Tourism in Chhattisgarh

Tourism in Chhattisgarh refers to tourism in Indian state of Chhattisgarh. It is India's 10th largest state and situated in the heart of India, is endowed with a rich cultural heritage and attractive natural diversity. The state has many ancient monuments, rare wildlife, exquisitely carved temples, Buddhist sites, palaces, water falls, caves, rock paintings and hill plateaus. Most of these sites are untouched and unexplored and offer a unique and alternate experience to tourists, compared to traditional destinations which have become overcrowded. For tourists who are tired of the crowds at major destinations will like the Bastar district, with its unique cultural and ecological identity. The green state of Chhattisgarh has 41.33% of its area under forests and is one of the richest bio-diversity areas in the country.

Waterfalls

Beautiful waterfalls in Chhattisgarh are Akuri Nala and Amrit Dhara waterfalls, Chirimiri is the Jannat Of Chhattisgarh.The natural beauty of Koriya is known all over India. The place has many dense forests, mountains, rivers and waterfalls. Amrit Dhara Waterfall in Koriya is among the most famous waterfalls in Koriya. Koriya in Chhattisgarh was a princely state during the British rule in India. Koriya is also known for the rich mineral deposits. Coal is found in abundance in this part of the country. The dense forests present here have a rich wildlife too. The climate of Koriya is quite pleasant. The mild summers and cool winters make Koriya a suitable place to visit throughout the year.

The Amrit Dhara Water fall, Koriya is a natural waterfall which originates from the Hasdo River. The fall is situated at a distance of seven kilometers from Nagpur. The waterfall is ideally located on the Manendragarh-Baikunthpur road. The Amrit Dhara Waterfall in Koriya in Chhattisgarh in India falls from a height of 90 feet. The waterfall is about 10-15 feet wide. The point where the water falls, there, a cloudy atmosphere is formed all around.

The spot where Amrit Dhara Waterfall, Koriya is situated is also famous for a very auspicious Shiva temple. Around this spot a very famous mela is held every year. The mela was started by Ramanuj Pratap Singh Judeo, who was the King of Koriya State, in the year 1936. The fair takes place during the festive occasion of Mahashiv Ratri and lakhs of devotees come to this place during the fair. The area around is also a famous picnic spot. People go for picnic and family get together to this place. The beauty of the place enchants every visitor and lures them to visit the place on and often.

The Amrit Dhara waterfall is easily accessible from Koriya and other parts of Chhattisgarh.Gavar Ghat waterfall, Ramdaha waterfall in Koriya district, Tiger point waterfall at Mainpat in Surguja district and Chitrakot and Tirathgarh waterfalls in Bastar district.

View of Chitrakot Falls, Jagdalpur

View of Amritdhara falls, Chirmiri

Temples

Notable and ancient temples in Chhattisgarh include: Shri Ram Janki Temple at Setganga in Mungeli District,Bhoramdeo temple near Kawardha in Kabirdham district, Rajivlochan temple at Rajim and Champaran in Raipur district, Chandrahasini Devi temple at Chandrapur, Vishnu temple at Janjgir, Damudhara (Rishab Tirth) and Sivarinarayana Laxminarayana temple in Janjgir-Champa district, Bambleshwari Temple at Dongargarh in Rajnandgaon district, Danteshwari Temple in Dantewada district, Deorani-Jethani temple at Tala gram and Mahamaya temple at Ratanpur in Bilaspur district, Laxman temple at Sirpur in Mahasamund district, Uwasaggaharam Parshwa Teerth at Nagpura in Durg district, Pali with Lord Shiva temple and Kharod with Lakshmaneswar temple, Patal Bhairavi temple in outer area of Rajnandgaon.

Giraudhpuri is a religious place for the Satnamis. They are the followers of Satnam Panth.

Sirpur is proposed world heritage site and Malhar are of historical significance, as they were visited by Xuanzang, the Chinese historian. Mama- bachha temple at Barsoor.

The hot spring known as Taat Pani, (taat - hot, pani - water) the hot spring flows in Balrampur district. This hot spring flows throughout the year and is reputed to have medicinal properties due to its high sodium content. National Thermal Power Corporation Limited is developing a geothermal power plant at Taat Pani, which is described as the first geothermal power plant in India.

Caves

Gadiya mountain in Kanker district, Kotumsar cave in Bastar district, Kailash gufa, Ramgarh and Sita Bengra in Surguja district and Singhanpur cave in Raigarh district with pre-historic paintings are well known. There are cave paintings at Ongana and Kabra Pahad near Raigarh, though most of the paintings lie in open and have been over written by graffiti.

National parks and wildlife sanctuaries

Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary in the Bilaspur district, Gamarda Reserve forest at Sarangarh in the Raigarh district, Indravati National Park and Kanger Ghati National Park in the Bastar district, Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary in the Mahasamund district,^[1] Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary in the Raipur district,^[2] and Sitanadi Wildlife Sanctuary in the Dhamtari district^[3] are good places for eco-tourism.

Archaeological sites

Archaeological sites worth seeing are Barsoor in Dantewada district, Malhar and Ratanpur in Bilaspur district, Sirpur in Mahasamund district, koriya in koriya district and Surguja in Surguja district. A small picnic spot with waterfall on the extremity of Satpura range along with a stone inscription of c. 1st century CE is found at Damau dhara in Janjgir-Champa district.

Dams

Hasdev Bango Dam (105 kilometres (65 mi) from Bilaspur), Khudiya Dam in Lormi and Khutaghat Dam (35 kilometres (22 mi) from Bilaspur) in Ratanpur and Gangrel Dam and Murrum Silli Dam in Dhamtari, Kherkatta Reservoir in Pakhanjore are some of the important dams in Chhattisgarh.

References

1. "Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary, Barnawapara Sanctuary, Sita Nadi Sanctuary, Chhattisgarh Wildlife Tour, Chhattisgarh Wildlife Tours". tourismofchhattisgarh.com.
2. "Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary, Udanti Sanctuary, Chhattisgarh Wildlife Tour, Chhattisgarh Wildlife Tours, Wildlife Tour Chhattisgarh". tourismofchhattisgarh.com.
3. "Sitanadi Wildlife Sanctuary,Sitanadi Sanctuary,Sita Nadi Sanctuary,Chhattisgarh Wildlife Tour, Chhattisgarh Wildlife Tours". tourismofchhattisgarh.com.