Before you go
Park seasons, safari timings and fees are rarely published online; confirm with the Forest Department. Kanger Valley National Park is closed on Tuesdays (Incredible India).
Parts of the state are described as former Naxal-affected areas now opening to tourism (The Tribune, May 2026). Check current advisories and local conditions, especially in south Bastar.
Top places to visit in Chhattisgarh
One place from each district that our guide covers in depth.
Balod (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Balod district. Created in 2012 (Wikipedia list).
Baloda Bazar (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Baloda Bazar-Bhatapara district. Carved out of Raipur in 2012 (Wikipedia).
Balrampur (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Balrampur district. Created in 2012 (Wikipedia list).
Chitrakote Falls
Horseshoe-shaped falls on the Indravati, called the "Niagara of India"; Incredible India gives a 30 m drop and a width of nearly 300 m in the monsoon, the district portal 90 ft. Best July-October; boating below the falls in the dry season.
Bemetara (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Bemetara district. Created in 2012 (Wikipedia list).
Bijapur (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Bijapur district. Created in 2007 (Wikipedia list).
Mahamaya Devi Temple, Ratanpur
Shakti Peeth believed to be where Sati's right hand fell, built by the Kalachuri king Ratnadeva I with origins traced to about 1045 AD; thousands gather in Navratri (Incredible India). Ratanpur's Mahamaya temple and Kanti Deul are under ASI custody (Puratattva.in).
Dantewada (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Dantewada district. One of the 16 districts at the state's formation in 2000 (Wikipedia list).
Dhamtari (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Dhamtari district. One of the 16 districts at the state's formation in 2000 (Wikipedia list).
Durg (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Durg district. One of the 16 districts at the state's formation in 2000 (Wikipedia list).
Rajim: Rajiv Lochan Temple and the Triveni Sangam
Temple town at a river confluence (Triveni Sangam) with the Rajiv Lochan and Kuleshwar temples; the Rajiv Lochan group is under ASI custody (district portal; Puratattva.in).
Gaurela (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi district. Carved from Bilaspur; inaugurated 10 February 2020 (Wikipedia).
Janjgir (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Janjgir-Champa district. One of the 16 districts at the state's formation in 2000 (Wikipedia list).
Jashpur Nagar (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Jashpur district. One of the 16 districts at the state's formation in 2000 (Wikipedia list).
Bhoramdeo Temple
Stone temple of the 11th century (1089 AD per Wikipedia) with carved sculpture, called the "Khajuraho of Chhattisgarh"; the Madwa Mahal (1349) and Chherki Mahal shrines are nearby.
Kanker (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Kanker district. One of the 16 districts at the state's formation in 2000 (Wikipedia list).
Khairagarh (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai district. Carved out of Rajnandgaon and inaugurated in 2022 as the state's 31st district (Wikipedia; The Hitavada).
Kondagaon (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Kondagaon district. Created in 2012 (Wikipedia list).
Korba (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Korba district. One of the 16 districts at the state's formation in 2000 (Wikipedia list).
Baikunthpur (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Koriya district. One of the 16 districts at the state's formation in 2000; Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur was carved out in 2022 (Wikipedia).
Sirpur Cultural and Archaeological Landscape
Capital of South Kosala (Shripur) between the 5th and 12th centuries, with Hindu, Buddhist and Jain temples, viharas and stupas; added to UNESCO's Tentative List in October 2026. The 7th-century brick Lakshmana Temple is among India's earliest brick temples (ThePrint, 21 Oct 2026).
Manendragarh (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur district. Separated from Koriya on 9 September 2022 (Wikipedia).
Mohla (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district. Announced on 15 August 2021 and created from Rajnandgaon in 2022 (Wikipedia).
Achanakmar Tiger Reserve
Teak and bamboo forest of about 553 sq km in the Satpura region: sanctuary 1975, biosphere 2007, tiger reserve 2009; tigers, leopards, gaur, bears and 200+ bird species (district portal).
Narayanpur (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Narayanpur district. Created in 2007 (Wikipedia list).
Raigarh (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Raigarh district. One of the 16 districts at the state's formation in 2000 (Wikipedia list).
Raipur (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Raipur district. One of the 16 districts at the state's formation in 2000 (Wikipedia list).
Dongargarh: Maa Bamleshwari temples
Hilltop temple of Badi Bamleshwari on a 1,600-ft hill, with Chhoti Bamleshwari at its foot (Incredible India); a big pilgrimage centre in Navratri (to confirm).
Sakti (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Sakti district. Announced on 15 August 2021 and carved out of Janjgir-Champa; inaugurated in September 2022 (Wikipedia; Drishti IAS).
Sarangarh (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Sarangarh-Bilaigarh district. Inaugurated as a district in September 2022 (Wikipedia list).
Sukma (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Sukma district. Created in 2012 (Wikipedia list).
Surajpur (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Surajpur district. Created in 2012 (Wikipedia list).
Mainpat plateau and Tibetan settlement
Plateau at about 1,085 m called the "Shimla of Surguja", where Tibetans were resettled in 1962-63; Buddha temple, carpet weaving, Tiger Point and Fish Point falls and the Ulta Pani gravity spot (district portal; Wikipedia).
