Background: I am trying to explore India as much as I can. In my case, it cannot be done in a single mega trip. Hence breaking it down into many small trips.
State: Chhattisgarh
Towns/Cities: Bhilai, Raipur, Bilaspur, Korba and Jagdalpur. (We went from Bengaluru to Nagpur, and from Nagpur to Chhattisgarh, and from Chhattisgarh to Hyderabad, and finally back to Bengaluru).
Introduction to Chhattisgarh
Was part of Madhya Pradesh till 2000.
Over 40% covered by forests (3rd largest forest cover in India, after Madhya Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh).
Chhattisgarh is very resource-rich.
Have borders with (Clock-wise, from West):
Maharashtra
Madhya Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Jharkhand
Odisha
Andhra Pradesh
Telangana
Population: 3 Crore.
Area: 9th largest state in India.
My Experiences
First Impressions:
The roads, in Raipur as well as the main highways, were quite decent. The highway from Raipur to Jagdalpur, though not a marked multi-lane highway, was quite good as well.
Onward towards Hyderabad … Nice highway!Onward towards Hyderabad … Even nicer stretch 🙂Not much traffic in this stretch …Regular signage along the highway …Passed several small towns on the way …211km to Hyderabad …Not a sunny day … Quite cloudy.We did not stop in Hyderabad, just skirted the city … The High-Tech City area was very impressive to look at! Like Hong Kong, Singapore Etc.Had no idea that Haldiram’s operated eateries … We had our dinner at an Haldiram’s outlet, once we entered Maharashtra. It has been a loooonnnngggg time since I have had Kachori. This one was just Yum!!!We also had grill platter, which came with Roti and some curry as well. Was a bit too much of food, to be honest 🙂The Haldiram’s outlet where we had dinner …After an overnight stay in Nagpur (I.e. Day-1 we went from Bengaluru to Nagpur), we drove to Bhilai. This part of Maharashtra did not have great roads.Crossed some rivers on the way …Could see a lot of trucks on this stretch …Some lakes as well …The highway became an elevated one near the Nawegaon Reserve Forest area.Petrol and Diesel … Now which one is the Brown one and which one is the clear one? 🙂For lunch, we stopped at Indian Coffee House in Bhilai … Nothing great, but the coffee was nice.Bhilai Steel Plant, Bhilai, Chhattisgarh. One of the any entrances.Bhilai Steel Plant’s visitor center … They had a display about the plant’s history and its contributions to India.Steel from this plant was apparently used in INS Vikrant …An old photo of the entrance to the plant …At one point, on the way to Shiva Mandir Deobaloda, my friend’s SUV had to traverse this narrow opening 🙂Driving through one of the villages near Bhilai …Driving through one of the villages near Bhilai …Driving through one of the villages near Bhilai …Shiva Mandir Deobaloda … From the 14th Century.Shiva Mandir Deobaloda … From the 14th Century.The temple has some intricate designs …The temple has some intricate designs …I find these villages quite peaceful …The “Village Square” … Can imagine the elders sitting around and chatting in the evenings 🙂Railway lines (And there are a lot of railway lines in these areas, due to all the mining) have under-passes.Highway signs appear regularly …Loved this artwork in the hotel we stayed at … A tribal touch.Loved this artwork in the hotel we stayed at … A tribal touch.Loved this artwork in the hotel we stayed at … A tribal touch.Loved this artwork in the hotel we stayed at … A tribal touch.For dinner, we chose a drumstick-based Odia dish … With Phulka.Locomotive being transported … Along the highway.Malhar Archeological Site … We were the only tourists around. Near Bilaspur.Some of the structures had extra protection … From the elements?Khutaghat Dam, near Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. It was quite hot as it was around noon.Khutaghat Dam, near Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. It was quite hot as it was around noon.Khutaghat Dam, near Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. It was quite hot as it was around noon.Walkway across one of the outlets of the huge dam …My friend had brought these date bars … Very yummy!Ratanpur