On the outskirts of Jagdalpur, the district headquarter and nerve centre of Bastar, just where the
forest begins, is our newly opened Bastar Jungle Resort (BJR). Away from the maddening crowd of the
town, set amidst nature, BJR is a set of picture perfect cottages and tents-if you want more adventureadjacent
to some villages and ponds. Built in the Chhattisgarh style, these cottages are comfortable and
pleasant and are fitted with modern amenities.
Among the many things that you can do here, the most exciting can be treks to the tribal villages close
by. Walk along the winding rough and ready pathways into these villages, meet the friendly village folk,
talk to them about yourself and about their life, join them in preparing a meal or milking their cows, sit
and watch the gentle rhythms of their daily chores... in all this, discover a world you thought did not
exist... of simplicity, gentleness and warmth so rare in our times.
Based at BJR you can tour the entire Bastar region with convenience. Within a range of 50 kms lie the
most enchanting spots. At Chitrakote, the Indravati River plunges down along a high arc-shaped ledge creating a
breathtaking waterfall. Small rounded boats downstream can ferry you right up to and underneath the cascading water. At
Tirathgarh, the river falls gently creating rapids and cataracts that together form a maze of frothy and bubbling water. The
entire system is like a bowl in the middle of which is a temple sitting atop a small mound. Deep inside their bower, the caves
of Kotamsar hide a spectacular jungle of stalactites and stalagmites formed by slowly dripping
subterranean streams. These caves are part of the Kanger Valley National Park which has amazing biodiversity,
making it one of the most important ecological sites in the world.
In Jagdalpur itself you could explore craft centres and their sale counters where local artisans fashion
wonderful goods from wood, kosa silk, clay and bell-metal. Some of these make excellent souvenir and
gift.
For booking and other details contact :
Kanker Palace Heritage
Kanker, Chhattisgarh. 494334
India
