Culture5 days
Bastar tribal circuit
Tribal markets, Dhokra art, waterfalls and caves in the Bastar plateau.
- Jagdalpur
- Chitrakote
- Kanger Valley
- Kondagaon
- Narayanpur
State · Central
Chhattisgarh
Waterfalls, tribal Bastar and ancient forest temples
Green and little-visited: Bastar's tribal markets and Chitrakote Falls, Sirpur's ancient brick temples, Kanger Valley's caves and Achanakmar's forests, set in India's rice bowl.
- Best time
- October to March (waterfalls best July to October)
- Allow
- 5–9 days
- Getting there
- Raipur (RPR) airport and rail hub; Bilaspur and Jagdalpur airports; Durg and Bilaspur rail
- Permits
- None for Indians; forest entry tickets for Kanger Valley and Achanakmar; some Bastar interior areas carry security advisories, check locally
- Capital
- Raipur
- At a glance
- 33 districts · 68 places · 23 off the beaten track
Must-see
The unmissable Chhattisgarh
01
Chitrakote Falls
Wide horseshoe cascade on the Indravati, the 'Niagara of India'.
02
Kanger Valley National Park
Limestone caves, waterfalls and dense sal forest near Jagdalpur.
03
Sirpur
Ancient Mahanadi-side brick temples and Buddhist monastery ruins.
04
Bastar Dussehra
75-day tribal festival with giant wooden chariots.
05
Achanakmar Tiger Reserve
Hilly forest of tigers and leopards on the Maikal range.
06
Bhoramdeo Temples
Chhattisgarh's 'Khajuraho' with erotic stone carvings.
07
Mainpat
Chhattisgarh's 'Shimla', misty tableland with Tibetan settlement.
08
Barnawapara Sanctuary
Forest sanctuary with gaur and leopards.
Tourist circuits
Ready-made routes
Join the dots: each circuit links places that make sense together.
Heritage3 days
Heritage Mahanadi
Ancient brick temples and riverside pilgrim town.
- Raipur
- Sirpur
- Rajim
- Arang
Hills3 days
Hills and tableland
Misty plateaus, waterfalls and Tibetan settlement.
- Ambikapur
- Mainpat
- Kurdar
- Jashpur
Wildlife4 days
Wildlife circuit
Tiger-leopard forests and quiet jungle drives.
- Achanakmar
- Kanha border
- Barnawapara
- Udanti-Sitanadi
Heritage2 days
Bhoramdeo and Kabirdham
Stone temples and palace town of Kawardha.
- Kawardha
- Bhoramdeo
- Chhapri
Nature3 days
Waterfall route
Cascades in rainy and post-rainy season.
- Jagdalpur
- Chitrakote
- Teerathgarh
- Mendri Ghumar
District by district
Every district, place by place
33 districts. Open any to see what's worth your time — gold tags mark lesser-known places.
BalodHQ Balod · 2 places · 1 offbeat
Small district with Tandula reservoir.
- NatureTandula DamLarge reservoir with birding.
- NatureGangrel Dam borderOffbeatQuiet lake views.
Baloda BazarHQ Baloda Bazar · 2 places · 1 offbeat
Chhattisgarh's Giraudpuri region.
- SpiritualGiraudpuri DhamSatnami sect pilgrimage centre.
- OffbeatSonakhan hillsOffbeatForested hills with historic sites.
BalrampurHQ Balrampur · 2 places · 1 offbeat
Remote northern forest district.
- NatureTatapaniHot springs near the border.
- OffbeatKusmi hillsOffbeatQuiet tribal region.
BastarHQ Jagdalpur · 4 places
Heart of the tribal south.
- Must-seeChitrakote FallsWide cascade on the Indravati.
- WildlifeKanger Valley National ParkCaves, streams and forest.
- NatureTirathgarh FallsTiered stream in the valley.
- NatureDalpat SagarLake in Jagdalpur.
BemetaraHQ Bemetara · 2 places · 2 offbeat
Small plains district.
- SpiritualBemetara Mahamaya MandirOffbeatOld village temple.
- OffbeatGram RatanpurOffbeatQuiet rural area.
BijapurHQ Bijapur · 1 place · 1 offbeat
Remote forest district; security advisories exist.
- OffbeatBhairamgarhOffbeatTribal heritage; check security advisories first.
BilaspurHQ Bilaspur · 3 places
Judicial capital and gateway to ancient Kalachuri sites.
- HeritageMalharAncient temple remains and Deur temple.
- HeritageRatanpurMahamaya temple and Kalachuri fort.
- WildlifeKanan Pendari ZooWildlife and white tiger zoo.
DantewadaHQ Dantewada · 3 places · 1 offbeat
Bailadila hills and Danteshwari shrine.
- SpiritualDanteshwari TempleShakti Peeth with ancient history.
- HeritageBarsurAncient twin temples.
- NatureBailadila hillsOffbeatIron ore hills; local guide advised.
DhamtariHQ Dhamtari · 2 places · 1 offbeat
Mahanadi district with a scenic dam.
- NatureGangrel DamLake and forest views.
- OffbeatSihawa Mahanadi sourceOffbeatQuiet river origin.
DurgHQ Durg · 2 places
Steel city with a heritage fort and temples.
- CultureMaitri BaghGarden zoo.
- CultureBhilai Steel PlantIndustrial museum tour.
GariabandHQ Gariaband · 2 places · 1 offbeat
Forest district with Bhuteshwar lingam.
- SpiritualBhuteshwar MahadevNatural lingam that grows.
- WildlifeUdanti-Sitanadi Tiger ReserveOffbeatForest with elephant and sloth bear.
Gaurela-Pendra-MarwahiHQ Gaurela · 2 places · 1 offbeat
Newer north district near Amarkantak.
