Chhattisgarh was a part of the state of Madhya Pradesh up till 2000, after which it was declared as a separate state with Raipur as the capital city. The state borders shares the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh. Located in central India, the state comprises of 27 districts. Chhattisgarh is endowed with rich cultural heritage and is a home of some of India’s ancient caves, waterfalls, temples, Buddhist sites, rock paintings, wild life and hill plateaus.

Chhattisgarh known as the rice bowl of India and is immensely rich in natural resources. There are dense forests on the south, Maikal Hills on the north-east and the River Mahanadi on the east. The biggest occupation providing sector to the state is agriculture. Chhattisgarh is also referred as the richest biodiversity habitat in the country and consist of several species of exotic flora and fauna and abundant nontimber forest products, with tremendous potential for value addition. Chhattisgarh is the tenth largest state in India and is also an important electricity and steel-producing state of India.

Chhattisgarh contains the source of one of the most important rivers of the South Asian peninsula—the Mahanadi. This river originates in a village near Raipur. It flows westward for about 125 miles (200 kms) and meets the Shivnath River about 8 miles (13 kms) from Bilaspur. Thereafter, it flows toward the east and enters Odisha, ultimately emptying into the Bay of Bengal. Among the other rivers that drain Chhattisgarh are the Indravati, Arpa and Pairi.

Referred to as the "Rice Bowl of India", Bilaspur abounds in lush greenery and boasts of a myriad number of tourist attractions. Bilaspur had already made a mark as home to the major tasar silk and cotton clothes manufacturers. Bilaspur is known for its aromatic rice variety named Doobraj rice, handloom woven colourful soft Kosa silk saris. It is well known for its rich, varied and colorful culture. The local cuisine is well known for samosas of nitti and parotha of chikka.

It is said that the city was founded by a fisher-women named Bilasa in the 17th century, and is named after her. In reality, the history of Bilaspur goes back many hundreds of years to the Kalachuris of Ratanpur and Raipur. The earliest prince of this line was Maurya Dhwaja whose adventures with Krishna on the occasion of the theft of Ashoka’s horse are related in the Jaiminiya Ashwamedha. Bilaspur came under Maratha control in 1741. In 1854, the East India Company took it over when the then Maratha ruler died without an heir. One of the greatest sons of the city is Guru Ghasidas (1756-1836), the founder of the Satnami sect, after whom the university of Bilaspur is named. Guru Ghasidas had a holistic vision and felt that systemic reforms to remove social injustice and inequality would remain inadequate and incomplete without reforming individuals. All over Chhattisgarh there are numerous shrines and ashrams celebrating the perennial ideas that fed this movement. The place where Guru Ghasidas was born is known as Giraudpuri. Jaitkhamb at Giraudpuri is one of the tallest and most famous tourist attractions in Chhattisgarh. It is very famous for its captivating sightseeing places which attract the tourists from all over the world. Some of the popular and must see attractions of the city include Khudia dam, Kutaghat dam etc.

Bilasa Tal near Koni, Kanan Pendari and Smriti van is a popular attraction. There are many city garden such as Konher garden, Vivekanand garden. It also has two amusement parks. Besides having places associated with its ancient and cultural heritage, the city is also famous for its wildlife variety. This is because of its situation within the state. It is reputed for having some of the densest forests in the country and an even spread of hills and rivers. One of the places worth visiting is the Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary. Famous for the variety of its wildlife, the sanctuary is spread over an area of 551 km² (213 mi²) and was set up in 1975 under the Wildlife Protection Act. The sanctuary is 55 kms (34 mi) away from Bilaspur and is closed during the monsoon season. Just before the entry into Achanakmar Wild Life Sanctuary, there is the Ghongapani Jalashya (dam) with beautiful panoramic view. Although there is no place to stay, it can be visited in the day time on way to Achanakmar. Beyond the sanctuary, on the way to Amarkantak, there are government guest houses in Achanakmar, Keonchi and Lamni as well as Chhattisgarh Tourism Board’s property such as Amadob tourist resorts. These guest houses are well built and the arrangements are also good.

Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctury: The Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctury was established in 1975, covers an area of 557.55 sq km. The region is mainly hilly with altitude ranging from 200m to 1,000 m above sea level. The vegetation mainly comprises sal, saja, tinsa, bija and bamboo. The sanctuary is close to Amarkantak where river Narmada originates. It is home to a variety of wild animals like the tiger, leopard, gaur, chital, jackal, striped hyena, wild dog, barking deer, wild buffalo, bear etc. The Kanha- Achanakmar corridor connects the Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh with Achankamar is, by far, the best place in Chhattisgarh to sight a tiger in the wild. The nearest railhead to Achankmar is Pendra Road (25 kms). One can however base one’s travel from Bilaspur (40 kms) where better transport and lodging facilities are available.

Mythology of Shaktipeeths is that once King Daksha father-in-law of Lord Shiva observed a yajna. He invited various kings but not Lord Shiva. Sati considering it an insult of his husband and jumped in sacrificial fire and died. Enraged Shiva held the charred body of Sati and started Tandav Nritya with an intention to destroying the whole universe. Lord Vishnu with benevolent intention of saving the universe and bringing back Lord Shiva out of the trance threw his sudarshan chakra and cut the body of sati in pieces. These pieces fell at 51 various places on the earth forming 51 shaktipeeths. It is believed that shoulder of Sati fell at Ratanpur and the area became a shaktipeeth. Ratnadev-I constructed Mahamaya temple in around 1050 AD. The temple has dual idol of Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati in garbhagriha. The idolduo is unique. A small idol of Mahakali is installed at the back of the temple completing the sacred trio of goddesses. The temple has been a place of tantric practices from ancient time. Rise of the temple has been decorated with symbol of human skull.

It is next to the much older Jagannath temple, built by Kalyan Rai that houses beautiful images of Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra. The west gate of the fort faces Motipur, where the twenty queens of Lakshman Rai are said to have performed sati. Recently, a hamam (bath complex) has been unearthed. Located close to both the Lakshmi Narayan and the Jagannath temples, Bilaspur’s Ratanpur fort, at present, lies in a dilapidated state. Due to the absence of proper maintenance the fort has lost its grandeur and splendour. It is not difficult to form a conception as to how the fort looked during its prime. Dereliction with regard to its proper maintenance and preservation has stripped off the fort of its former magnificence. Here one can marvel and appreciate the exquisite stone sculpture over the frame of the Ganesh Gate.

 Tala

Tala is a village at a distance of 30 km from Bilaspur, of the Chhattisgarh state. It is known for Devrani and Jethani temples and a unique Rudra Shiva stone statue.

Devrani and Jethani temple: The village has a temple complex of Devrani and Jethani temples which are in half ruined stage. It is believed that it was built by two Queens of Rajprashad the ruler of Sharbhpururiya dynasty. Archeologists believe it to be of 5th or 6th century. Devrani temple is made up of red sandstone which is predominantly of Guptan archaeological style. While Jethani temple is of Kushan style.

Rudra Shiva stone statue: A stone statue with a height of about 7 feet and weighing about 5 metric tonnes was found in this village and the statue was buried in soil and in front of Devrani temple. The statue is now protected by Archeological survey of India and is kept locked in a small structure. The uniqueness of this statue is that face and body parts are depicted by various creatures and animals, which is very rare. The statue is having eight human head depictions on its body, including the main head and it is on standing posture.

Kendai Water Fall

Kendai is a village situated at a distance 85 km from korba district headquarter on the Bilaspur-Ambikapur State highway No. 5. This is one of the beautiful picnic spot in the district. There is one lovely waterfall having 75 feet height.

