Established in 1976, Banwarapara Wildlife Sanctuary is surrounded by forests and villages and is a beautiful place to visit in the state of Chhattisgarh. The sanctuary itself has 21 villages inside, maintaining the ecological balance and not indulging in hunting. The sanctuary has a wide variety of species of flora and fauna which attracts most crowds. But, other than the park itself, there are various tourist places to visit in Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary that bring in the crowd. Some places include Hindu Temples in Sirpur, Bhainsa Tal and the village of Durg. Here’s a list of all the places you can check out on your tour to this lovely sanctuary.

Sirpur is a religious town located very close to Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary and is home to several Hindu temples. Lakshman Temple in Sirpur is one of them. The temple was built in the 7th century by Mahasivagupta Balarjuna’s mother and was constructed for Lord Vishnu. It is made out of bricks and the architecture is simple. There are several carvings like Krishna Leela symbols inside the temple that are worth seeing. This temple and the town itself is 14.5 km from the sanctuary and is one of the popular attractions near this protected area.

Surang Tila Temple is another Hindu Temple located 14 km from Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary in Sirpur which is quite famous and visited by many. Constructed in the 7th century, this temple has a Panchayatan style of architecture. It has five sanctums at the center of the temple and four on each corner and each of these sanctums have a shiva ling in it that are differently coloured. Also, there are three tantric mandirs inside the main temple. Inside the temple, there is a flight of steps that is made with limestone and from far away they look like waves. This is a beautiful temple and one must visit it if in Sirpur.

If you are a true devotee of Lord Shiv, Gandheshwar Temple in Sirpur is a place that you must visit. Gandheshwar Temple which is 14.7 km from Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary is a very old Shiva Temple on the banks of River Mahanadi. This is an ancient temple; many years ago, pilgrims would boat their way to the temple by boat and climb up into the temple for a darshan. Now, this temple is accessible by foot to locals and tourists. Inside the temple, you can find idols of Natraj, Vishnu, Parvati, Shiva, Buddha, Hanuman and Durga. You can also find inscriptions on the stone walls written in Sanskrit.  

Located close to Raipur at 18 km from the sanctuary, the Nandanvan Garden offers a lovely experience for anyone visiting. The garden is located next to the Kharoon River and has vibrant colored flora and is the ideal place for nature lovers. The garden is very close to a small zoo that has a variety of animals like panthers, lions, tigers, barking deer and a few more. You can visit this zoo with your children for an enjoyable time or you can simply relax in the garden. The best time to visit the garden is early in the morning or evening when you can see the real beauty of the garden to enjoy it the most.

After you are done exploring nature in Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary, head over to Sirpur for a historic experience. Sirpur is famous for its Group of Monuments that houses several Buddhist and Hindu monuments and is an ancient archeological site. Located at about 1 hour from the sanctuary, this city was ruled by several kings and has seen a lot of changes over the years. Recently archeologists have discovered Buddhist Viharas, Monolithic statues, 22 Shiva temples and many more other things from this archeological site. This major archeological site is visited by many.

Located at about 69 km from the sanctuary is a small town called Durg; this town is famous for its historical past, wherein several kingdoms ruled the place and constructed forts and palaces. Durg is a place of great cultural heritage and it has several Jain and Hindu temples in the town itself. Visit Chandi Mata Mandir, a pilgrimage that most people do on their way here. Shri Uwassaggaraham Parshawa Tirth Temples are also famous Jain Temples that are worth visiting in this town. After you complete your pilgrimage, relax at Maitri Garden to finish off your trip on a good note.

Another place that you must visit for a pilgrimage is Arang, also globally known as the town of temples. Located on the outskirts of Raipur in Mahasamund city, this city used to be in control of Haihayas Rajput dynasty. This dynasty built several Hindu and Jain Temples in the town which are now very famous amongst pilgrims. The famous Mahamaya Temple and the Deval Jain Temple are worth visiting.The Mand Deval Jain Temple in Arang is the oldest temple in there and dates back to almost 11th century. You can even visit the local villagers living in the town to know about the local lifestyle.

Chhattisgarh is full of surprises with new experiences that will give you something to talk about for a long time. Turturiya, a forest village in the outskirts of Raipur is located on the banks of spring Turturiya, also known as Sursuri Ganga. This is a famous tourist attraction and many people visit every year, especially in the monsoon season. The place is an archeological site and people in the past have discovered sculptured pillars, bathing ghats, brick stupas and a lot more other things. This is a great spot for a picnic and some historic knowledge.

Some of the best archeological sites near the sanctuary are in Sirpur, an ancient Buddhist town. Swastik Vihara is situated at a distance of 400 m from the famous Anand Prabhu Kuti Vihar. The temple got its name from the Swastika, which has the same shape. This Vihara was constructed from the 7th-8th century and was intended to be a Buddhist monastery built with bricks and is iconic to all religions. The Vihara is archeologically very significant. It is easy to egt to and one can get there by using NH6. This structure is a great example of Buddhist architecture.

Located in Mahasamund, the Chandi Mata Temple is a very famous temple in Chhattisgarh. This temple is visited daily by locals as well as pilgrims coming from different regions. The iconic thing about this temple is that inside the temple, you can find a huge idol of Devi Chandi which is orange in colour. This deity is worshipped by many and especially during Navratri, the entire temple is decorated and Devi Maa is made to wear vibrant coloured sarees as well. Navratri and other festivals are celebrated with much vigor at this temple and is worth watching.