Chhattisgarh
Tourism, Archaeological Sites and Heritage
Tourism, Archaeological Sites and Heritage — Quick Revision
One-page CGPSC quick revision for Tourism, Archaeological Sites and Heritage — every site, river, district and date in tables for last-minute revision.
This one-page sheet covers Chhattisgarh’s archaeological sites, temples, waterfalls, caves and tourist circuits. For explanations, read Archaeological Sites, Temples and Monuments, Waterfalls, Caves and Hill Stations and Tourist Circuits and Tourism Policy.
How to use this sheet
Scan top to bottom the week before Prelims. Bold lines are the facts examiners return to most often.
Timeline / Key Facts
Archaeological Sites
| Site | District | Key facts |
|---|---|---|
| Singhanpur, Kabra Pahad | Raigarh | Prehistoric rock paintings; first reported 1910 |
| Karkabhat | Balod | Megalithic burials |
| Ramgarh caves | Surguja | Sitabenga (“oldest theatre”), Jogimara (painted ceiling, Sutanuka inscription); Brahmi |
| Malhar | Bilaspur | Long-occupied mound; early Vishnu image; Pataleshwar temple |
| Tarighat | Durg | Kharun river; early historic town; excavated in the 2010s |
| Tala | Bilaspur | Maniyari river; Devrani-Jethani; Rudra Shiva; stone |
| Sirpur | Mahasamund | Shripura; Lakshman temple (brick, Vishnu, Queen Vasata); excavations 2000–2012 (A. K. Sharma); Surang Tila; viharas |
| Arang | Raipur | Bhand Deval (Jain); Arang copper plates |
| Barsur | Dantewada | Chhindak Naga capital |
| Madku Dweep | Mungeli | Island in the Shivnath; temple remains |
| Mahant Ghasidas Memorial Museum | Raipur | Founded 1875 |
| Purkhouti Muktangan | Nava Raipur | Open-air museum; 7 November 2006, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam |
Temples and Monuments
| Temple | Place / district | Key facts |
|---|---|---|
| Bhoramdeo | Kabirdham | Shiva; Phani Nagavanshi; Gopal Dev; late 11th century (often 1089); “Khajuraho of Chhattisgarh” |
| Madwa Mahal | Near Bhoramdeo | 1349; Ramchandra Dev; marriage pavilion |
| Rajiv Lochan / Kuleshwar | Rajim, Gariaband | Vishnu / Shiva; Mahanadi–Pairi–Sondur; “Prayag of CG” |
| Narayan temple | Shivrinarayan, Janjgir-Champa | Mahanadi–Shivnath–Jonk; Shabari tradition |
| Lakshmaneshwar | Kharod, Janjgir-Champa | Shiva; “Kashi of CG” |
| Vishnu temple (“Nakta Mandir”) | Janjgir | Kalachuri; unfinished tower |
| Mahamaya | Ratanpur, Bilaspur | Kalachuri capital |
| Mahadev temple | Pali, Korba | Bana; renovated by Kalachuris |
| Danteshwari | Dantewada | Shankini–Dankini; Bastar Dussehra |
| Bambleshwari | Dongargarh | PRASAD (2020–21) |
| Mama-Bhanja, Battisa (32 pillars) | Barsur, Dantewada | Chhindak Naga temples |
| Narayanpal | Bastar | Vishnu; Queen Gundamahadevi |
| Jaitkham | Giraudpuri, Baloda Bazar-Bhatapara | 77 m; Guru Ghasidas; 18 December 2015; Jonk river |
| Damakheda | Baloda Bazar-Bhatapara | Kabirpanth seat |
| Chandkhuri | Raipur | Kaushalya Mata temple |
Waterfalls, Caves, Hill Stations
| Site | River / district | Key facts |
|---|---|---|
| Chitrakote | Indravati, Bastar | About 29 m high; India’s widest (about 300 m); “Niagara of India”; Godavari basin |
| Tirathgarh | Kanger Valley NP, Bastar | Tiered; about 91 m (tourism sources) |
| Saat Dhara | Indravati near Barsur | Seven streams |
| Amritdhara | Hasdeo; MCB (ex-Koriya) | About 27 m; fair since 1936 |
| Rakasganda | Rihand; Surajpur | Ganga basin |
| Kutumsar, Kailash, Dandak | Kanger Valley NP | Limestone caves; blind fish in Kutumsar; explored by Dr. Shankar Tiwari (1950s) |
| Mainpat | Surguja | “Shimla of CG”; Tibetan settlement 1962; Ulta Pani; Jaljali |
| Gangrel | Dhamtari | Ravishankar Sagar dam, Mahanadi |
Circuits, Schemes, Recognitions
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Swadesh Darshan tribal circuit | Sanctioned Feb 2016; ₹99.21 crore; 13 sites Jashpur → Tirathgarh; inaugurated 14 Sept 2018 |
| Swadesh Darshan 2.0 | Bilaspur, Jagdalpur; CBDD: Mayali Bagicha (Jashpur) |
| PRASAD | Maa Bamleshwari, Dongargarh (2020–21) |
| Ram Van Gaman Paryatan Paripath | State circuit, 2020; 9 sites, Sitamadhi Harchowka (Koriya) → Ramaram (Sukma); Chandkhuri first (Oct 2021) |
| Dhudmaras | UN Tourism Best Tourism Villages Upgrade Programme (Nov 2024) |
| Kanger Valley NP | UNESCO Tentative List, March 2025; first from CG |
| Tourism industry status | Industrial Development Policy 2024–30 |
Don’t Confuse
| This | vs | That |
|---|---|---|
| Tala: stone, Devrani-Jethani | Sirpur: brick, Lakshman temple | |
| Lakshman temple, Sirpur: Vishnu | Lakshmaneshwar, Kharod: Shiva | |
| Bhoramdeo: Phani Nagavanshi | Janjgir, Ratanpur: Kalachuri | |
| Rajim: Mahanadi–Pairi–Sondur | Shivrinarayan: Mahanadi–Shivnath–Jonk | |
| Chitrakote: widest, Indravati | Tirathgarh: taller, Kanger Valley | |
| Chitrakote (Bastar) | Chitrakoot (UP–MP) | |
| Mainpat: “Shimla of CG” | Bhoramdeo: “Khajuraho of CG”; Rajim: “Prayag of CG”; Kharod: “Kashi of CG” | |
| Mahant Ghasidas (museum, Raipur) | Guru Ghasidas (Satnami, Giraudpuri) | |
| UNESCO Tentative List: Kanger Valley NP | UN Tourism programme: Dhudmaras | |
| Swadesh Darshan, PRASAD: Union | Ram Van Gaman: State |
Favourite MCQ trap
Four swaps to watch: Bhoramdeo credited to the Kalachuris (it is Phani Nagavanshi); Chitrakote called the highest fall (it is the widest); the Lakshman temple called stone or Shaiva (it is brick and Vaishnava); and Sirpur placed in Raipur district (it is in Mahasamund).
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