Jagdalpur is a city in Bastar district in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. Jagdalpur is the administrative headquarters of Bastar District and Bastar Division. It was earlier the capital of the erstwhile princely state of Bastar. Jagdalpur is the tourism capital of Chhattisgarh and is the 3rd largest city of state. It is known for many nearby tourist attractions, greenery, dense forests, streams, waterfalls, caves, natural parks, natural resources, herbs, exuberant festivity and peaceful solitude. Famous tourist attractions near Jagdalpur include Chitrakote Falls, Teerathgarh Falls, Kanger Ghati National Park, Kotumsar Cave, Kailash Caves. These attractions are close to the city (30–40 km) and also feature in the tripadvisor listed 'Places to Visit in Chhattisgarh' and 'Places to Visit in Jagdalpur'. Currently, several steel plants have been proposed near Jagdalpur with 3 MTPA Nagarnar Steel Plant of NMDC scheduled to commence commercial operation in Mid 2017. Road network in and around Jagdalpur can be seen from the road network map of the area. Bus Services(Both Luxury and Ordinary) are available from Jagdalpur Bus Terminus provided by local Service Providers to major cities like Raipur, Bilaspur, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Amravati, Vizianagaram, Vijayawada etc. Busses for Raipur and Bilaspur are available in every 15 minutes interval. In view of the poor rail and practically non-existent air connectivity, road based transport has emerged as the sole mode of transport for almost all the goods as as people originating from or destined to Jagdalpur. Jagdalpur is connected by road with the Chhattisgarh state Raipur, Hyderabad Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and nearby National Highways providing onward connectivity to major towns and cities of India. The National Highways passing through Jagdalpur are NH 30 (connecting Raipur to Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh), NH 221 (connecting Jagdalpur to Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh) and NH 16 (connecting Jagdalpur to Nizamabad in Telangana) while passing through Maharashtra. NH 30 at Raipur connects Jagdalpur to NH 6 leading to Nagpur and Kolkata. NH 43 connects Natavalasa in Andhra Pradesh and Raipur in Chhattisgarh and passes through Jagdalpur. NH 221 near Vijayawada connects Jagdalpur to NH 9 leading to Hyderabad and Pune.NH 16 at Bhopalpatnam connects with NH 202, which once completed, would connect Jagdalpur to Warangal and Hyderabad. Even though the NH 16 purports to connect Jagdalpur to Nizamabad in Telangana while passing through Maharashtra, the connectivity has not been established till date 4due to one missing bridge en route.Road Development Authority of Chhattisgarh has started construction for the Bridge near timed in Bhopalpattnam and will be completed by end of 2017. Jagdalpur is now connected by trains to cities. Rail network in and around Jagdalpur can be seen from the map of the area. There have been series of efforts in the past three decades to have meaningful rail connectivity between Jagdalpur and Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh and succeeded so far. A line from Bailadila to Visakhapatnam via Jagdalpur is in place mainly for the purposes of evacuation of iron ore by National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) from Kirandul with limited passenger trains. Plans are underway for doubling the railway line from Bailadila to Jagdalpur.The cost of this is projected to be about INR 870 crore which is proposed to be initially borne by NMDC and NMDC will in turn get a rebate in the freight from Indian Railways towards the initial cost incurred by NMDC. It would be evident from a cursory glance at the railway map of India[5] that, east-central India, i.e., Jagdalpur and its surrounding areas have no rail lines and certainly no usable rail connectivity with Raipur. Jagdalpur railway station got grade B in station category by rail budget 2012. Therefore, all basic amenities are being set-up at the station. Currently, construction of platform number 2 and 3 and one Foot Over Bridge are in progress and expected to be completed by May 2014. There is an airport at Jagdalpur but no scheduled services are currently run to or from here. The airport is predominantly used by political leaders and insurgency