Travel
Kanker’s high point – Gadiya Mountain & Around
A climb to Gadiya Mountain in Kanker is an experience that combines history, physical fortitude and mesmerising views of the town below. Transport yourself to hundreds of years ago when Maharaja Dharm
Highland Hideaway – Mainpat
A forested retreat replete with plateaus, grassy knolls. waterfalls and gentle undulations fading into the horizon, this 'hill station' in Surguja district is the state's best-kept secret. Roughly 55k
Achanakmar Tiger Reserve
A sylvan haven made up of dense deciduous woodlands, snaking rivers, gurgling streams, placid ponds, and tribal villages, Achanakmar is a favoured haunt of the elusive tiger. British-era rest houses,
Gangrel & Other Dams – Raipur
An enjoyable way to spend a day off Raipur is to pack a hamper full of treats and do a circuit of the dams around the city, feasting your eyes on lush countryside along the paddy-flanked roads. The da
Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary
smallish reserve covered in virginal woodland. Barnawapara promises excellent sightings of resident fauna, including leopards and a variety of deer. The sanctuary can be covered as a day trip east fro
A chapter from the Ramayana – Shivrinarayan
Sitting none too prettily at the confluence of the Mahanadi with the Jonk and Shivnath rivers is the town of Shivrinarayan. The place is imbued with mythology, specifically the legend of Shabari from
A religious high – Dongargarh
The site of a much-revered hilltop shrine in honour of a local deity - dating back, according to some, to the 1st century BC Dongargarh spiritual importance is offset by its scenic lakes and hills. Mo
Devrani – Jethani Temple Complex
Called thus for no apparent reason save that they stand juxtaposed a few feet from each other in the same complex, the Devrani-jethani temples - both dedicated to Shiva were discovered by J D Benglar
Site of the twin Devrani-Jethani temples – Tala or Talegaon
A sleepy yet picturesque riverside village, Tala or Talegaon is the site of the twin Devrani-Jethani temples. Not much remains of these ancient structures except for flashes of sculptural brilliance t
An ancient capital – Sirpur
In Sirpur, stones do the talking since almost everything we know about this dreamy archaeological site has been tentatively reconstructed from inscriptions and carvings. With many still shrouded in my
