A Journey into the Heart of Chhattisgarh
Quick Access
Highlights
- Authentic, Off-the-Beaten-Path Experience: Explore a less-visited region of central India, ensuring a genuine cultural immersion away from typical tourist crowds.
- Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary: Enjoy jeep safaris and guided walks in this sanctuary, a prime location for spotting sloth bears, leopards, gaur, and possibly wild elephants.
- Ancient Wonders of Sirpur: Step back in time at this important Buddhist site, home to exquisite Vihars, temples, and relics dating from the 5th-8th centuries AD.
- Kanker Palace & Royal Hospitality: Stay with the warm and friendly Kanker royal family, offering a unique glimpse into local heritage and conservation efforts.
- Tribal Craft Communities: Witness artisans at work with bell metal, wrought iron, terracotta, and wood in Kondagaon.
- Bastar’s Vibrant Tribal Culture: Spend days in Jagdalpur exploring the country of the Bison Horn Maria and Dhurwa tribes, enjoying traditional dances, village visits, and bustling markets.
- Chitrakote Waterfall: Marvel at the majestic “Niagara of India” on the Indravati River.
- Kanger Valley National Park: Discover intense forests, explore Kutumsar and Kailash Caves with their striking stalactite and stalagmite formations, and look for diverse wildlife.
- Bhoramdeo Temple Complex: Explore the 12th-century “Khajuraho of Chhattisgarh” with its intricately carved temples nestled in the scenic Maikal Hills.
- Immersive Village Life in Bhoramdeo: Stay in a rural farmhouse and engage with Gond and Baiga communities, visit weekly markets, craft centres (pottery, bamboo, blacksmiths), and enjoy local walks.
Overview
Your adventure begins with your arrival in bustling New Delhi, setting the stage for an extraordinary exploration of Chhattisgarh’s captivating landscapes and vibrant cultures. This meticulously crafted itinerary invites you to delve deep into the rich tapestry of central India, taking you to a less-touristed and barely visited part of the country, ensuring a truly authentic experience far from the usual tourist crowds.
From the serene wilderness of Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary, a haven for sloth bears and leopards, to the ancient archaeological wonders of Sirpur, you’ll discover a side of India few ever see. Immerse yourself in the regal charm of Kanker with its hospitable royal family, and experience the authentic tribal life and dazzling waterfalls of Jagdalpur and the Bastar region. You’ll witness the unique customs of the Bison Horn Maria and Dhurwa tribes, explore bustling markets, and marvel at the geological wonders of Kanger Valley National Park.
Your journey culminates in the tranquil beauty of Bhoramdeo, often called the “Khajuraho of Chhattisgarh,” where ancient temples meet the untouched lives of the Gond and Baiga communities amidst the scenic Maikal Hills. Experience village life firsthand, engage with local artisans, and perhaps even spot some of Central India’s elusive wildlife. This isn’t just a trip; it’s an intimate exploration of a region where history, nature, and living traditions converge to create an unforgettable, genuine encounter with India.
Location
Itinerary
Arrive in New Delhi airport where you will be met by your driver outside the arrival gate and taken to your hotel for a night.
The rest of the evening is free to relax or go shopping.
In morning, you will be transferred to airport to catch a flight to Raipur in central India, the closest airport to the Barnawapara wildlife sanctuary. It is located about 2.5 hours from Raipur. Your stay will in jungle resort. It is a modern yet simple lodge on the edge of the sanctuary.
After lunch and some rest you can walk to the neighbouring villages and forest looking for birds and other wildlife. You get to see and learn more while you on your feet than from 4×4.
Meals: B L D
Today wakeup early to explore Barnawapara on a jeep safari.
Barnawapara is one of the finest wildlife sanctuaries in Chhattisgarh. Like most reserves in Chhattisgarh, the tourism here is still in its nascent stage. There is none of the predictability that comes with organised tourism and therefore, sighting an animal promises to be a truly exciting experience. The sanctuary is probably the best place to see sloth bears in central India.
Other major wildlife includes leopard, jungle cat, small Indian civet, gaur, sambhar, chital, nilgai, wild boar, jackal and barking deer. Due to the absence of tigers other species have flourished, with leopard and gaur have benefited the most. Recently the beautiful blackbuck antelope have been released here. There is also a chance to see wild elephants which have migrated from the neighbouring Odisha state.
You will be back to the lodge for lunch. Later in the afternoon, you can visit the ancient site of Sirpur. Sirpur, an important Buddhist site is known for its Buddh Vihar, exquisitely carved temple and several relics of Buddha dating from 5th – 8th century AD.
The adventurous Chinese Buddhist traveller and pilgrim Xuan Zang (Hsuen Tsang) included Sirpur in his 16-year tour of India between 629 and 645 CE. Remains of important Buddhist monastic structures can still be seen. Also of note is the 8th century brick Laxman temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the only brick temple of its size still surviving in the region.
Meals: B L D
Today after breakfast, you will be transferred to Kanker. It is approximately four hours drive to Kanker.
Kanker is a small, not terribly beautiful little town but the Kanker family are lovely, young and friendly and altogether un-regal. Four-poster beds and ancient tiger skins rugs abound (though the family are now into conservation not hunting).
