Chhattisgarh Tourism

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.

History
The history of Chhattisgarh , which was called as South Kosala goes back to the 4th century AD. The mythological history of the state can be traced back to the days of Mahabarata and the Ramayana. The Haihaya dynasty ruled Chhattisgarh for six centuries during the 14th century. During the middle ages, Chalukya dynasty established its rule in Bastar. Annmdev was the first Chalukya ruler, who founded the dynasty in Bastar in 1320.
In 1741, the kingdom was seized by the Marathas from the Haihaya dynasty. After conquering bthe kingdom during 1745 AD, Raghunathsinghji, the last descendant of the Ratanpur house was forced to leave the area. So finally in the year 1758, Chhattisgarh was conquered by Marathas and Bimbaji Bhonsle was appointed as the ruler. After the demise of Bimbaji Bhonsle, suba system was followed by the Marathas. It was an era of unrest and misrule. Maratha army was involved in large-scale loot and ransack. The Maratha officials compromised the interests of the region to the British. The atrocities of the Maratha rule were opposed by the Gonds. The kingdom was attacked by the Pindaris during the early Nineteenth Century.

Fairs & Festivals
Festivals of Chhattisgarh tells the multi-hued tale of cultural ecstasy of the state. The ancient times of Chhattisgarh have scripted the history of many tribal and non-tribal festivals. From Dussera and Lokotsav in Bastar to fairs of Hareli, Goncha, Champaran and Korea, the state of Chhattisgarh is brimming with a pulsating palate of festivals. Bastar dussera is an age-old festival of the local people which has today gained much popularity in the other districts Chhattisgarh too. As the name indicates, dussera is celebrated in the place to worship Lord Rama. The festival mainly celebrate the triumph of good power over the evil ones. Bastar lokotsav is the biggest celebration of the tribal folks of the area. Inheriting a vivacious culture from their ancestors, the tribes of Bastar engross themselves in the joyful mirth and glee of the lokotsav. Folk dances, songs and other sources of performing arts take place in Bastar during the lokotsav festival. People from faraway regions come to visit this festival of Chhattisgarh every year.

Best Time to Visit
Chhattisgarh in central India, Bhilai experiences hot and dry weather conditions in summers. The temperature may rise up to a scorching 45 degrees Celcius, making it unpleasant to visit the city. Monsoon season follows immediately with a moderate amount of rainfall but increases the humidity. Winters, that fall between the months of October and March, are quite pleasant and cool and thus recommended as the best time to explore the steel city.

How to Reach :-

BY AIR - The main commercially operating airport is in Raipur, it has regular flights from the top cities of the country, i.e. Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bhopal and Indore. It is also connected to Jaipur, Nagpur, Bhubaneshwar, Ahmedabad, Gwalior, Chandigarh, Hyderabad and Bangalore. Airports in Chattisgarh: Raipur Airport, Bilaspur Airport, Jagdalpur Airport. There many other upcoming airports and air strips which will start soon to improve the air connectivity in the state.

BY RAIL - The rail network in Chhattisgarh is centered around Bilaspur, which is the zonal headquarters of South East Central Railway of Indian Railways. The other main railway junction is Raipur, followed by the Durg Junction, which is also a starting point of many long distance trains. These three junctions are well-connected to the major cities of India.

BY ROAD - Chhattisgarh has an excellent road network. All district headquarters, tehsils and development blocks are connected with good all-weather roads. The 11 national highways passing through Chhattisgarh together constitute 2,184 km of roads in the state, connecting from all the major cities in India.

Tourist Attractions
The tourist attractions in Chhattisgarh India therefore cater to a large tourist taste and has infinite prospect of harboring a flourishing tourism industry. The small town of Kawardha is offers breathtaking views of nature and a rich tribal life. The royal palace at Kawardha is one of the major tourist attractions in Chhattisgarh.