This forested state will yield its hidden treasures to the intrepid traveller.
Not many people would actually pick a place like Chhattisgarh for a holiday or even a getaway. After all, it is hardly publicised and lacks the ingredients of a typical tourist attraction. But if you do manage to think beyond the usual places, then you’ll be in for a pleasant surprise in Chhattisgarh.
Jagdalpur is the best place to visit in the state. Full of dense forests, the tribals and their art forms lend the place a unique charm. Of course, there are many areas in the region, also called Bastar, which are declared Naxalite and it’s better to avoid them completely.
Bastar has something or other for tourists of every taste. It has national parks, caves, waterfalls, palaces and museums, and the best part is that it is quite secluded and you will not be crowded out by other tourists.
One has to go to Raipur, the state capital, first and then head to Jagdalpur, which is about 300 km from there. Once you are in Jagdalpur most of the places to visit are within an 80 km radius.
There are four national parks surrounding Jagdalpur, with Kanger Valley National Park being the largest and full of spectacular landscapes as well abundant wildlife.
The best and the most well-known site in the region are the Chitrakoot waterfalls. These breathtaking falls are 50 km from Jagdalpur. Though they are often compared with the Niagara Falls of the US because of the shape, they are nothing like it. The river flows from the Vindhya mountain range and makes for a beautiful sight. Apart from Chitrakoot, there are also the Tirathgarh waterfalls.
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Being a tribal-dominated area, there are quite a lot of caves as well in this belt. Kutumsar Cave is 330 metres in length and is known to be the second-longest natural cave in the world. Near the Kanger Valley National Park, there is another cave called the Kailash Cave which attracts quite a few tourists.
The region still hasn’t caught the fancy of many people, but if you are looking for a secluded as well as an adventurous holiday, then Bastar is the ideal place. Just one safety tip: have a local guide with you all the time, as the place is surrounded by dense forest in which it is easy to get lost, and some areas are Naxalite-infested as well.