Chhattisgarh Holiday

Came into being on 1st November 2000, the state of Chhattisgarh is located in central India. It is known for its undulating landscape and mesmerising scenic beauty. The large monsoon-fed rainforests make the land an ultimate paradise. The unspoilt green forests, picturesque waterfalls, scenic plateaus, caves and forts and the winding rivers add to the overall charm of the land. By area it is said to be the 10th largest state of India and is rich in mineral resources. The forests of the state boasts of more than 90 species of medicinal plants.

The state of Chhattisgarh has derived its name from the 36 princely states that ruled the land during ancient times. Chhattisgarh also has a glorious history that dates back to the times of Mahabharata and Ramayana. Chhattisgarh shares its boundaries with the states of Madhya Pradesh on the north-west, Jharkhand on the north-east, Andhra Pradesh on the south, Maharashtra on the west, Orissa on the east and Uttar Pradesh on the north. The state predominantly being a tribal area has not lost its traditional delight.
Tourist Attractions in Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh is relatively a new and very young tourist destination. Its tourism machinery is gradually gearing up to host a large numbers of tourists. There are a number of tourist attractions in the state of Chhattisgarh many of which till date lies unexplored. Some of them are:

Kawardha – This small town of Kawardha is a perfect retreat for the tired souls. The town offers breathtaking views of natural beauty and the rich tribal life.

Chitrakote Falls – The Chitrakote falls is no less than the Niagara Falls. It is said to be the biggest waterfall in India. Its great proportions fail to come in the frame of the photographer's lenses. It proves to be an extraordinary sight to behold after the rains. It is also Bastar's most frequented tourist site. The base of the mammoth waterfall is the place where fishermen spend lazy afernoons mending their nests. This place is also considered best point for glancing at the gigantic flow of water.

Bastar- Bastar is a perfect tribal land that offers a peep into the unexplored forests with waterfalls and wild animals, age-old temples, tribal dance and music. It is one of the most important eco-tourism destinations of the country.

Barsur – Barsur was once the capital of Bastar and cannot be easily found even on a large tourist map. Barsur is a visual treat for lovers of architecture. Most of the stone structures here date back to the 11th and the 12th century. One gets to see an added attraction of safli, a local brew and cock- fights at the local haat. The open air twin Ganesha sculptures are the major delights of Barsur as it is very uncommon to find two Ganesha's, side by side anywhere in the world. In Barsur one can also catch the Battisa temple with two inner sanctums.

Kanker - This town is about thousand years old and offers a spectacular view of forests, waterfalls and exquisite tribal villages of the area. Here is an old palace that is still resided by the royal family of the area. This has made it one of the major tourist attractions in Chhattisgarh.

Bhoramdeo – This place is referred to as the Khajuraho of Chhattisgarh. The beauty of its carved erotic temples is a reason of great pleasure and delight of the tourists from India and abroad.

Chamaparan – The town of Champaran is said to be the birthplace of Saint Vallabhacharya. The place is famous for his birth anniversary which is held somewhere between April-May together with an annual fair.
Dining
Most of the eateries of Chhattisgarh offer happy endings. Lal chinti chutney ( red ant paste) is the speciality of the place. The overall Chhattisgarh favourite is Paij which is a kind of rice porridge eaten with stir fried vegetables. As a tourist one can check out the roadside dhabas. The Makri dhaba on the Rajpur-Jagdalpur highway is well known for its Punjabi specialities. The Bhatia shaba at Simga is famous for the butter chicken. The government rest houses serve good quality food.

Accommodation
The newly born state of Chhattisgarh offers great accommodation options to its tourists. One can choose from the standard, budget and discount hotels all of which boast of hospitality and great services. Some of the hotels are as follows:

• Hotel Mayur, Rajpur
• Hotel Picadilly, Rajpur
• Kawardha Palace
• Rainbow Hotel, Jagdalpur
• Bhoramdeo Jungle Retreat
• Hotel Madhuban, Rajpur
• Royal Palace Kanker
• Naman Bastar Resort, Jagdalpur
• Bastar Royal Farm, Jagdalpur

Shopping
To go for Shopping in Chhattisgarh is a pleasurable activity and also irresistible too. The tribal lot of the state are very skillful in making different types of handicrafts which are acclaimed worldwide. Chhattisgarh specially proves to be a great place for people who are planning to redecorate their living rooms. One can find a huge range of tribal handicrafts made available to the tourists. However the major and popular shopping items in Chhattisgarh are:

• Woodcrafts and bamboo crafts
• Bell metal items
• Wrought iron items
• Terracotta
• Stone sculpting
• Cotton fabrics

The tribal haat is also a great place to find tribal knick-knacks like tradtional jewellery, combs and beads. One can also take away old fashioned household objects like kerosene lamps, rat-traps, glass tumblers and old radio sets.

How To Reach
The newly formed state of Chhattisgarh is easily accessible by air, rail and road.
By Air: The state of Chhattisgarh has a domestic airport which is well connected to all the major airports of the country.

By Rail: Rajpur and Bilaspur are the two major railway stations in Chhattisgarh which connect to the other railway stations of India.

By Road: Chhattisgarh has an excellent network of roads that connects the state to other major cities and towns of the country.