Tourist Places To Visit In Indravati National Park
Planning A Trip To Indravati National Park? Here's our list of top tourist places to visit in Indravati National Park
Indravati National Park is one of the most famous wildlife reserves in Chhattisgarh and a very important one too as it is the home of an endangered species of buffaloes and you can only see them here. The national park’s geography is such that it consists of hilly terrain located at an altitude of 177-599 m above sea level. Indravati National Park is dedicated towards the welfare and health of the wildlife in that region. The park s inhabited by a variety of species of animals, insects, reptiles and birds, due to which thousands of tourists visit the place every year. Apart from the park itself, there are several tourist places to visit in Indravati National Park that are in the vicinity of this beautiful wildlife reserve, Let’s have a look at some of them.
Kanger Ghati National Park
Photograph by journeyplanner.in
If Indravati National Park didn’t satiate the need to observe animals and be in nature, check out Kanger Ghati National Park located quite close to Indravati National Park. Also one of the most interesting and popular national parks in Chhattisgarh, the Kanger Ghati National Park derives its name from the Kanger River flowing right past it. You can see a variety of animals like the mouse deer, leopards, rehesus macaque, pythons, cobra, monitor lizards, flying squirrel and so much more. If you are a wildlife enthusiast, make sure you check this national park in addition to Indravati to have a wide range of experiences.
Bastar Palace
Photograph by inspirock.com
Bastar Palace is located in the Jagdalpur, which is a few kilometers from Indravati National Park. This is the place where the kings and queens of the Bastar kingdom lived when they were ruling the region. This palace was built by the kingdom back in the day when the capital was moved from Barsur to Jagdalpur and the royal family needed a place to live in. When you visit the palace, you can see lovely drawings, figurines and other art work on the ceiling and walls of the palace, it will give you a glimpse of the previous eras. If you see this palace from afar, you can see the sunlight beaming on the structure and it makes for a great view. There is a lovely garden that surrounds the palace where one can relax after seeing the entire palace.
Sri Venkateshwara Swamy Temple
Photograph by famousplacesinindia.in
Sri Venkateshwara Swamy Temple in Jagdalpur, also known by the name of Balaji Temple is a popular temple to visit close to Indravati National Park. Dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, this temple is a well revered one in this region. Lord Venkateswara is one of the most respected gods in Hindu religion, especially in the south of the country. This temple attracts several pilgrims coming from different states as well as locals who visit regularly. This is an important pilgrimage spot for tourists and is very similar to the Balaji Temple in Tirupati, after which it has been named.
Danteshwari Temple
Photograph by youtube.com
Another famous temple around the national park is Danteshwari Temple in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh. This temple is part of the 52 shakti peeths which are the shrines of Shakti; a form of goddess Danteshwari. This shrine is very much respected by the locals in the region as well as people coming in from different places. The temple was made back in the 14th century and still stands there without much dilapidation. Festivals are celebrated in full fervor in this temple; during Dussehra, the tribes of Dantewada region dance, sing and the Goddesses idol is taken out on a procession as well. This is a great time to visit the temple.
Sakal Narayan Cave and Temple
Photograph by bijapur.gov.in
If you want to see a place that is not visited by too many people and want to see something new, head over to Sakal Narayan Cave and Temple. Located at a distance of about 50 km from Bijapur district, up on the Sakalnarayan hills is this beautiful temple followed by caves. To get to this place, you will have to walk for almost a kilometer; once you trek through the forest, you are greeted by this beautiful, quaint cave. Once you enter this cave, you can see other tunnels as well and inside these tunnels you can see statues of different gods like Sesh Nag and Lord Krishna. These caves are open to the public at all times of the year. There are several waterfalls behind these caves that serve as a place of rehabilitation.
Tular Caves
Photograph by hamar36garh.blogspot.com
Located in Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh is an unexplored spot called Tular Caves. These caves are situated close to Indravati National Park and are visited by tourists who know of the place. There are several myths related to this place and stories have been said by several tribal people living in the area as well. It is said that once someone goes into the cave, they do not come back out. That is a pretty scary thing to hear, but it is a myth. There is a Shiv ling inside the cave which is said to have emerged from ancient times and protects whoever goes inside the cave. The cave is located in a quaint place and several tourists visit the spot to see something different.
Gol Gumbaz Anthropological Museum
Photograph by youtube.com
There are several museums in India that are famous for exhibiting artifacts from the bygone eras. One such museum close to Indravati National Park is Gol Gumbaz Anthropological Museum in Bijapur. Chhattisgarh has seen several kingdoms in its region and one of the most prominent ones were the Chalukyas who ruled the Chhattisgarh region in the 14th century. Artifacts from that era and several others have been found and exhibited at the museum for people to see. This museum is best enjoyed by people who have a keen interest in history, culture and art of the region.
Bhairamdev Temple
Photograph by patrika.com
The Bhairamdev Temple is located close to Indravati National Park in Bijapur district. This is a rare kind of temple that is unexplored by people. Situated in a place called Bairamgarh, this temple is famous for its unusual carved boulders that were made to resemble the almighty. At this location you will find a huge boulder that has been carved to form Ardhanariswar, a form of Lord Shiva which is a depiction from back in the 13th and 14th century. At a distance of 500 m from this temple, you can find sculptures of snakes and others related to Snake king. There is also a rare sculpture of Lord Brahma in the vicinity that you are able to see.
Bairamgarh Wildlife Sanctuary
Photograph by pinterest.com
Want to explore more wildlife in the area of Chhattisgarh? Here’s your chance. After you visit the Indravati National Park and the Kanger Ghati National Park, head over to Bairamgarh Wildlife sanctuary in Bairamgarh, located close to the other national parks. When you get down to exploring the place, you can spot several species of animals like Nilgai, Sambhar, Sloth Bear and birds like peacocks, green pigeons, quails, darters, woodpeckers and many more birds that come from other regions during the winter time for the purpose of breeding. Explore this sanctuary to observe different kinds of plants and animals.
Bhadrakali Temple
Photograph by amarujala.com
There are several temples in Chhattisgarh that are devoted to Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga. One such temple is the Bhadrakali Temple in Bijapur district; this temple houses a shrine of Goddess Kali who is an avatar of Durga Ma. The temple is highly revered and followed by several devotees from the region as well as from other parts of the state and country. The temple used to be located inside a cave in the midst of dense forests, but now it has been more publicized and is accessible by tourists. The best time to visit this temple is during Vasant Panchami when a huge fair is held and deveral devotees visit to seek the blessings of the Goddess.