Chhattisgarh is truly a paradise of authentic tribal culture and people. This young state tucked away in the central heartland of India sandwiched between Madhya Pradesh in the west and Odisha in the east is home to plethora of untouched, unexplored, hidden gems that a traveller should visit. Dantewada district is one of those hidden and ancient gems in this tiny, little, sprawling region which you shouldn’t miss. Blackboard had earlier written about the wild, unexplored wildlife haven of Barnawpara Wildlife Sanctuary. If you travel a bit 8-10 hours from the capital city of Raipur, you will find the district of Dantewada. This writer of Blackboard was invited by Dantewada district administration for their Barsur Mahotsav. The following are the mind-blowing experiences that this writer experienced right from trekking amidst the deep, jungles of the district to see the Gandesh idol, sampling the authentic tribal cuisine to feeling the cascading waterfalls. Splendid Scenic Beauty Visit this place for its amazing landscape and virgin forests. Dantewada will amaze you with its lush green landscapes, paddy fields and forests that a traveller will long for. Majestic Waterfalls The majestic waterfalls of Dantewada are truly its hidden gems. You have to see it to believe it. From the nearby town of Jagdalpur, you can visit the newly found waterfall known as Vijay Ghumar. You also have the famous Tirathgarh waterfalls in this region which is a must-visit. You shouldn’t miss to explore the incredible ‘Chitrakote’ waterfalls if you are visiting this region. Popularly known as the ‘Niagra Falls of India’, Chitrakote waterfalls is the widest waterfall in India. An estimated 20 Lakh litres of water falls every second on this waterfall. Take a local boat ride down to the base of the waterfall to feel and experience the majestic throw of the gushing waters on your face. Dantewada Temple Dantewada has been the heart of a thriving ancient kingdom in prehistoric era. Known as Tarlapal and Dantewali in those days, the temple consists a splendid idol of Goddess Danteswari. The Danteshwari temple (named after the Goddess Danteswari) is 600 years old and built in South Indian dravidian style by the rulers of Chalukya dynasty. It’s widely known and revered for its black stone Ganesh idol. Dholkal Peak Another hidden gem of Dantewada is the 1000 year old Ganesh idol atop Bailadila hills in Bastar. The idol is situated on top of the 3000 ft Dholkal peak mountain which is a moderate trek amidsts deep, mineral rich jungles of Bailadila. Enjoy the trekking, hikking and climbing experience right to the top of the Dholkal peak. Authentic tribal culture and cuisine The tribes of this district have managed to conserve their unique tribal identity. This is one of the top attractions of this region. The tribes are predominantly Gond, Mariya and Dorla and prefer to eat primarily non-vegetarian food and local delicacies. Their main staple food are rice, sulphie and mahua. The local tribes celebrate a host of festivals primarily linked to the sowing seasons throughout the year. They celebrate through folk songs and dance amidst community fun and fervour. The folk songs include Mariro, Sona, Dhankul Geet, Chait Parab Geet, Kotni and Jhaliyana Geet among others. However, the one which is the most thrilling and gathers most crowd and excitement is the ‘Cock-fight’ which is performed in their weekly ‘haat’ (local community market). Visit the village of Nangur for this splendid tribal market.
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