Raipur – Kanker – Kondagaon – Narayanpur – Jagdalpur – Chitrakote – Kanger Valley – Raipur – Kawardha
Bastar, in southern Chhattisgarh, is one of the great tribal regions of India, with Gond, Muria, Maria, Halba and Dhurwa communities, forested valleys and some of the country’s most dramatic waterfalls. Stay at the heritage Kanker Palace, see the bell-metal and wrought-iron craft of Kondagaon, visit Chitrakote Falls and Kanger Valley National Park, and finish in the Gond and Baiga villages near Kawardha.
Arrive at Raipur airport, where you will be received and transferred to Kanker. Check in at the heritage Kanker Palace and relax. Overnight stay in Kanker.
After breakfast, travel through the Keshkal Ghat, with its broad forests that surround the tribal heartland of Bastar. Visit Kondagaon, famous for its bell-metal and wrought-iron craft, and Narayanpur, known for its bamboo work, and meet Gond and Muria communities. Continue to Jagdalpur, the former capital of Bastar. Overnight stay in Jagdalpur.
Begin with the Anthropological Museum, which gives insight into Bastar’s tribal culture, then see Bastar Palace and the Danteshwari Temple in the centre of town. In the afternoon, drive to Chitrakote Falls, the horseshoe waterfall on the Indravati River, and watch the spray at sunset. Return to Jagdalpur.
Drive to Kanger Valley National Park, a fine tract of forest in the middle of tribal country. Visit the Tirathgarh Falls and the limestone caves, including Kutumsar and Mandarkonta if conditions allow. Return to Jagdalpur for the night.
A day reserved for tribal life. Visit villages around Jagdalpur with a local guide and see traditional homes and crafts. If your day coincides with a weekly tribal haat, visit the market. In the evening, enjoy a tribal dance performance, subject to local arrangements.
After breakfast, drive to Raipur on the excellent highway. In the afternoon, tour Raipur, including the Mahant Ghasidas Memorial Museum. Overnight stay in Raipur.
Drive to Kawardha, an old princely town in the Maikal hills. Check in and spend the evening at leisure. Overnight stay in Kawardha.
Take a tour of Gond and Baiga tribal villages to get a fair idea of tribal life in this part of Chhattisgarh. Visit the Bhoramdeo Temple, an 11th-century temple often called the Khajuraho of Chhattisgarh. Overnight stay in Kawardha.
Drive to Raipur in time for your onward flight. Tour ends.