operation related activities by the army and the police. The nearest airport is Raipur Airport in city of Raipur and Visakhapatnam Airport, Andhra Pradesh. The history of Jagdalpur takes us as deep into the past as Valmiki's Ramayana. It was the famous Dandakaranya through which Lord Rama is supposed to have passed. Scholars have also identified Valmiki's ashram here. The Bastar rulers trace their ancestry not just to the moon, but also to Prithviraj Chauhan, the last Hindu king to rule from Delhi in the 12th century. Bastar has seen the rule of a number of kingdoms like the Nals, Chalukyas and the Kakatiyas. The great Kakatiya king Pratap Rudra's brother, Annama Deva, left Warangal, Telangana and established his kingdom at Bastar, around AD 1424. Bastar has seen several hundred years of royal rule, wars of succession, conquering of kingdoms, battles, conspiracies etc. After Annam Deo, it witnessed the rule of Hamir Deo, Pratap Raj Deo, Rajpal Deo, Dalpat Deo and others. It was during the reign of Dalpat Deo that the capital of their kingdom was shifted to Jagdalpur. The Goncha Festival is rath yatra(Chariot) festival of lord Jagannath, similar to puri rath(Chariot)yatra. The word ghoncha is derived from word gundicha jatra in puri. This annual festival is celebrated on Ashad Shukla Dwitiya (second day in bright fortnight of Ashad month). Three different Chariots are made for Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Subhadra. These chariots are second largest chariots of lord Jagannath in the world after puri. Chariots are made by a different tribal community. It also showcases the inimitable tribal culture. The vigorous and enthusiastic enjoyment that marks the Goncha Festival is remarkable. The zest and hearty spirit of the tribals from different parts of Bastar who participate in this festival is incredible. People play with tupki (small pistol) in honor of lord Jagannath. This pistol made of bamboo and fruit of pengu, is used as a bullet. A bamboo stick is cut in the shape of a pistol and a fruit to strike each . The intention is not to hurt each but to just be a part of a mock encounter. As part of Ratha yatra, the deities of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Subhadra are taken out in a procession to Gundicha Temple (sirhasar) and remain there for nine days. Then the deities or Ratha yatra return to Jagannath temple. The return journey is known as Bahuda goncha. The fervor and gusto of the people of Bastar at the time of celebrating this festival is admirable. If you visit Jagdalpur at the time of the Goncha Festival, you can be a part of the festivities. Danteshwari Temple: It is located around 84 km (52 mi) from Jagdalpur city is the famous and sacred temple of Ma (Hindi for mother) Danteshwari, a local goddess, worshipped as an incarnation of Shakti. This temple is believed to possess several divine powers. Every year during Dushera thousands of tribals from surrounding villages and jungles gather here to pay homage to the goddess. Situated in Dantewada, south-west of Jagdalpur, at the confluence of the holy rivers Shankini & Dhankini, this six-hundred-year-old temple is one of the ancient heritage sites of India and is a representation of the religio-socio-cultural history of the Bastar region. Little is known about this shrine to much of India. The vast temple complex today is truly a standing monument to centuries of history and tradition. With its rich architectural and sculptural wealth and its vibrant festival traditions, Danteshwari Mai temple serves as the most important spiritual center for the people of this region. It is believed that a tooth of Sati had fallen here and Danteshwari Shakti Pith was established. According to the ancient legend, Goddess Sati committed self-immolation in the fire pit of yagna kund, due to an insult committed by her father Daksha towards her consort Lord Shiva during the Yaga. Raged by the death of Sati, Lord Shiva destroyed the Yaga of Daksha and with the body of Sati in his hands started to do 'Taandav'.Lord Vishnu cut the dead body of Goddess Sati with his Sudarshan to free Lord Shiva from the grief caused by her death. Parts of the dead body of Goddess Sati were scattered to fifty-two different places, which were consecrated as Shakti Pithas. The Danteshwari temple was built in the 14th Century by the Chalukya kings in South