Chhattisgarh Archives

Chhattisgarh:Wildlife, waterfalls, and a glimpse into the tribal culture

Like its tourism tagline, the state of Chhattisgarh in indeed full of surprises. Who would have known that in the heart of India, there is an entire state covered in greenery as much as 41.33%? And did you know that the oldest ethnic tribes of India form 70% of Chhattisgarh’s population? From the largest waterfall of India to the ancient natural caves, Chhattisgarh is fascinating in its every corner.

Rich wildlife
Of all its natural bounties, the biodiversity of Chattisgarh is the most pervasive and prominent. There are three national parks and 11 wildlife sanctuaries across the state that are home to some of the rarest and most endangered species of wild animals found in India. The most-visited ones are the Barnawapara, Sitanadi, and Udanti. All three parks are easily accessible from Raipur- the nearest and the biggest city in Chhattisgarh.

Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary– 128 Km from Raipur and takes about 2.5 hours via NH 53. You can opt for one of the airport cabs in Raipur and reach the park. Barnawapara is known for antelopes, hyenas, Chinkara, Barking Deer, Bison, and wild buffaloes- the state animal.

Sitanadi Wildlife Sanctuary– This is another half an hour drive from Barnawapara. One of the densest forests of India, the Sitanadi wildlife reserve is packed with clusters of Sal, teak, and bamboo, housing a considerable number of herbivores and carnivores like tigers, leopards and jackals, black buck, Sambar, Nilgai, Gaur, and various species of monkeys and birds.
Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary– This reserve forest is the farthest from Raipur at 172 Km and it is better to find a taxi service in Raipur itself to reach Udanti. Spanning 232 sq. km, this natural sanctuary is known for its herbivore population known for its herbivorous population of bison, Barking Deer, Gaur, Sambar, Chital, Four-horned Antelopes, and Chinkara,

Fascinating waterfalls
The rocky terrain of the Vindhya and Satpura mountain ranges dominate the horizon of Chhattisgarh, giving rise to some of the most rapid cascades that one can find.
Chitrakoot Falls– The largest (in breadth) waterfall in the country, the Chitrakoot Falls are also called the Niagara of India because of its horseshoe shape like the Niagara Falls. The waterfalls are fed by the Indravati River and monsoon rains, which drop down from a height of 95 feet, resulting in a torrential flow. You can take a boat ride at the bottom of the falls and watch the rainbow formed by the mist of the water along the edges.

Tirathgarh Falls– This waterfall on the Mugabahar River form a step-like structure, where the water cascades down blocks of rocks from a height of 300 feet. It is surrounded by dense forests and an old temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, which attract pilgrims. That is how the waterfall got its name.

The Amritdhara Falls and the Rajpuri Falls are also noteworthy and call for a day trip to experience their magic.
A peek into the culture of Chhattisgarh
A majority of the state’s population comprise ethnic tribes like the Gond, Abhuj Maria, among many others. Their life, aesthetics, and traditional practices form the foundation of the colorful and vibrant culture of Chhattishgarh. The most intriguing aspect of these tribes is their warm hospitality and their skilled craftsmanship reflected in the exquisite regional handiwork.

You can also buy fabrics, terracotta figurines, handcrafted bamboo and wood products, jewelry made of cowries, bell metal (Dokra), copper, and bronze, to support these communities and take home a piece of their culture. You can also join the local festivals and see them in their most lively form. They celebrate Goncha, Dantewada fair, Champaran Mela, Hareli – the harvest festival, and the popular Rajim Lochan Mahotsav. Women adorn themselves with leaves, wildflowers, and ornaments made of bones, shells, and locally sourced metals and perform traditional dances like Raut Nacha, Panthi, Karma, Pandwani, and Soowa.

With the rugged yet intriguing landscape, the breathtaking biodiversity, and a culture that is unique to the common man, Chattisgarh never ceases to fascinate and that is why it deserves to be on every traveler’s wishlist!

Bastar, Face of Tribal India

About one third of the total lands of Chhattisgarh are covered with dense forests. And in those deep forests, there are some tribal people, who happen to be largely unaware of what the world looks like outside the forests. Some people belonging to those tribes have somehow peered their way into the more mainstream civilization and it is believed that over 70 percent of the total population of the state is tribal people.

Their lives has been seeped well into their ancient traditions and culture and visiting the places could be one of the most rewarding experience any travel junkie can have. Below is an insight into the different tribes dominating the lands of Chhattisgarh.

Gonds- Gond tribal people, who also call themselves as Koytorias are the most dominating and largely populated people in the state. They are spread across the entire state but southern Chattisgarh’s Bastar district is their primary home. The literal meaning of the word Gond is hill, these people are also known as Hill People. The people of this tribe speak Gondi which belongs to the Dravidian family of languages and relates to Tamil and Kannada. Like many other tribes, Gonds worship a high god known as Baradeo, who has alternate names such as Bhagavan, Sri Shambu Mahadeo, and Persa Pen. Many Gond festivals are connected to agriculture. Pola, a cattle festival, and Nagpanchami, the snake festival, are very popular.

Stick dancing is a Gond custom undertaken by young people, where bands of young people travel from village to village, dancing, and singing. The dancing is regarded as a religious duty and also an occasion for fun. Gonds are protective in nature towards pregnant women and protect them against spells and evil influences, thus performing several rituals after a baby is born. How they welcome their visitors is quite inspiring in itself. Gonds use dried tobacco leaves, fruits, or other small gifts to welcome their visitors. Many villages also have guest huts.

Abhuj Maria– This tribe happens to be one of the oldest tribes in Chhattisgarh who still follows by its rules and traditions. Settled in Abhujmar forests, they are isolated tribal people who have had little contact with other social communities and are known for their aggressive nature. They are cut off and rather hostile to the modernistic adaptations other tribes have witnessed over the years. They don’t like to cover themselves in anything and are largely dependent only on the lion cloth to cover themselves. This tribe mainly resorts to hunting for their survival.

Bison Horn Maria- These people are also known to evolve from the Gond people themselves. They are spread across some parts of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra as well. The name they got is attributed to the headgear that they wear, which somehow resembles horns of a bison. Although that headgear is put on the heads during the special occasions such as marriages, it is enough to distinguish them among the other tribal people in the region.

Muria- Muria tribal people also form a great chunk of the overall population of the state of Chattisgarh and Bastar district. Their native home is the jungles of Narayanpur tehsil. Muria people are known to be quite broadminded people and their economy is primarily agrarian. Rice cultivation is their favorite occupation and in the recent times, they have started sending their youths to the outside cities for better education.

Halbaa- Halbaa people are known to be peace loving and honest to their core. Agriculture is their biggest occupation and they are well respected and popular people. They have a great reputation to be one of the most progressive and contemporary tribal group. They speak Oriya and Marathi primarily along with Chhattisgarhi and their customs and traditions reflect the progressive nature of them. They also speak the Halbi language, an Indo-Aryan language which is written in the Devanagari script.
The tribal people of Bastar are as fearful as they are peaceful. Living in an isolated land, they somehow have managed to survive and are continuing to do so.