Your princely hosts are Aswini (aka Jai) of the Kanker royal family. Their elder brother Aditya (Joe) has a PhD in the American history and teaches history at St Stephen’s College in Delhi. Elder sister Anu teaches rather younger pupils at a little kindergarten on the Palace grounds.
Your evening will be free for relaxation or you can go out to explore the Kanker town.
Meals: B L D
After breakfast climb the winding ghats of Keshkal valley to reach Jagdalpur (3 hrs). It is the largest town in the region and the headquarters of the Bastar district.
You will make a short de-tour midway to visit tribal craft communities of Kondagaon. You can see the artesian working on bell metal, wrought iron, terracotta and wood.
Reach Jagdalpur in time for lunch. Your accommodation here will be with Avinash International. Although the name has international to it but it is locally run and provides decent rooms and dining options.
Your guide will meet you at the hotel to discuss the plan for the next whole week.
Meals: B
Few days in the capable hands of our local guide will give you a chance to tap the tribal and natural delights of this area. You will travel with him out of Jagdalpur into the country of the Bison Horn Maria and Dhurwa tribes. You will see a performance of their spectacular local dance and get a good look at village life, costumes, ornaments and customs.
You will visit villages and tribal markets and see the Chitrakote Waterfall on the Indravati River. In the evenings there will be a further opportunity to explore Jagdalpur’s absorbing city markets.
You will also have time to visit Kanger Valley National Park an hour or so south of Jagdalpur where there are also famous stalactite and stalagmite formations in the Kutumsar and Kailash Caves. However, the real glory of Kanger is that it retains something of the intensity of the forests that once covered this entire region.
Meals: B
After easy morning drive to Kanker (3 hrs). Arrive in time for a lunch at Kanker Palace. The evening will be free to relax.
Meals: B L D
Kanker (pronounced Kaan-kair) is a small former State (now District) immediately to the north of sprawling wild Bastar and a safe haven and gateway to that sometimes turbulent area.
North Bastar is home to the Muria Gond tribe famous for their Gotul – the mixed dormitory system which for long served as their principal means of education – a unique experiment in social development wherein the unmarried young make their own rules and learn the harmonies of successful society away from the strictures of adults whose presence in the Gotul is taboo.
You will visit a tribal village near Bahigaon, have a picnic lunch in the forest and visit the Saathi NGO handicrafts project set up in Kumharpara (Potters’ enclave) near the town of Kondargaon (famous for its bell metal craftspeople) to maintain and develop the considerable variety of traditional arts and crafts of the region.
Meals: B L D
It is a long drive today to Bhoramdeo of 6 hours with a stop at Raipur for lunch. You will be staying in Bhoramdeo Jungle Retreat, a rural farmhouse style guesthouse for four nights. The retreat offers farmhouse-style living with essential mod-cons, and most of all the unusual chance to experience life at Central Indian village level. Here, in comfort and rustic simplicity you will be able to tour the nearby 12th century Bhoramdeo Temple site – a smaller version of world-famous Khajuraho; and surrounding Gond and Baiga villages with friendly and expert local guides.
Meals: B D
Bhoramdeo is situated in the north-western Chhattisgarh district of Kawardha. Nestled in the Maikal Hills, 12th century Bhoramdeo temple complex is a series of beautiful structures with erotic carvings to rival those at Khajuraho.
A stay in a local farmhouse gives the discerning traveller a chance to relax in an oasis of peace and friendliness along with the rare opportunity to explore Indian life at village level. In the company of your host and a local guide you will be able to meet villagers and forest people without formality or embarrassment – whether at the colourful weekly markets or in their own homes.
The Maikal Hills that surround Bhoramdeo are home to many species of central India’s spectacular wildlife as well as to the indigenous Baigas & Gonds, whose tolas (villages) dot the countryside. Guests have the chance to spend an afternoon at a pottery village (trying their hand at the wheel or paddling the clay with their bare feet); bamboo craft centre; cow herders’ villages; Agaria (blacksmith) villages; many colourful weekly haats (tribal markets), with one falling on almost every day of the week ensuring all guests the chance to visit at least one.
Local walks seeing crop planting, harvesting and threshing are also fascinating to those not from the area as well as watching the distillation (and enjoying sampling) of the flowers of the mahua tree. A late afternoon trip into Kawardha is another excursion guests enjoy, with a cycle rickshaw ride around town followed by some shopping for spices, local forest honey etc in the bustling bazaar.
Local musicians may wander in as dusk falls, and sing and play to you, their children in tow, who, wrapped in blankets and warming themselves by the fire whilst listening to the music and munching on home popped corn, will remind you that the performance is not solely for your benefit.
Jungle treks take you into a forest thick with birds and clouds of butterflies, as well as mammals including langur and even big cats (leopards and tigers).
There is much to do which can be planned on daily basis with Sunny. Or you can simply choose to take it easy and relax at Bhoramdeo.
Meals: B L D
After a relaxed morning, we’ll transfer you to Raipur airport for your flight to New Delhi and your onward journey.
Alternatively, if you have a few extra days, consider adding Kanha Tiger Reserve to your itinerary. Kanha, famous for its abundant wildlife, including tigers, is just a 2.5-hour drive from Bhoramdeo.
Meals: B
Tour Gallery
