of a frog. The beauty of this island is considered to be spell-bounding. The picturesque Madku Dweep has an area of around 24 hectares and is full of greenery. The island is also famous for its ancient temples and their historical and archaeological importance.

Archaeologists have discovered prehistoric stone tools, epigraphs, and coins on this island. Stone inscriptions have also been found, which are believed to date back to the 3rd century BC.

12. CHIRMIRI

Chirmiri is a beautiful hill station in the Koriya district of Chhattisgarh. Chirimiri or Chirmiri is referred to as the ‘Jannat/Heaven of Chhattisgarh’. The lush greenery, mountains and rivers make it a perfect getaway destination for anyone looking to relax. This scenic town is also known for its coal mines. There are several temples and other notable places that are famous among tourists. Chirmiri is well connected to major cities via rail and road. Chirmiri is situated at an altitude of 579 m above sea level. It lies along the bank of Hasdeo River. The river is one of the most prominent tributaries of the Mahanadi River. The weather is pleasant all year round, and there are dense forests in the region which houses exotic flora and fauna.

Places to visit in Chirmiri: Lord Jagannath Temple, Kalibadi, Baigapara Temple, Gufa Mandir, Maha Maya temple

13. BHORAMDEO TEMPLE

The Bhoramdeo Temple bears a striking resemblance to the Sun Temple of Konark and is believed to have been constructed during the 7th to 12th century. It is popularly known as the Khajuraho of Chhattisgarh as it also resembles the Khajuraho Temple of Madhya Pradesh. It is the main temple among the bunch of four ancient temples in this region – Madwa Mahal, Istaliq Temple, Cherki Mahal and Bhoramdeo temple – and stands as strong as ever in the Kabirdham district. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

14. DHAMTARI

Home to the Chalukya Empire of the 14th Century, Dhamtari is an important tourist town of Chattisgarh, also known for its temples. The town has a population of around 82000. It attracts a lot of tourists every year, particularly during the monsoon seasons to the Ravishankar Water Dam. It is also famous for its folk culture and wildlife sanctuary.

Places to visit in Dhamtari: Bilai Mata Temple, Sihava, Gangrel Dam, Rudri

15. BHILAI

A culturally profound city, Bhilai is a planned city situated in Durg District, 25 km from capital city Raipur. The city is mainly known for Bhilai Steel Plant (SAIL), one of the largest steel plants in India. The city is a fascinating fusion of people of different religion and languages giving the city an essence of unity and oneness.

Places to visit in Bhilai: Dhamdha, Tandula, Maitri Bagh Zoo, Hajra Falls, Uwasaggharam Parshwa Teerth

16. ACHANAKMAR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1975 and was declared as a tiger reserve in 2009. The legend has that a British man was killed by a sudden (‘achanak’) attack (‘maar’) of a tiger at this forest. And hence the place came to be known as Achanakmar or the sudden attack.

The sanctuary is home to the Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, striped hyena, Indian jackal, Dhole, Sloth bear, Gaur, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Nilgai, Four horned antelope, Barking Deer, Wild boar, among many other species. It has more than 150 species of birds flying across the landscape.

Achanakmar’s rich vegetation, plains and hills still retains that feeling of being an untouched and unexplored landscape. It offers wild lifers and researchers an opportunity to discover many rare species which are yet not in record of the Zoological Survey of India.

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