Dhamtari, a district in Chhattisgarh that used to be a part of Raipur district in Madhya Pradesh is one of the oldest municipalities in the country. The district is surrounded by the state of Orissa in the east and the Durg district in the west. This region is endowed with rich flora and fauna and has wildlife sanctuaries with some of the most exotic plant and animal life. There are also a number of waterfalls that are in full bloom during monsoons, proving to be a great place for a vacation. Other than the natural beauty, there are numerous places of worship that make the district even more serene. Below is a list of tourist places to visit in Dhamtari for your information, so that you can plan your trip better.

The Bilai Mata Mandir in Dhamtari is also known as Vindhyavasini Ma Temple and it is quite famous amongst people in the district. The temple is situated at a distance of 5 km from the center of the city and you can easily take a bus to reach there. The architecture of the temple is simple and has a huge door as the entrance; once you enter you will find a big trishul and a lion sculpture right outside the shrine. The temple has some space where you can do a few rounds or spots to even sit and meditate or pray. While entering the place where the shrine is kept, there is a bell hanging that you can ring and inside you will see the shrine which is orange in colour and wrapped in a sari. People in the region are great believers of this shrine.

Dhamtari is full of pilgrimage spots with Sihava being one of the most popular places of worship in the district. Located quite close to the center of Dhamtari, Sihava lies on the banks of the Mahanadi River. The pilgrimage spot is surrounded by lovely lush green forests and picturesque mountains. There are a number of places to visit in this region like Karbeshwar Temple, the Ganesh Ghat, Danteshwari Cave, Mahamai Temple and Amrit Kund. There is also an Ashram by the name of Hringi Hathi Khot where you can find some solace and meditate in peace. Sihava is a must see location in Dhamtari.

Rudri is a historically significant place in Dhamtari; it is said that this place used to be the capital of Kanker, a kingdom from the ancient era during the rule of Rudra Dev. It is a popular place of visit and is located on the banks of River Mahanadi, with Rudreshwar Temple being one of the most popular attractions. If you are interested in knowing more about the history of the place, visit the temples around and speak to the locals to learn more about Rudri and its significance.

Located at a distance of 17 km from the center of Dhamtari, Gangrel Dam is a huge dam that is built by the Mahanadi River. This dam is also known as Ravishankar Sagar and is the longest dam in the state of Chhattisgarh. This dam is very useful to the locals, especially the farmers to whom year round irrigation is provided; this allows the farmers to harvest two different crops every year and is of huge help for their occupation. The Gangrel Dam is also the main supplier of water for Bhilai Steel Plant in Bhilai along with it being the main supplier of electricity; the dam has a capacity of supplying 10MW of hydroelectricity.

Located in the district of Dhamtari, the Sitanandi Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most important wildlife sanctuaries in the vicinity; it is also one of the most significant sanctuaries in the country, housing some of the most endangered species. The Sitanadi Wildlife Sanctuary is covered with lush green forests and consists of different kinds of trees like sal, bamboo and teak. Other than this, there is a range of vibrant flowers with lovely fragrance. You can spot animals like tigers, leopards along with local and migratory birds coming in during winters to breed. This is a great place to take children and adults who are interested in wildlife.

Located on a tributary of Mahanadi River is a dam by the name of Madamsilli Dam, also known as Murrumsilli Dam in Dhamtari. This dam is significant in Dhamtari and is considered as an example of class architecture. The Madamsilli Dam was built between the years of 1914 and 1923, the Madamsilli Dam is the first dam in Asia that has Siphon Spillways, and hence the architecture of the dam is much appreciated by the people. You can take the Dhamtari to Kukrel road to reach this dam and there are prepaid taxis that will easily take you there.

Located quite close to Gangrel Dam on the banks of Mahanadi River is the Angaarmoti Mandir. This temple is a very simple temple with the main shrine being Durga Devi along with idols of other Hindu Gods and Goddesses as well. It is one of the most relaxing and easy pilgrimage and every person gets the chance to easily pray and spend a few moments in front of the shrine. From the mandir, you can also get a view of Gangrel Dam. A lot of people from all over the country go to Angaarmoti Mandir to offer their prayers and seek blessings from the Devi in the temple.

Housing an ancient shrine of Lord Shiva, the Rudreshwar Temple in Dhamtari is highly revered by pilgrims coming from all walks of life. The temple was built during the rule of King Rudra Dev who was an ardent follower of Lord Shiva. The Rudreshwar Temple is visited by many tourists and highly respected by locals, who come to the temple regularly to offer their prayers. The architecture of the temple is simple and is constructed in a traditional Hindu architecture style. Auspicious occasions like Shivratri are celebrated with much enthusiasm.

Kanker Palace is one of the most famous attractions in Dhamtari that was built in the ancient era as a residence for the royal family. This palace also used to be known as Radha Nivas Bagicha and after the British left the country, this palace was converted into a heritage hotel for tourists to stay in. The furniture, ceiling, walls and other things inside the palace are ancient and gives the feel of living a royal palace. This palace can be visited throughout the year and you can stay in it for a few days to feel the modernized old times.

Located in Dhamtari is a place where you can find peace, away from the hustle and bustle of the city life; Swami Sandipanand Meditation Center is a place in the district which is used as yoga and a meditation center. This center was created in order to provide a place to the people to practice meditation and yoga techniques to deal with everyday life, one can come to the center and spend hours meditating or even learning how to do so from other people. Regular yoga classes are held early in the morning and evenings as well for those who want to learn. If you are looking for some peace and quite, make sure you visit this place to calm your mind for the rest of the trip.