Malhar, a small city in Bilaspur District used to be the capital of Chhattisgarh in the ancient world. The town is now home to some of the most ancient relics of old Chhattisgarh and has several different temples in the town. Other than Hindu temples, there are several Jain temples that have been excavated as well. Remains of Kalachuri dynasty from the time they used to rule the place can still be seen. Malhar is a great place for historians and archeologists to go to so that they can explore more and learn more about the old town. There are several things to do in Malhar, here’s a list of some of them.

Banjari Mata Mandir is a famous temple situated in Raigarh, which is not too far from Malhar. This temple is dedicated to Banjari Mata, another form of Durga Maa. You can take the state highway towards Ambikapur from Raipur to reach Banjari Mata Mandir. Raigarh is a hub of culture and is well known for its Kathak dance and music culture. The temple is very simple in architecture, but is highly revered by the locals and many tourists as well. Seek blessings of the goddess to start your journey on the right note.

Located in Raipur, a little far from Malhar, is a highly revered temple known as Jatmai Ghatarani Devi Mandir. This is a unique temple as it is located right next to a beautiful waterfall. The shrine inside the temple is that of Goddess Durga who is highly revered by the locals and tourists as well. This is a great temple to go to as you can get a chance to see a waterfall as well. You can also see a hanuman statue near the waterfall that has the water flowing over it.

Once you are done seeing all the places of worship in Malhar, you must visit the Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary. If you are interested in seeing wildlife and exploring more about nature and its attributes, then you must go to this sanctuary. You can see over 200 species of different kind of animals, some of which are rare too. You can indulge in activities like photography or even bird watching. So head over to this popular sanctuary to enjoy a day with nature.

Belonging to Bilaspur district is a lovely fort known as Chaiturgarh, also known as Lafagarh. Chaiturgarh is a natural fort that has been made by the rocks and minerals in that region; it has natural walls surrounding it and these are quite strong. The fort has three entrances from all around that you can enter from. Right outside the fort are small water bodies that add to the beauty of the place. This is a great historic site to visit and get some knowledge about this historic place.

Shivrinarayan is a small town in Champa District of Chhattisgarh, which is quite close to Malhar. This town has a lot of significance as it is related to the life of Lord Rama. This is where Lord Ram took berries from a poor lady named Shabri who didn’t have anything to offer but berries plucked from a tree as a token of her devotion; owing to this story, the Shivrinarayan Temple was built. The mandir is made of white marble stone and looks absolutely amazing when the sun shines high on it.

Talagram also known as Tala is located in Bilaspur district and is a prime spot for tourism as it is the home to Devrani Jethani Temples. These temples date back to almost 5th century BC and have beautiful architecture. Other than the temple, the village itself is worth touring and seeing. It is a very old village and has a lot of small temples that are quaint with a serene atmosphere. You can also find a home stay in this village to have a more authentic experience of the region and a chance to observe the local people and learn their culture.

Located on the Bilaspur-Ambikapur highway is a lovely dam and reservoir known as Khutaghat; this dam is absolutely beautiful and is easy to get to. It serves as a great place to spend an afternoon, have a picnic or simply enjoy the surrounding. There is a rest house near the dam that can be booked by tourists at certain rates and from there you can see the blue water of the reservoir. This dam is important for the locals as the water coming from it is sued for irrigation purposes.

Kharaud is a town in Chhattisgarh famous for its historical importance; the most famous place to visit there is Laxmaneshwar Temple which is an ancient temple. The temple has a huge Ganpati idol which is worshipped by a huge number of people in the area. The town can be easily reached by bus or a rented car and is close to a railway station. Also there is a huge rock that is said to have emerged from the ground; this rock is worshipped, especially during festivals. This is a great place to visit during Hindu Festivals.

Located near Sirpur which is very close to Malhar is Turturiya Springs and is located near Sursi Ganga. The place is famous as it has remains from the Brahmanical era that dates back to the 8th century. Apart from having archeological importance, this place is great for a family outing. This place is a treat for families going on picnics; you can relax by the springs, enjoy the flowing water of the springs and enjoy a nice day out. The surroundings are covered with lush green trees and give positive vibrations to whomever visits.

Located in Tala in Bilaspur District are the famous Devrani Jethani Temples. These palaces that have now been converted into temples were constructed for the wives of two brothers who were kings and ruled the region at that point of time. The temple complex consists of two temples; Devrani and Jethani that are now in ruins. Some of the dilapidated ruins have been restructured and is now a place where several tourists visit. You can see many carvings and sculptures etched on the walls and pillars of this once a upon a time palace.