The Union Tourism and Culture Minister Dr Mahesh Sharma on Sunday said that Sirpur would be part of ‘Buddha Circuit’ under the ambitious project of Union Ministry of Tourism.
The Union Minister gave assurance to the Chief Minister Raman Singh during a courtesy meeting with him at Raipur on Sunday.The Chief Minster during meeting informed the Union Minister that Sirpur has all those features as a destination that is capable enough to attract tourists from across the globe.Outlining the tourism potential in Chhattisgarh, Singh said that from Surguja till Bastar lie archeological remains depicting State’s rich cultural diversity.“We would like to request Union Tourism Ministry for helping the State in preserving the palaces and making them easily accessible to tourists,” he said.He also invited the Union Minister to participate in ‘Sirpur Mahotsav’.
Discussing the rich tribal culture of Chhattisagrh, Singh requested to provide permission for holding world tribal festival here.Tourism and Culture Minister Ajay Chandrakar, PWD Minister Rajesh Munat, Chief Minister’s Secretary Subodh Singh were present on the occasion.last month, Union Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma had assured that the Central Government will encourage publicity of Tourism and Culture in Chhattisgarh .The assurance was given by Sharma in a meeting with Chhattisgarh Tourism and Culture Minister Ajay Chandrakar in New Delhi.
Sharma had expressed interest in development of tourist facilities at Sirpur, Chitrakot, Teerathgarh and Kutumsar cave.He also expressed interest in the State Government’s proposal for establishment of Multi Arts Chhattisgarh Kala Kendra and Swami Vivekanand International Award.
Chandrakar then had informed the Union Minister about tourist attractions in Chhattisgarh and had stated that the State has astonishing tourist spots but it has not received desired cooperation from the Central Government’s Tourism Department for widespread publicity.He said that Sirpur, Chitrakot and biodiversity of the State needs to be promoted globally and requested the Union Minister to provide an opportunity to the folk artists of Chhattisgarh to display their art at national and international platforms.Chandrakar also gave a proposal for organising international tribal festival in Chhattisgarh in 2015.He stated that more than 32 percent of the population of the State is tribal dominated and organizing tribal festivals will help in preserving their spectacular and diverse culture besides providing opportunity to exchange ideas and cultures with other tribal people of the country.He had also requested for including famous Archeological site Sirpur in the Buddha circuit and for providing assistance in organizing and publicity of Sirpur Mahotsava.
In the meeting Chandrakar had also requested for cooperation in lighting arrangement, up gradation of hotel and motel besides starting the hotel management Institute at Chitrakot.He had also made proposals for widespread publicity of Bastar Dussehra, Chitrakot waterfall, Kutumsar cave and Kanger valley national park.Meanwhile, the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board (CTB) has begun preparations for ‘Sirpur Mahotsav-2015’ to be held next year in January at historical site, Sirpur.The three-day National Dance and Music Festival will be organized from January 16 to January 18, 2015 at Sirpur as part of the ‘Sirpur Mahotsav-2015’.The laxman temple, Anand Prabhu, Kuti Vhar, Swastik, Vihar and other historic mouments are the main attractions here for the visitors. The great scholar and traveller from China, Huien Tsang had visited Sirpur in the 7th century.Incidentally, The Union Tourism Ministry has included Chhattisgarh among the top 10 ‘tourist attractive’ states of India, officials informed here on Sunday.
As per the official figures, 2.28 crore tourists visited Chhattisgarh during 2013.As far as tourism is concerned, Chhattisgarh is blessed with sanctuaries, remains of river-valley civilization, archaeologically important monuments, rivers, waterfalls, rivulets, mountains, lakes, wildlife, religious places, vegetation and bio diversity, cultural heritage, different kinds of festivals, including 75-day long famous Dussehra and Rajim Kumbh being organised every year are worth viewable. The traditional tribal metal sculpture and Kosa silk prepared from Mahin thread are world famous.
Nature has also a special affection for Chhattisgarh. Kaushalya, the mother of lord Ram and daughter of King Bhanumant of Dakshin Kosal, was born in this blessed land. In the birthplace of lord Ram, Dakshin Kosal of Chhattisgarh, situated in the lap of nature, on the one hand has rivers like Chitrotpala Ganga mentioned in the scripture, Mahanadi, Shivnath, Indravati, Hasdeo, Arpa, Pairry, Sondhur, Maniyari, Mahan, Haff, leelagar, Dankini and Shankhini and on the other has waterfalls like Chitrakot and Teerathgarh.
