The relatively new state of Chhattisgarh was formed in 2000 by carving out 16 Chhattisgarhi-speaking south-eastern districts from the state of Madhya Pradesh.

Chhattisgarh is a heavily forested state in central India known for its temples and waterfalls. Raipur is the capital of Chhattisgarh. In the south, the city of Jagdalpur hosts the Sanjay Market on Sundays, a bartering place for local tribes. The huge Chitrakoot Falls lie to the northwest.

TOURIST PLACES IN CHHATTISGARH : –

CHITRAKOTE FALLS

The Chitrakote Falls is a natural waterfall located to the west of Jagdalpur, in Bastar district in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh on the Indravati River. The height of the falls is about 100 Feet. It is the widest fall in India Because of its width and wide spread during the monsoon season, it is often called the Niagara Falls…
Tucked away in the interior tribal district of India’s Chhattisgarh state, the Chitrakote waterfalls are nothing short of mesmerising. The Indravati river drops a hundred feet to create what is often called India’s Niagra falls. At the lower level one can use a boat to go right up to the cascading waters and in fact a tiny temple hides at one end almost behind the cascade.
The sound of gushing water of Indravati river as it cascaded down from a height, creating a stunning vista. So invigorating is the sight that we were magnetically drawn to it during the last monsoons. The Niagara Falls of India casts its magic as the magical portion casts down like smooth, white satin leaving a unforgettable impression. It is among top tourist places in Chhattisgarh.

Local boat facilities operating below and under the falls in a misty atmosphere provide views of the falls under an early morning sun in reflected sun light and in a blue hue. On the banks of the pond below the falls, many small Shiva Linngas (aniconic symbols of the god Shiva) are found in several niches, as are iron trishuls(the trident weapon of Shiva), mostly in a rusted state.

 
How To Reach Chitrakote Falls : –
It is 80 km from Bilaspur. It is situated at a distance of around 48 km from Jagdalpur which falls under Bastar district of Chhattisgarh. Jagdalpur is a popular city of Chhattisgarh and is very well connected to the rest of the state. Frequent bus services and taxis are available to reach Chitrakote waterfall or you can also heir a private car.

Source : www.tripadvisor.in

BHORAMDEO TEMPLE

The Shiva Linga in the temple is beautifully carved and the artistic appeal beckons the visitors. The Bhoramdeo temple constructed somewhere between the 7th and 11th centurieshas a resemblance with the Sun temple of Konark and The Khajuraho temple , and that is why it is also called the Khajuraho of Chhattisgarh. The “Madwa Mahal” near the Bhoramdeo temple is another beautiful historic monument, worth seeing. Just one km. away from Bhoramdeo , Madwa Mahal is known as the memorial of the marriage of Nagwanshi king and Haihawanshi Queen. ‘Madwa’ is a word from the local dialect synonymous to marriage pandal. Located amidst the picturesque setting of Maikal mountains, Bhoramdeo Temple offers spectacular views.
The main temple here has two parts. One is known as Ishtika made temple and the other is completely stone-carved. The main Bhoramdeo temple is in front of atranquil and cool lake. This medieval temple has been constructed upon a five feet high sprawling platform including a ‘Mandap’(shelter) Antral(Passage) and ‘Garbha Grih’(The main house of God). This east facing temple three openings except in the west. In the 60 ft. x 40 ft. area of the temple the Mandap which is square shape having four pillars in the centre and the rest are in periphery , associated with high roofs. There is a half shelter also on every entrance. In the 9 x 9 sq. ft sized ‘Garbha Grih’ a Shiva Linga’ is situated. The idols of elephants and lions are queued up on the top give the temple a decorative look. The main idols in the temple are those of Uma-Maheswar, Natraj , Narsimha , Vaman , Krishna, Surya , Kaal , Bhairava, Nritya Ganesh , Kartikeya, Tandul, Shivgang, Chamunda, Ambika, Sapta-Matrika and Laxmi-Naryan. The traces of ‘Ram-Katha’ are also engraved here in stones. Amidst a variety of idols the carnal sculptures of the temple are known worldwide for their exquisite carving in different erotic poses, obviously to reflect the lifestyle of those historic periods. In the north of the temple, there is a brick structure temple, which has got a superbly crafted series. On the North East and South portions of the ‘Garbha Grih’ the right angled projections add attraction to the site having big one in the middle and smaller ones on the outer side. It is among top tourist places in Chhattisgarh.

How to Reach Bhoramdeo Temple : –
By Air :– Raipur(134 kms) is the nearest airport connected with Delhi, Mumbai , Magpur, Bhuneshwar, Kolkata , Ranchi , Viskhapatnam and Chennai.
By Rail :– Raipur is the nearest Railway station on the Bombay-Howarah main line.
By Road:- Taxis are available from Kawardha(18 Kms). Regular Buses ply from Raipur(116 Kms.), Rajnandgaon(133 Kms.) and Jabalpur(220 Kms.) to Kawardha.

Source : http://kawardha.gov.in/bhoramdeo.htm

AMRITDHARA FALLS, CHIRMIRI

Chirmiri is a hill station and a Municipal Corporation in the Koriya district of the state of Chhattisgarh. It is among top tourist places in Chhattisgarh.

BASTAR PALACE

Bastar Palace is an ancient construction built when the kings of Bastar shifted their capital to Jagdalpur. The palace is rich in architecture and it tells tales of bravery of the rulers who ruled the land. The unique carvings on the walls of the palace are stunning. The monument constructed by the government inside the grounds of the palace offers artifacts and portraits of the rulers of the past. Do not miss the opportunity to ride on horse carriage when you are in the city. It is among top tourist places in Chhattisgarh.

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. It is among top tourist places in Chhattisgarh.
Source : www.wikipedia.org

WILDLIFE SANCTUARY AND NATIONAL PARKS

Since Chhattisgarh has huge area under forestation it is a wildlife sanctuary destination.

Source : http://natureconservation.in/