Indravati National Park Tourism And Travel Guide

Indravati National Park in Chhattisgarh is a reserved area for the wildlife and plant life of the region. The park was established in order to protect, preserve and look after the animal and plant life. The park is set in a hilly region with undulating terrain with the famous Indravati River passing right by it. Tourism in Indravati National Park is famous due to the diverse group if animals and plants that are found over there. Reaching the park can be done by means of air, rail and road as well. The best time to go to the park is during winters when the weather is pleasant to sightsee and also there is more wildlife activity during this time. Read through our tourism and travel guide to Indravati National Park to get a glimpse of the things that you can indulge in during your trip.

By Air:

The nearest airport that should be taken to reach Indravati National Park is Swami Vivekananda International Airport. This airport is located in the capital city of Raipur and is at a distance of 232 km from the national park. Buses and cabs are available from the airport to reach the park.

By Road:

Indravati National Park is well connected to the capital city of Raipur, other important cities like Jagdalpur as well. You can drive up to the park or you can take public transportation like overnight buses. There are some state run buses as well that will take you to the park at a low cost.

By Rail:

Jagdalpur Railway Station in Jagdalpur is the closest railhead to reach Indravati National Park. This railway station is located at a distance of 104 km from the park and is the best way to travel to this region. You can get numerous modes of transport from the railway station in order to reach the national park.

Getting Around:

In order to get around the national park, you will have to hire jeep services within the premises of the park. These jeeps come with a driver who also acts as a guide and he or she will give you a tour of the entire national park. Other than the jeeps, there are boats on the Indravati river on which you can travel to explore more wildlife.

Summer (April-June):

The summer season is the hottest in Indravati National Park with temperatures soaring between 32°C and 40°C. Although the national park is open all year round, these temperatures make the climate dry and very hot and it is not the most advisable time to visit the park.

Monsoon (July-October):

Giving some respite to the region after the terrible heat of the summer, the monsoons come in the month of July. Temperatures during this season range from 22°C- 28°C, making it a tad cooler. This is a great time to visit the national park and check out the waterfalls in the region.

Winter (November-March):

The best time to visit Indravati National Park is the winter time. Temperatures during this time range from 10°C-20°C, which you can imagine is quite cold. This is the perfect time to visit as the weather is apt for sightseeing and wildlife activity.

Go to Bhadrakali Temple:

The Bhadrakali Temple in Bijapur district is a famous one and houses a shrine of Maa Kali, an avatar of Durga Maa. The special thing about this temple is that it used to exist inside a cave, but now the cave has been broken and it is more accessible by tourists. This is a great temple to visit in a unique spot.

Visit a Museum:

If you are interested in history and art, visit the Gol Gumbaz Museum in Bijapur district to get a taste of the past. This museum has artifacts from previous eras which are quite fascinating and educational at the same time. You can also find several sculptures and paintings from the past.

Visit a Cave:

Chhattisgarh is known for its several ancient caves in the region. Some of the famous caves here are the Tular Caves and the Sakal Narayan Cave. The latter has a temple set inside the cave which is sais to be very pious. Many tourists visit the cave to have a different experience.

Relax by a Waterfall:

Once you are done exploring the forest area of Indravati National Park, go ahead and enjoy a day with your family at the many waterfalls of the region. The most famous one near the national park is Malangir Waterfall in Dantewada. Spend a day at the banks of the waterfall to relax and have fun.

Go on a Safari:

When you visit a national park, it goes without saying that a safari is a must do. At Indravati National Park, you can either go on a jeep safari or you can opt to go on a boat safari as well. Experience the habitat of these wild creatures and birds and see them up close in their natural home.

Although you can find restaurants inside Indravati National Park to eat in, the main cuisine of this region is found outside of the park. The most traditional kind of food found here is tribal food; most of their food is non vegetarian in nature and have accompaniments made of rice and flour. If you happen to visit villages near the national park, the tribal villagers will feed you all sorts of things that include kaanda bhajji, kohda bhajji, different kinds of pickles and what not. If you happen to stay at a homestay in the village, you can taste all of this as it is their daily cuisine. The tribes in this region also make something called Chaprah Chutney; this is made out of red ants, tomato and onions, yes it does not sound very appetizing, but it really is and it is also full of protein.

Shopping is an absolute must on any trip that you are taking and it’s no different when you visit national parks. Inside Indravati National Park, you can find several gift shops from which you can buy souvenirs of the national park, maps of the forest, key chains etc. But if you want a more authentic feel of shopping, you can head over to the nearby villages for a better experience. Villages have weekly markets known as haats where tribal men and women gather to sell handmade items like idols of gods and goddesses, metal items, hand woven cloth and a lot of jewellery that appeals to a lot of tourists. Shopping from such places supports the local tribes of the region which is something the state has always been stressing on.