Indian style of temple architecture. The idol of Danteshwari Mai is chiseled out of black stone. The temple is divided into four parts such as Garbh Griha, Maha Mandap, Mukhya Mandap and Sabha Mandap. Garbha Griha and Maha Mandap were constructed with stone pieces. There is a Garud Pillar in front of the entrance of the temple. The temple itself is located in a spacious courtyard surrounded by massive walls. The shikhara is adorned with sculptural finery. Temples in Barsoor: Located on the banks of the Indrawati river, about 75 km (a one and a half to two-hour drive) to the south-west of Jagdalpur, Barsoor was once an epicentre of Hindu civilization. It is believed that there were once 147 temples and an equal number of ponds here. The ruins of these temples, dating back to the 10th and 11th centuries (i.e. over 1,000 years) can still be seen today; they contain some notable images of Lord Vishnu. One Shiva temple, with 12 carved stone pillars, has nude figures on the outside. Another Shiva temple has 32 carved stone pillars, a black granite Nandi (Shiva's carrier) bull, and two sanctum sanctorum, with a common court. The ruins of this temple have been recently restored. A 50-foot high temple, known locally as Mama-bhanja-ka-mandir (temple of the maternal uncle and nephew), is in good condition, but lacks an idol. It is not clear to which deity the temple was consecrated, or even if it was ever consecrated. The biggest attraction is the Ganesha Temple. While the temple itself is in ruins, two sandstone images of Ganesh, both in the aspect of Maha-Ganapati, are still intact. The larger of these is about 8 feet high and over 17 feet wide. Danteshwari Temple at Jagdalpur: It is an ancient temple built by the kings of Bastar for inhabiting their family Goddess, Devi Danteshwari. Devi Danteshwari is the Goddess of entire Bastar division, worshipped by tribals and other community. This temple is located inside the Bastar Palace. A special offering is done on Saturday and Tuesday, In bastar all goddess temple are closed on Monday, Wednesday. It is popular to visit the temple during the famous Bastar Dussehra festival season when it is decorated with colored lights. The temple is where the main traditional functions of the festivals are carried on. Mavli temple: Devi mavali is considered as the elder sister of goddess danteswari, presiding deity of narayanpur, the temple is situated in front of danteswari temple. This temple has a series of Temple of other gods and goddess like goddess kali, shiva(bhairava) has great significance because in dashara festival all most all rituals and offerings are done in mavli temple. Jagannath temple: Temple is dedicated to lord Jagannath, Subhadra and Balbhadra. This temple is nearby to Mavli temple having unique singha dwar (lion gate) The famous festival Goncha (Rath yatra) is started from this temple. The festival is celebrated on ashad shukla dwitiya, second largest festival of Jagdalpur. folk from nearby and distance places participate in festival and seek the blessing of lord jagannath. They play tupki in honor of lord jagannath. The sound of this tupki is heard in every corner across Jagdalpur. The ripe jack-fruit and germinated mungbean is the main offering to lord. Hinglajin temple: There are many temples in Jagdalpur dedicated to the goddess Hinglajin. As per the folk belief she is the younger sister of goddess Danteswari, her abode is in the eastern part of Bastar like Girhola, Bakavand, Jaithgiri. In Jagdalpur, the oldest Hinglajin temple is in Hatkachora. Girhola temple of goddess has very religious importance, people gathered in Girhola during Navratri festival from Bastar and odisha. the idol of goddess is very beautiful and divine. Other temples are in Bastar village, nayamunda. Laxmi-Narayan temple: This temple is near Danteswari temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The architecture of the temple is the same as that of Danteswari temple. Shri Ram temple and Radha- Krishna temple is very near to Laxmi- Narayan temple which has similar archit. The Sri Venkateshwara Swamy Temple[edit]. The Sri Venkateshwara Swamy Temple in Jagdalpur is a result of the dedicated efforts of members of Andhra Association. The temple reaches out to serve spiritual, cultural and social dimensions of the society. The construction of the Balaji temple in Jagdalpur has been