- SpiritualAmarkantak borderNarmada origin area.
- OffbeatJogi DharaOffbeatWaterfall and forest area.
Janjgir-ChampaHQ Janjgir · 3 places
Temples and silk weavers.
- SpiritualShivrinarayanTemple town on the Mahanadi.
- CultureKosa silkHandloom silk.
- HeritageVishnu Mandir JanjgirUnfinished stone temple.
JashpurHQ Jashpur · 3 places · 1 offbeat
Hill tribal district.
- SpiritualKailash GufaCave temple at Gharghoda.
- OffbeatMadeshwar CaveCave and waterfall.
- OffbeatJashpur tea gardensOffbeatChhattisgarh tea at Sarna.
KabirdhamHQ Kawardha · 3 places · 1 offbeat
Palace town and Bhoramdeo area.
- HeritageBhoramdeo TempleChhattisgarh's Khajuraho with carved walls.
- HeritageKawardha PalaceRoyal palace.
- OffbeatChhapriOffbeatVillage near Bhoramdeo.
KankerHQ Kanker · 2 places
Forest and plateau district.
- NatureGadhiya MountainFlat-topped hill with views.
- HeritageKanker PalaceRoyal residence.
KondagaonHQ Kondagaon · 2 places · 1 offbeat
Dhokra art centre of Bastar.
- CultureDhokra craft villageLost-wax brass sculpture.
- NatureMendri Ghumar FallsOffbeatHidden waterfall.
KorbaHQ Korba · 2 places
Coal and power hub with hill views.
- SpiritualKosagai Mata TempleHilltop shrine.
- NatureMini Mata Bango DamLarge reservoir.
KoriyaHQ Baikunthpur · 1 place
Forest district on the border.
- NatureAmrit Dhara FallsCascade on the Hasdeo river.
MahasamundHQ Mahasamund · 1 place
Rice belt with Sirpur nearby.
- HeritageSirpurBrick temples and monastery ruins.
MungeliHQ Mungeli · 2 places · 1 offbeat
Small Bilaspur-area district.
- WildlifeAchanakmar BiosphereForest of tigers and bison.
- OffbeatLormiOffbeatQuiet forest town.
NarayanpurHQ Narayanpur · 1 place · 1 offbeat
Remote Abujhmarh gateway; security advisories apply.
- CultureNarayanpur Madai MelaOffbeatTribal fair, check security situation.
RaigarhHQ Raigarh · 2 places · 1 offbeat
Cultural city of Kathak and Chakradhar.
- HeritageChakradhar PalacePalace with Ganesh festival.
- OffbeatKelo Dam areaOffbeatQuiet forest picnic spot.
RaipurHQ Raipur · 4 places
State capital with Mahanadi and city lakes.
- CultureMahant Ghasidas MuseumTribal arts and artefacts.
- SpiritualRajimTemple town at the river confluence.
- HeritageSirpurBrick temple ruins.
- WildlifeNandan Van ZooJungle safari near the city.
RajnandgaonHQ Rajnandgaon · 1 place · 1 offbeat
Rice plains with temples.
- SpiritualDongargarhOffbeatBamleshwari hilltop shrine.
SukmaHQ Sukma · 1 place · 1 offbeat
Remote south forest district; security advisories exist.
- OffbeatSukma JhiramOffbeatLocal tribal sites; check security first.
SurajpurHQ Surajpur · 1 place
Forested north.
- SpiritualKudargarhKudargarh hill temple.
SurgujaHQ Ambikapur · 3 places
Northern tribal belt with Mainpat.
- HillsMainpatMisty hill plateau with a Tibetan settlement.
- HeritageSitabengra CaveAncient cave theatre.
- NatureTiger PointMainpat waterfall viewpoint.
Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-GandaiHQ Khairagarh · 2 places · 1 offbeat
Newer 2022 district around Khairagarh.
- HeritageKhairagarh PalaceRoyal palace and music university.
- CultureIndira Kala Sangeet UniversityOffbeatFamed arts institution.
Manendragarh-Chirmiri-BharatpurHQ Manendragarh · 2 places · 1 offbeat
Newer 2022 coalfield and hill district.
- NatureHasdeo ArandDense forest at risk from mining.
- HillsChirmiriOffbeatSmall hill town.
Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh ChowkiHQ Mohla · 2 places · 2 offbeat
Newer 2022 district on the Maharashtra border.
- OffbeatAmbagarhOffbeatQuiet hills and forest.
- OffbeatManpurOffbeatForest village.
SaktiHQ Sakti · 2 places · 1 offbeat
Newer 2022 Janjgir-area district.
- HeritageSakti FortOld palace-fort.
- OffbeatGunjarOffbeatRural lanes.
Sarangarh-BilaigarhHQ Sarangarh · 1 place
Newer 2022 district in the east.
- HeritageGirivilas PalaceRoyal palace at Sarangarh.
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Eat
Signature flavours
- Chila and fara
- Bafauri
- Chana-bhaja
- Ant chutney (chaprah, Bastar)
- Dehrori sweet
Forest rest houses, state tourism resorts, tribal homestays in Bastar.
Festivals
When to time your visit
- Bastar Dussehra — September-October
- Chakradhar Samaroh, Raigarh — September
- Rajim Kumbh — February-March
- Bhoramdeo Mahotsav — March
Insider tip
Chitrakote is best from July to October, while Bastar's tribal haats (weekly markets) are most colourful on local market days; hire a local guide for the interior.
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Start planning Free trip plannerCompiled from public tourism information and our own knowledge; permits, entry rules, district boundaries, timings and prices change — approximate, verify before travelling. Last reviewed 2026-11-09.