This was my maiden visit to Chhattisgarh – this landlocked state of central mid-east India. There was not much that I knew about the state and the only thing I had heard about it was the Bastar tribal art of Dokra. Maybe the popular Chhattisgarhi song ‘Sasural Genda Phool’. Carved out of the largest state of India, Madhya Pradesh, this is a relatively young state trying to create a separate identity for itself. My First Impressions of Chhattisgarh is it is rich in natural resources, be it forests, rivers, minerals, or coal, making it a base for the heavy engineering industry.
First Impressions of Chhattisgarh
Visuals that stand out the most in my mind are that of a 50 km stretch of drive through the Palash or the Forest Flame-rich region. Trees stood in the more or less dry land with orange flowers shimmering against the dull background. Trees closer to the road carried an orange shine while those at a distance added a saffron outline to the horizon. On the slants of the hills, they played hide and seek with the bright green leaves of the Sal. And red, pink, and yellow of other trees. This is an image that would stay with me for a long.
Spread across the state are the temples from various eras of history, some dating back to the BCE era. Some temples need better preservation, while others need better documentation. Cave and rock shelters with prehistoric paintings were a revelation for me. I had no idea that they existed in other places in the country other than Bhimbetka. I got to know about the Buddhist viharas in the state. Hopefully will get to see them some other time. I had no clue that a 50-year-old Tibetan settlement existed in the state.
Spoken Hindi
I loved the Hindi spoken by the people of the state, with a literary quality to the language. Living in big cities you tend to think that this kind of language probably exists only in old Hindi books. Or maybe in some sections of Doordarshan or Vividh Bharti. Travel in MP or this state to hear this beautiful language being spoken all around you. In fact, these may be the only two states that speak this kind of Shuddh Hindi.
People of the state still come forward to help absolute strangers. Even at odd hours of the day without expecting anything in return. That feeling of my house, my village, my region is still there, it is still not ‘Me’ versus the rest of the world for them. These may be short-lived till the ghost of consumerism and over-commercialization reaches them. But I was humbled by their gestures many times during the trip.
It also seems to be a thinly populated state compared to the rest of the country. The population outside the cities is very limited, villages are really small. The roads are not full of vehicles except in the industrial corridors.
Tourism – First Impressions of Chhattisgarh
From the tourism perspective, the first impressions of Chhattisgarh are that the state really did not inherit any celebrated places. Most well-known places are located in current-day Madhya Pradesh. Bastar in the southern part of the state is fast becoming a tourism hot spot with its waterfalls and tribal culture. Within the state too, the northern part is probably the least explored region of the state, and maybe the country.
I am happy I got an opportunity to explore this region firsthand. In retrospect, it was fun to find a spot knowing roughly where it is. Climbing hills not knowing how high they are. Discovering absolutely unknown facets and spending 12+ hours every day on the tree-lined roads meandering through the forests.
Recommend you to read the following tourist places in the state.
Legends & Myths of Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary
Pre-historic Cave Paintings in Chhattisgarh
One indeed can’t miss sight of the Flame of Forest – the abode of Agni – in rural and forest areas. The bloom of Palash is sign of the springtime.
I am sure there is lot to explore…
Maybe Naxal activities in the State has discouraged many tourists to visit Chhatisgarh. Hope things would improve in the near future.