Fort, north of Bilaspur. Again, there were very few tourists around.Ratanpur Fort, north of Bilaspur. Again, there were very few tourists around.Whoa … What is this!? A series of massive trucks were moving these structures.For a state that is considered “backward”, Chhattisgarh has decent highways …For a state that is considered “backward”, Chhattisgarh has decent highways …Hasdeo Bango Dam … Korba, Chhattisgarh. It took some effort to get there, as most of the road was not paved. On the way a Tamilian family, who were visiting a relative, requested a ride with us and my friend helped them.The Hasdeo river … Not much water.Raipur is touted as a Smart City.Raipur Town Hall … With a small park in the front. Opened in 1962.The clock tower at “Ghadi Chowk” …“Oorj Park” or Energy Park …The park is quite big with several garden areas.Some good landscaping was done in several areas of the park.“Naya Raipur” (New Raipur) has very nice roads …Purkhouti Muktangan (Tribal Cultural Center), Raipur, Chhattisgarh. This park is also quite big.Purkhouti Muktangan (Tribal Cultural Center), Raipur, Chhattisgarh. One of the many structures in this park. There was a group of senior citizen tourists at this location.Purkhouti Muktangan (Tribal Cultural Center), Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Another nice structure …The 37-foot Vivekananda Statue … From across the Buddha Talab (Lake).Suddenly, we were in the mood for some snacks … At Delhi Sweets outlet. We bought some Samosas/Kachoris and Jalebis …Looks yum … But have to eat carefully 😉Looks yum … But have to eat carefully 😉The Jalebis are made to order … It was yum, as expected.The highway from Raipur to Jagdalpur (In the South) was a very nice one …Even the single-lane portions had solid roads …The famous Chitrakote Falls, Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh. Now, this site had tourists galore … Buses, taxis, private vehicles Etc.The famous Chitrakote Falls, Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh. Now, this site had tourists galore … Buses, taxis, private vehicles Etc.The famous Chitrakote Falls, Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh. Now, this site had tourists galore … Buses, taxis, private vehicles Etc.There were boats which will take you very close to the falls … Like at Niagara Falls 🙂Narayanpal Temple … Very beautiful temple! Near Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh.Back to Bengaluru … The highway between Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh and Hyderabad, Telangana.Back to Bengaluru … The highway between Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh and Hyderabad, Telangana. We went through lot of forest-like areas.The Indravati river … It is a tributary of the mighty Godavari river and is over 500km in length.Lot of farmlands on the way …Lot of farmlands on the way …Lot of farmlands on the way …Lot of farmlands on the way … Did not know or notice that Telangana: (1) Was big! (2) And had so much greenery.We went on a nostalgic trip, roaming the locality of the company we used to work for in the late 1990s. Habsiguda, Hyderabad, Telangana.One of the apartments I stayed in … 1995! Still around, after 30 years.Another apartment I stayed in … During 1996-98.Hyderabad Metro is very convenient and easy to use …During a morning walk through Jubilee Hills, to a breakfast outlet. Had a spicy “Curry Masala Dosa” and it was so awesome that I had a 2nd one as well.AnTeRa Restaurant, Hi-Tech City, Hyderabad. My friend took me there for lunch. The Hyderabadi Chicken65! Amazing …AnTeRa Restaurant, Hi-Tech City, Hyderabad. My friend took me there for lunch. The Chicken Biryani was awesome as well …AnTeRa Restaurant, Hi-Tech City, Hyderabad. My friend took me there for lunch.I got a sudden urge for my favorite Ice Cream in India, Naturals! As always, tried multiple fruit-based ones.Naturals! Yummmm!!!!Hi-Tech City feels like Singapore, Hong Kong Etc. Tall buildings, multi-lane roads Etc.As we approached Karnataka, we stopped at Paakashala for breakfast. The Onion Uthappam and Coffee were fantastic.And the Vada was not bad either 🙂Onion Uthappam …Getting closer to Bengaluru …
