Chhattisgarh Tourism to bring Bastar into the tourism map of India

In a bid to bring the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh into the mainstream and expose its socio-economic potential to the outside world, the tourism department of the government, along with the district administration organised an exhibition and cultural fiesta in the national capital today. The event was noticed for the presence of the Chief Minister of the state, Bhupesh Baghel. Speaking to ET TravelWorld at the event, Anbalagan P, Secretary - Tourism & Culture, Chhattisgarh said that tribal tourism is key to Chhattisgarh and the state is looking at creating a niche around it to gain its rightful place on the tourism map of India. In this Bastar district is a key cog, he said. “The purpose of the event is to introduce our core strength to the people outside,” he said. Later speaking on the different aspects of the Bastar district, Richa Chaudhary, CEO, Zila Panchayat in charge of Rural Development, said that tourism is a major thrust area for the district administration to spread the economic benefits by creating livelihood opportunities in the tribal villages. “About 30 homestays have already been set up in the district. Guests can stay with the tribals and experience their life and culture closely,” she said. The district administration has also introduced hop on hop off buses connecting six destinations in the district, she said. In order to give all the information about the places in the district for visitors, the district administration will soon introduce a dedicated travel website. “The website will become functional in a couple of weeks,” she added. Chaudhary said that they are in the process of setting up trekking routes for adventure lovers in places like Dantewada, Dholkal, etc. The district is also home for large and small waterfalls like Chitrakoot, Tirathgarh, Chitradhara, etc. After every monsoon new waterfalls emerge in the district, she shared. She further said that there is an added focus on conservation, preservation and promotion of tribal art and culture at the behest of the Chief Minister himself. Bastar Academy for Dance, Art and Literature (BADAL) has been formed to research and document many lost art, music, dialects, etc., of the Bastar tribes, she mentioned.