Hasdeo Bango Dam: is a dam constructed in 1961-62 across the Hasdeo river in Chhattisgarh, India. It is the longest, widest dam in Chhattisgarh and the first multi-purpose water project in Chhattisgarh. It is located 70 km from Korba, Korba district. It has a catchment area of 6,730 km2. The dam has a large effective storage capacity of 2.89 cubic kms (102.07 tmc ft). It has the capacity to generate 120MW electricity. Hasdeo Bango Dam is constructed across Hasedo river. The river originates about 910.0 m (2,985.6 feet) above sea level, at a place about 10.0 km (6.2 miles) from Sonhat in Koriya district. The total length of the river is 333.0 km (206.9 miles).

Malhar 

Malhar is a small town situated in Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh, India. A historically important site that once was a major city and served as a capital in the 1st millennium, it has been referred to as Mallar, Mallari and Sarabhapur in inscriptions and Indian literature. In contemporary times, it is more village like with mounds and ruins of an ancient fort, two restored Shiva temples and a museum with the ruins of major group of Hindu, Jain and Buddhist temples. It has archaeological significance. It is about 30 kilometers southeast from Bilaspur in a rural terrain, connected with a feeder road from India's National Highway 49.

 Jatmai Mata Mandir and Ghatarani Waterfalls

The Jatmai Mata Mandir also famous as Shri Jatmayi Ghatarani Temple is located in the Gariaband district of Chhattisgarh. The district is almost 80 km away from the capital city, Raipur. The temple is solely devoted to the goddess Durga. The temple is situated in an exquisite location. There are few water streams adjoining the shrine. The water touches the feet of the deity while flowing down the rocks. The local people believe that the streams are the attendants of the deity. The temple is a well-known tourist spot because of its scenic beauty. The Ghatarani temple is located at a 25 km distance from the Jatmai temple. Both of the temples have a visual beauty because of the water streams. People take a plunge in the water stream before entering the temple.

Gangrel Dam, Dhamtari

Kotumsar Cave

Kotumsar cave is located near Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh state. Kotumsar cave is a major attraction for people interested in ecotourism. It is a limestone cave formed on the Kanger limestone belt, situated near the bank of the River Kanger, a tributary of the Kolab River. The entrance coordinates are 18052’09”N; 81056’05” E (WGS 84) and it lies at an altitude of 560 m above sea level. A vertical fissure in the wall of a hill serves as the main entry for the cave. The main tunnel of the cave is nearly 200 m long with several lateral and downward passages. Various types of speleothems offer panoramic views.

Chitrakote Water Falls

The Chitrakote Falls is a natural waterfall on the Indravati River, located approximately 38 kilometres (24 mi) to the west of Jagdalpur, in Bastar district in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh.

The height of the falls is about 29 metres (95 ft). It is the widest fall in India, reaching a width of nearly 300 metres (980 ft) during the monsoon season. Because of its width and its widespread horseshoe shape during the monsoon season, it is often called the "Niagara Falls of India".

Teerathgarh Waterfall

Situated 35 kilometers from Jagdalpur. Located on the river Munga bahar, this waterfall falls on the 300 feet below the stilted hillside of natural structures, the natural fountain of milk foam and water droplets made from the fall of the water soothe the tourists. Thousands of years ago, the cliffs of downstream down the river were struck down by a lunar crater with an earthquake, and the staircase made by it, Numa Valley created this panoramic waterfall.

Danteshwari Temple:

Danteshwari Temple is temple dedicated to Goddess Danteshwari, and is one of the 52 Shakti Peethas, shrines of Shakti, the divine feminine, spread across India. The temple built in the 14th century, is situated in Dantewada, a town situated 80 km from Jagdalpur Tehsil, Chhattisgarh. Dantewada is named after the Goddess Danteshwari, the presiding deity of the earlier Kakatiya rulers. Traditionally she is the Kuldevi (family goddess) of Bastar state.

The temple is as according legends, the spot where the Daanth or Tooth of Sati fell, during the episode when all the Shakti shrines were created in the Satya Yuga.