Districts of Chhattisgarh 33
33 (newest: five districts of Sept 2022) — 33 since the five districts of 2022.
Balod
Tandula reservoir and rural central Chhattisgarh.Baloda Bazar-Bhatapara
Giraudpuri, birthplace of Guru Ghasidas; Turturiya's Valmiki Ashram; and Barnawapara sanctuary.Highlights: Giraudpuri Dham, Barnawapara Wildlife SanctuaryBalrampur
Tatapani's hot springs and Makar Sankranti fair, Pawai falls in Semarsot sanctuary.Highlights: Tatapani hot springsBastar
Chitrakote and Tirathgarh falls, the caves of Kanger Valley, and Bastar Dussehra in Jagdalpur.Highlights: Chitrakote Falls, Tirathgarh Falls, Kanger Valley National ParkBemetara
Farm country with the protected Sita Devi temple at Deorbija.Bijapur
Forest district with Indravati National Park and caves; visitor access limited.Bilaspur
Ratanpur's Mahamaya temple and Kalachuri fort, the Malhar excavations and the Tala temples.Highlights: Mahamaya Devi Temple, Ratanpur, Malhar archaeological siteDantewada
Seat of the goddess Danteshwari, with the old temple town of Barsur and the hilltop Ganesh at Dholkal.Highlights: Danteshwari TempleDhamtari
Gangrel dam on the Mahanadi and the Sitanadi forest.Durg
Twin city of Durg-Bhilai, with the Jain pilgrimage centre at Nagpura and the old temple at Deobaloda.Gariaband
Rajim's confluence temples, the forest shrines of Jatmai and Ghatarani, and Udanti.Highlights: Rajim: Rajiv Lochan Temple and the Triveni SangamGaurela-Pendra-Marwahi
Hill country toward Amarkantak: Pendra's temples and palace, Kabir's chabutra at Keonchi, caves, dams and falls.Janjgir-Champa
Old temples of the Mahanadi plain: the Vishnu temple at Janjgir, Shivrinarayan and Kharod.Jashpur
Hill and forest district promoting tribal homestays, tea gardens and adventure; the Jashpur Jamboree festival.Kabirdham
The carved 11th-century temple of Bhoramdeo and its forest sanctuary.Highlights: Bhoramdeo TempleKanker
Gateway to Bastar from Raipur: Gadiya hill, caves and reservoirs.Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai
Khairagarh's music university in a former palace, and the hills, falls and temples around Chhuikhadan.Kondagaon
Bastar craft country with waterfalls and the forest tourism centre at Tatamari.Korba
Power-station city with Satrenga on the Hasdeo-Bango reservoir and old temples at Pali and Tuman.Koriya
Former Korea state: the Korea Palace at Baikunthpur, Sonhat's waterfalls and temples, and Guru Ghasidas National Park.Mahasamund
Sirpur on the Mahanadi, newly on UNESCO's Tentative List, and the hill temple of Khallari.Highlights: Sirpur Cultural and Archaeological LandscapeManendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur
Coal-belt district carved from Koriya in 2022, with Amritdhara falls on the Hasdeo.Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki
A 2022 forest district carved from Rajnandgaon; not yet on the tourist map.Mungeli
The Achanakmar Tiger Reserve in Lormi block.Highlights: Achanakmar Tiger ReserveNarayanpur
Gateway to the Abujhmarh hills; not yet on the tourist map.Raigarh
Prehistoric rock paintings at Singhanpur and Kabra Pahad, and the Kelo dam.Raipur
The state capital: lakes, gardens, museums and temples, with Champaran and Arang nearby.Rajnandgaon
The hill temple of Maa Bamleshwari at Dongargarh and Rajnandgaon's museum.Highlights: Dongargarh: Maa Bamleshwari templesSakti
Former princely state on the Mahanadi, a district since 2022; not yet on the tourist map.Sarangarh-Bilaigarh
Gomarda sanctuary and the former Sarangarh state; a district since 2022.Sukma
Southernmost district of Chhattisgarh; not yet on the tourist map.Surajpur
Kudargarh's hill shrine and caves, Tamor Pingla sanctuary, and Rihand waterfalls.Highlights: KudargarhSurguja
Mainpat's Tibetan plateau, the ancient caves of Ramgarh hill and Kailash caves.Highlights: Mainpat plateau and Tibetan settlement, Ramgarh hill: Sita Bengra and Jogimara caves
Festivals and dates to plan around
- Bastar Dussehra — Jagdalpur, Bastar: About 75 days; 2026 Muria Darbar on 23 October with the President (UNI)
- Makar Sankranti fair — Tatapani, Balrampur: Mid-January (district portal)
- Rajim Kumbh (Punni) Mela — Rajim, Gariaband: Magh Purnima to Mahashivratri; 2027 dates to confirm
- Mahashivratri fair — Amritdhara falls, MCB: Annual since 1936 (Wikipedia)
- Chaitra Navratri — Kudargarh, Surajpur; Ratanpur; Dongargarh: March-April (Surajpur portal)
- Jashpur Jamboree — Jashpur: Annual; 2026-27 dates to confirm (Utsav portal)