Located in the Ambikapur district of Chhattisgarh, Mainpat is a cozy and beautiful hill station. This lovely hilltop is one of its own kind and much unique from any other place in Chhattisgarh. Blessed with abundance of natural resources and history, this hill station is a must visit destination in India. Known for their Tibetan community, this place is a great visit for a vacation. There are several tourist places to visit in Mainpat; some of the main ones include the famous Dhapko Monastery, one of the only Buddhist monasteries in Chhattisgarh, beautiful waterfalls, caves and much more. Here’s a list of all the attractions one must see on their visit to Mainpat.

Main is home to a lot of Tibetans who have taken refuge in India and now lead their life and follow their culture in this region. Owing to that fact, Mainpat is full of Buddhists and one of the most famous monasteries there is the Dhakpo Shedupling Monastery. It is a Gelung Monastery and is quite different in shape, structure and grandness from the other monasteries in other parts of the country. This is the only Buddhist monastery in Chhattisgarh and indeed it is a beautiful one. When you visit, you will find that it is different from other monasteries; the place is not very crowded and you can actually feel a sense of tranquility. When you visit, you can hear the monks chanting their prayers in a low voice and occasionally you can hear the Tibetan bell, giving visitors a surreal environment.

In 1959 due to Chinese invasion, Dalai Lama fled from Tibet and came to India to seek shelter. This is when thousands of his followers followed him all the way to India and the Indian government helped these refugees to settle here in different places like Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh and of course Mainpat. From that time in history, Tibetans have built their homes here in Mainpat; these Tibetan settlements are divided into 7 camps spread over an area of 25 km. These refugee camps are a must visit as you get to see the lifestyle of these Tibetans.

Located at a distance of 7 km from the center of Mainpat is a popular attraction called Tiger Point. Basically this spot has a beautiful waterfall that originates from Mahadev Muda River; this waterfall is surrounded by lush green and dense forests that make the place even more scenic. It is said that many people have spotted tigers in that area and hence the name came to be Tiger Point. Falling from a height of 60 m, the water falling from the waterfall makes a pool where several tourists sit and spend a relaxing day. This is one of the top attractions in Mainpat.

Machali point, also known as Fish Point is a spot that has a great view of a scenic waterfall. The main attraction of this place is that you can see cute little colorful fish in the stream where the water gets collected from the waterfall. This place is almost 17 km from the main hill station and it is nestled amidst green forests and waterfalls. This point has panoramic views of hills along with waterfalls and is a great place to visit while in Mainpat. If you are an avid angler, fish point is something that you will enjoy. Join locals in the sport of fishing and take back your catch for making dinner later.

Looking for something more fun in Mainpat? Visit the Bouncing land in this hill station, also known as Jaljali locally. The main attraction here is literally the land that bounces; at this spot, the landmass is such that if you jump on it, it acts like a trampoline along with giving out vibrations. The vibrations that are produced is a natural phenomenon and is a wonder of nature. When one jumps, the entire area shakes, making it quite fun. This is a great place to visit, especially if you have children; they are bound to enjoy this attraction.

Mainpat has a lot of natural resources, one of them being Tatapani, a natural hot water spring. This attraction is distanced at 12 km from the center of Mainpat and it has quite a history. Mythology says that during the era of Ramayan, Shri Ram during game play accidentally spilt hot oil from a bowl straight the ground. It is said that when these oil droplets fell to the ground, they made a hole so deep that hot water started to seep out of those holes. People living in Mainpat consider Tatapani to be sacred and believe that people taking a Bath in this reservoir can get rid of their diseases and sins. You can see a lot of tourists in this place during the festival of Makar Sankranti.

If you have keen interest in archeology, Jogimara Caves is a must visit. Located at a few kilometers from Mainpat, these caves are located in Surguja district itself. The caves date back to 300 B.C with various proofs that mankind has been living in these caves from the ancient times. When you enter the cave, you can see painting of humans, animals, flowers and birds that have a red outline. The Jogimara caves are some of the oldest attractions in this hill station and is a definite must visit when you are here. The cave is surrounded by forest area and you may have to trek a little bit before you can get there.

Parpatiya is a village near Mainpat and is located at a distance of 30 km from there. This place is most famous for its sunset point; the view of the sun setting from here is absolutely breathtaking and must be seen when you visit Mainpat. It is said by travelers that when the sun is about to set, the adjacent hills appear to look like cubes, giving an absolute scenic view. When you drive up to this point, you can views of green forests, undulating hills and a variety of plants and flowers as well.

Dev Pravah in Mainpat is yet another naturally bountiful place on this hill station that almost has everything. Located in Kamleshwar which is close to Mainpat, Dev Pravah is a stream of water that ultimately flows into an 80 m waterfall. This stream of water looks like a slithering snake, making its way into the waterfall in a zig-zag manner. This stream of water passes by quickly and shines like a pearl, giving a very pleasing view to tourists. The stream of water flows swiftly and makes a loud continuous sound if you go closer. From here, you can also see views of the sunset, which are very appealing.

The Mahamaya Temple is located close to Mainpat in Ambikapur and it is one of the most popular Hindu Temples in the vicinity. The presiding deity at this temple is Goddess Durga and this shrine is highly decorated with ornaments, new saris etc, especially during festivals. This is a much revered temple by both locals as well as tourists. The architecture of the temple is quite simple and it the location provides a calm environment for whoever is visiting. There are a lot of huge banyan trees in the temple vicinity that provide shade for people visiting; one can even sit and meditate under the tree and feel peaceful.