beneficial to many of the devotees, who now have an accessible darshan of the Lord nearer their homes. Every day devotees throng this sacred shrine of Lord Balaji, also known as Sri Venkateswara Swamy, the all-pervading Lord of the Universe. Bastar Palace: is another historical remain that is seen in Jagdalpur. It was the headquarters of Bastar Kingdom. It was built by the rulers of Bastar State when the capital of Bastar kingdom was shifted from Barsur to Jagdalpur. At present, the royal family of Bastar state is residing there. Anthropological Museum: The Zonal Anthropological Museum in Jagdalpur was established in the year 1972 to provide insight into the culture and lifestyles of Bastar tribes. The museum is 4 km from the Jagdalpur city center in the office of the Anthropological Survey of India. It houses a fine collection of numerous objects of ethnographic interest. The rare items on display at the museum throw light on the rituals and customs followed by the tribes of Bastar and highlight their religious practices and style of living. All the collections have been documented, classified, and are displayed in various sections of the museum. The Zonal Anthropological Museum of Jagdalpur is one of the prominent museums in central India which is entirely dedicated to the acquisition, study, protection, exhibition, and educational understanding of various objects that have historical, scientific, or artistic value. Some of the rare collections found at the museum include headgears, footwear, ornaments, musical instruments, dresses, paintings, wood carvings, weapons, masks, art work, sculptures and a wide variety of objects that were used in daily life. It is one of the top tourist attractions in Chhattisgarh that serves as a window to the lifestyles and ethnic cultures of various tribes in Bastar. The rare collections on display at the museum cover four fields of anthropology namely ethnology, linguistics, archaeology, and physical anthropology. Lakes in Jagdalpur: Earlier days many lakes were in Jagdalpur like Ganga Munda, Dalpat Sagar, Kevara Munda, Naya Munda, Ran Munda and so on but at present time only three Ganga Munda, Dalpat Sagar and Ran Munda are in good condition, others have dried up. Munda is a Halbi word means ponds or lake. Ganga Munda and Dalpat Sagar are a great attraction for those residing in the town as as for tourists coming to Jagdalpur. Dalpat Sagar Lake is located within Jagdalpur. It is one of the biggest artificial lakes in Chhattisgarh. It was built by Raja Dalpat Deo Kakatiya over 400 years ago to harvest rain water. This lake is full of lotus and water lily. Temple. There is an old temple located at the center island of the Dalpat Sagar. The temple is dedicated to lord shiva. As it is located on an island, one will have to take paddle boat or fishing boat to reach there. The island offers impressive views of the scenic surroundings. Fishing. Dalpat Sagar is one of the major sources of fishing and provides means of livelihood to many local people. fishing activity takes place early in the morning or in the evening. One of people spreads the net in the water while the drives the fishes into the net by beating the water. Because of fishing one might not be able to explore every part of Dalpat sagar, as paddle boats are prohibited in the region where nets are spread. Boating. To help visitors enjoy Dalpat Sagar, the Government of Chhattisgarh has provided facilities for paddle boats and motor boats. The paddle boat has two variations, 2-seater and 4-seater, so that groups of family and friends can travel together. A shed has also been provided in each boat to protect passengers from sun. Island. The Government has built an island on Dalpat Sagar so that people can sit, relax and enjoy the beauty of the lake. The island has coconut trees, show plants, a light tower, and a musical fountain. The light tower can be seen from anywhere in Jagdalpur. Visitors can sit on the island enjoying the view and the sunset. The musical fountain show is usually at 7 o’clock in the evening. Famous tourist attractions near Jagdalpur include Chitrakote Falls, Teerathgarh Falls, Kanger Ghati National Park, Kotumsar Cave, Kailash Caves. These attractions are close to the city (30–40 km) and also feature in the tripadvisor listed 'Places to Visit in Chhattisgarh' and 'Places to Visit in Jagdalpur'.
