Jagdalpur Tourism And Travel Guide

Endowed with natural beauty, Jagdalpur is a city in Bastar District of Chhattisgarh that has a lot of temples, old structures as well as lakes and waterfalls that make the place so amazing. Tourism in Jagdalpur is popular due to the beauty of nature that has grown in abundance in that region along with the history of the place that has seen so many dynasties come and go. Reaching Jagdalpur can be done easily as it is quite close to the capital of the state and there are ample means of transport to get there as well as get around. The best time to go to Jagdalpur is during the winters when the climate is pleasant and cool. Read through our travel guide to Jagdalpur below to know more about the region, the festivals and its tourism.

By Air:

Jagdalpur does not have an airport of its own but the nearest one is Swami Vivekananda International Airport that is located at a distance of 291.5 km from the center of the city. Airline carriers like Indigo, Spice Jet, Etihad and Go Dubai take passengers to and fro from Jagdalpur to different Indian as well as international cities.

By Road:

Jagdalpur is close to Raipur which is the capital of Chhattisgarh and therefore has well maintained roadways. You can drive up there via several highways that connect the city to other cities in the state. You can also take state run or private buses that will take you to your destination and will be pocket friendly as well.

By Rail:

The closest train station to Jagdalpur is 2.3 km away from the main city and is known as Jagdalpur Railway Station. This is the most convenient way to get to Jagdalpur because of the closeness of the station to the city. There are not many trains that go to the city directly, but a few that take transit in Jagdalpur before heading to other destinations.

Getting Around:

You can easily get around in Jagdalpur by hiring a taxi or an auto rickshaw if you want your ride to be customized, although this option may turn out to be a little expensive. Other than this you can take local buses that will take you around and the tickets are not expensive at all.

Summer (April-June):

Summers in Jagdalpur are very hot with temperatures ranging from 32°C-40°C. During peak months of the season like May and June, the temperatures rise up even further to about 44°C, making it quite hot and stuffy with a lot of humidity. This is not a recommended season to visit Jagdalpur.

Monsoon (July-October):

Monsoons cool down the region right after the scorching heat with temperature ranging from 22°C-30°C with a decent amount of rainfall. It rains the most in August and September along with some level of humidity as well. This is a good time to visit the waterfalls in Jagdalpur as they are in full bloom during this season.

Winter (November-March):

One of the best seasons to visit Jagdalpur is the winter time that lasts from November all the way to March. Temperatures during this time range from 10°C-18°C, making it quite chilly; some winters see an even lower temperature. This is a good time to go sightseeing as the climate is quite favorable.

Bastar Palace:

One of the most popular places to go to is Bastar Palace, a monument that is visited by many in Chhattisgarh. Several dynasties have contributed to the establishment of this palace which used to be the administrative building eras ago. Inside the palace you can see several exhibits that attract a person who is interested in art.

Balaji Temple:

The Balaji Temple, also known as Venkateshwara Swamy Temple was established for the devotees of Balaji, so that they could easily go and pray. The structure of the temple is made in South Indian style and looks beautiful. This temple is highly revered and respected by locals as well as tourists.

Danteshwari Temple:

Danteshwari Temple is another popular attraction that is visited by thousands every year, especially during Dussehra. The temple during festivals is decorated along with celebrations that are held with full fervor. This is one of the oldest temples in the vicinity and is respected by everyone living in the city.

Visit a Sanctuary:

Chhattisgarh is known to have some of the most beautiful national parks and sanctuaries with a few of them being established in Jagdalpur. Close to the city are two national parks; the Indravati National Park and the Kanger Valley National Park, visit these wildlife parks to see animals in their natural habitat and learn more about them.

See Magnificent Waterfalls:

Jagdalpur has a lot of natural beauty and the waterfalls in the region are absolutely stunning. Some of the most beautiful waterfalls existing in Jagdalpur include Teerathgarh Falls, Chitrakote Falls, Mandwa Falls etc.

Since Jagdalpur is a religious place, most of the food that you will find there is vegetarian; although you might find a few non vegetarian restaurants here and there, but don’t bank on them. The city is mostly inhabited by a lot of tribal people and most of their authentic food stems from food that has been eaten by these tribes through the years. Some of the most popular authentic dishes from this region include Pakhal Bhat, Rice flour chapatti and Angakar Roti that is made from rice flour. Bafauri is a traditional sweet that is made in this region and is prepared using chick pea. You can also taste Rakhia Badi that is made of fruit, coriander, ginger, green chilies and black gram. Other than these you can also go for street food where vendors sell stuff like jalebi, golgappa, pakoras and halwas too.

Shopping is an important part of visiting any destination and so is the case in Jagdalpur. Most of the population in Jagdalpur consists of tribal people who have inhabited the area for quite some time now. If you’d like to shop, you must shop from the things that are made locally and promote the culture of the tribes. In the deep villages of Jagdalpur and other regions of Bastar district you will find colourful markets laid down on narrow roads that are open to the public. In these markets you will find all kinds of fascinating things like bell-metal craftwork, you can buy mahua, which when fermented produces alcoholic liquor. Other than these, you can find other items in the market like handicrafts, saris with work on them, idols of gods and goddesses, religious items and other miscellaneous items that are fascinating to people coming in from other cities.