Along with religious tourism, Chhattisgarh has various places of Adventure Tourism. As Vaishnav areas, there are Padmavati Nagari Rajim, Shivarinarayan and religious place Danteshwari Mandir Dantewada, Mahamaya Ratanpur Bambleshwari Dongargarh, Khallari Mai Khallari, Mahasamund Mahamaya Ambikapur etc. In the form of Shaiv religious places, there are Rajim Panchkoshi, Kuleshwar, Pateshwar, Champeshwar, Brahmaneshwar, Kupeshwar, Phanikeshwar, mammoth natural Shivling Bhuteshwarnath, Gariyaband, Budhamahadev Ratanpur, Devgarh and Sarguja etc. Moving on Dakshinpath road of Ramayan era, the visitors could see various religious places in the present era also.
About 44 per cent land of Chhattisgarh is covered by forest, where, along with different kinds of forest wealth and wildlife bio diversity could also be seen. For the protection of wildlife and the forests, there is Guru Ghasidas National Park in Indrawati, Kanger and sanctuaries like Achanakmar, Badalkhol, Barnvapara, Semarsot, Sitanadi, Tomar Pingla, Bhairavgarh, Bhoramdev, Gomdra, Pamed and Udanti. Indira Garden, Kanan Pendari, Maitri Bagh, Nandan Van Raipur zoos and Kotmi Sonar Crocodile Park in the State makes tourism interesting. Forests of Chhattisgarh are not less than a heaven for forest and wildlife lover photographers.
Trees like Saal, Teak, Baint, Dhavada, Haldu, Tendu, Kullu, Kusum, Aaola, Karra, Jamun, Sonha, Mango, Baheda, Bamboo etc are available in the national parks and sanctuaries, besides medicinal plants like Safed Musli, Kali Musli, Tejraj, Satawar, Ramadtoun, Jangli Pyaj, Jangli Haldi, Tikhur, Sarpagandha etc.Wildlife like lion, Panther, Tiger, Deer, Sambhar, lakadbagha, Bear, Kakad, Fox, Ghadiyal, Wild Boar, languor, Sehi, Mouse, Chhind, Chirkmale, rabbit, sivet, lomdi, blackbuck, udbilav, gour, bison, different kinds of snakes and birds like cock, peacock, dhanesh, Mahokh, tripai, baaz, cheel, hudhud, kingfisher, basantgouri, nightjar, ullu, parrot, beeit, bagula, maina are available here.
For the visitors of ancient places, treasures of crafts are spread from Bastar to Sarguja. Ancient places like Barsur, Narayanpal, Dantewada, Tular, Gupteshwar, Dhandhorepal, Bhongapal, Aarang, Ratanpur, Madku, Bhoramdev, Madva Mahal, Pacharahi, Chaturbhuji Dhamdha, Malhar, Nakta Mandir Janjgir, Shivnarayan, Tala, Sirpur, Khallari, Nagpura, Kharkhara, Devbaloda, Singhoda, Balod, Turturiya, Palari, Giroudpuri, Damakheda, Sihava, Chandkhuri, Damaudhara, Pali, laphagarh, Chaitugarh, Sita Baingra, Ramgarh, Sitamarhi, Harchowka, Devgarh, Harra Tola, Belsar, Satmahla and Deepadih are important in the State.
From the beginning of human civilization of pre-historic era, Chhattisgarh had been the place of visitation and dwelling of man, proof of which is available in Singhanpur, Kabra Pahad, Basnajhar, Bosalda, Ongna Pahad of Raigarh district and Chitvadongri of Rajnandgaon district. Different equipments made and used by pre-historic man are available on the banks of Kanhar, Maniyari and Kero rivers. The rock art of Singhanpur and Kabra are specially under debate among pre-historic era rock paintings because of their diversity and style. The wonderful beauty of Kutumbsar and Kailas caves of Bastar are excellent proof of natural sculpture.Complete beauty of nature and cultural diversity could be seen in Chhattisgarh.