The Best of Chattisgarh

Bastar
Those familiar with Indian epics will recognise the old name for Bastar Dandakaranya. In the 14th century, the Ka&shykatiya Annama Deva established his king&shydom here under the tutelage of the god&shydess Dantheshwari, whose temple stands to this day at Dantewada, one of the 52 shaktipeethas of the sub-continent. This verdant, mountainous tract in the south of Chhattisgarh is famous for being a tribal stronghold, populated by various ethnici&shyties. Any foray into these lands must go through Jagdalpur and the royal palace is a must-see. Jagdalpur is 290km/6 hours from Raipur via NH43.

Kanger Valler
The spectacular Kanger Valley is one of the few pockets of untouched forest left in India. This 200sq km park has everything dense forest, a fascinating range of flora and fauna, a laby&shyrinth of subterranean limestone caves, land formations that range from low flatlands to steep slopes, valleys and streams... breath&shytaking vistas at every turn. The fact that the Kotumsar cave holds rare, endemic troglobite cavefish just adds to the mys&shytique. Don&rsquot miss the stunning 300ft Ti&shyrathgarh falls, do catch sight of the Bastar Hill Myna and add a cave walk to your itin&shyerary The park is 305km/7 hours from Rai&shypur and about 38km from Jagdalpur.

Surguja
In the north of Chhattisgarh lies the former princely state of Surguja, a dis&shytrict that sprawls over beautiful mountain&shyous terrain and houses populations of vari&shyous Central Indian tribes. Its capital was Ambikapur, one of the state&rsquos largest towns. On the road from Ambikarpur to Bi&shylaspur is a 12th-century Nagara-style tem&shyple that Sarguja is famous for. It is dedicat&shyed to the local deity Mahamaya Devi&mdasha dual statue, so to speak, with Mahishasur&shyamardhini in front and Saraswati at the back. This is said to be a shaktipeeth, one of the 52 temples across the sub-continent that worship the divine feminine. Ambika&shypur is 338km from Raipur.