The largest state in India, Madhya Pradesh was proving too large to manage effectively, given the incredible Indian diversity in every nook and cranny. The tribal belt was being neglected, more by default than intention. In a strongly opposed decision, the Indian Government decided to hive off the tribal areas and immediate neighbours into a single state. The sixteen Chhattisgarhi-speaking southeastern districts of Madhya Pradesh, in the central eastern part of India, were united into India’s twenty-sixth state in 2000. This area had thirty-six erstwhile princely states and was thus named Chhattis (36) Garh (Fort).
It is India’s tenth largest state by area, 135,200 km2 and has a population of close to twenty-one million. Bordered by Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh (north), Andhra Pradesh (south),
Orissa (east) and Madhya Pradesh (west), its capital city is Raipur. Other major cities are the twin cities of Durg-Bhilai, Bilaspur, Rajnandgaon, Korba, Raigarh and Jagdalpur. Two major rivers flow through the state, the Mahanadi and the Indravati. 45% of the state is dense forest.
What to See
Chhattisgarh has three National Parks and 11 wildlife sanctuaries, where you can get a glimpse of wildlife like the Tiger, Leopard, Wild Boar, Cheetal, Langoor, Rhesus Monkey, Barahsinga, Sambhar, Bison, Wild Buffalo, Civet and the Bear. It is host to a number of tribal fairs, like the Bastar Dussera, Narayanpur, Dantewada, Ramaram, Ma Bambleshwari, Ratanpur, Shivrinarayan, Sihawa, Bhoramdeo, Girodhpuri, Damakheda. Chhattisgarh has many pretty waterfalls, like the Chitrakote, Tirathgarh, Kanger, Gupteshwar, Malajkundam, Saat Dhara, Ranidah, Rajpuri, Kendai, Tata Pani, Damera Tamda Ghumar and Mendri Ghumar.
Demography:
Chhattisgarh is primarily a rural state with only 20% of population residing in urban areas. Its main Languages are Chhattisgarhi, Hindi proper and other local dialects. Including Chhattisgarhi, over 90 dialects or languages are spoken. The major religions practised in the state are Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and Tribal, in that order. Gender ratio is 900 women per 1,000 men, but improves to 1,050 per 1,000 men in rural areas.
Mineral Resources:
It is rich in Iron Ore, Coal, Bauxite, Timber, Tin (found only in Chhattisgarh), Gold, Limestone, Dolomite, Diamond, Manganese, Korandum and Quartz.
Medicines:
Tribal medicine pre-dates Ayurveda, India’s ancient healing science, and combined with the 90+ species of medicinal plants in Chhattisgarh’s forests, could well be the next big thing in natural cures.
How to Get There
By Air: Raipur, the village capital city, is the only commercial airport of the state, but is linked across the country as it is a very mineral-rich state, and industrialised accordingly. Bilaspur and Jagdalpur also have small Airports.
By Rail and Road:
Rail infrastructure is less than desirable, but is on the upgrade, expanding beyond its only hubs, Bilaspur and Raipur. Most links are by road and as many as 11 National Highways now pass through this state. Inter-city links are also being improved. Raipur is thus its locus.
