Two national parks, two wildlife sanctuaries, three waterfalls, an ancient cave, two mighty rivers, some smaller ones, umpteen temples, excavations, a king's palace and a brush with royalty, a tribal dance, a tribal haath, handicrafts and ayurvedic medicines, and on and on.
The organisers of the trip, IT Nature Club, packed in so much into the five days we spent crisscrossing the state of Chhattisgarh! Though we covered most of the main sights, the place still has much more to offer. There is something for everyone.
Chhattisgarh, starting with its two bigger cities, Raipur and Durg, was a revelation to us. We had a stereotypical notion of what the word 'urban' would means in relation with central India. But the excellent roads, toll plazas, glitzy lights, shopping malls (!) and nightlife (revealed to us on a walk back to our hotel after 11 pm) made us forget that we were not in one of India's five largest metros.
The entire state or Dakshin Koshal, as it was earlier known is packed with ancient temples. Lord Rama is said to have spent a part of his exile here.
There was so much to fascinate us: the Rajiv Lochan Temple in Rajim (also called the Prayag of Chhattisgarh) built in the eighth century and dedicated to Vishnu.
And the revered Maa Danteshwari in Dantewara, Bastar district, at the confluence of the Dankini and Shankini rivers (plenty of exotic names here). This shrine is considered one of the Shaktipeethas devoted to goddess Shakti and her avatars; it is thought that Sati (another name for Dakshayani, or Shiva's first wife) dropped her tooth at Dantewara.
Bastar Dusshera is one of the biggest festivals in this state but has nothing to do with Ram. Instead it is devoted to Maa Danteshwari who is venerated both by the tribals and the Hindus.
Also read: A Kodachadri sunset
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