December 12, 2016

A Road Trip In Chhattisgarh

Exploring Chhattisgarh on a road trip is a thrilling experience. To be honest, I had no idea Chhattisgarh was so beautiful until I got a chance to visit Korba, a small town 113 km from Bilaspur. The bucolic charms and the picture-perfect landscapes that I got to glance through on my way were just too mesmerizing!

Also read: Savoring Chhattisgarh Slowly

Why you should take a road trip in Chhattisgarh

I believe a road trip is the best way to experience a place. Driving your own vehicle gives you freedom and spontaneity. You can drive at your own pace, get down on whim and spend as much time as you like at your desired location.

Also read Hyderabad-Bangalore Road Trip In 24 Photos

Chhattisgarh is fabulous. I had heard about the Chitrakote Falls, the Bastar art and many temples and palaces of historical significance in the state, but I had no idea about its natural beauty. I’m particularly drawn towards the rural beauty of any place, and Chhattisgarh has plenty of it. You may drive through any part of the state, and you are likely to find sprawling farm fields, scenic water bodies, pretty white temples, mud huts, cattle with their shepherd, and tribal folks carrying out their daily tasks.

My road trip (along with my fellow travellers) began from Bilaspur station, a very pretty, vintage style building built in 1890. I was hopeful of seeing a lot of lushness along the way, and to my delight, I got to see a lot more than I expected. There were lots of villages on our way. I felt like getting down at every point to take photos.

My first stop where I couldn’t keep myself from snapping photos was at a lotus pond, which had a little white temple near to it. To add some more spunk to my frame, there was also a bunch of young boys playing in the water. Leaving behind that sight, we went farther. Another point where we stopped to admire the landscape was Khutaghat, which is 25 km from Bilaspur. It’s a dam and a river. The whole landscape looks like an island with many birds to spot. Besides, it’s a great sunset point for the locals.

Also read: 12 Reasons To Escape To Villages

Well, that was just the hint of what lied ahead. As we drove farther into the heart of Chhattisgarh, there were dense forests, deserted lakes, rivers and waterfalls, rocky hills and mountains. Perhaps the most amazing place in Chhattisgarh is Satranga (at least I think so) – the roads are so clean and beautiful. I felt like getting down anywhere randomly and just spending a lazy day with nothing on my mind.

Satranga is on the way to Devpahari, which is locally known as a picnic spot 60 km from Korba. Devpahari is a cluster of rocks and waterfalls. It’s a perfect place to take rest after a long road trip – take a dip into the waters or simply recline on a rock to soak up some sunshine with the gurgling harmony of the falls. The idea is to surrender to the beauty of the place.