Senior journalist and author lalit Sharma would be honoured in Thimpu, the capital city of Bhutan for his book on ancient historical site of Sirpur in Chhattisgarh.
Manoj Kumar Pandey, Convenor, Parikalpna Saarc Samman Samiti informed that Sharma’s popular book Sirpur Sailani Ki Nazar Se has been selected for the award. He will be honoured with cash prize of Rs 25,000 and citation. The program will be held in Thimpoo between January 15 and 18 next year.
Since Bhutan is a centre of Buddhist faith and Sirpur was also a major Buddhist centre the book written by Sharma becomes important, Pandey informed. The book will help in generating awareness among the people of Bhutan towards Sirpur, he added.
lalit Sharma based in Abhanpur has written books covering the history of Chhattisgarh. He is presently working upon Ramgarh caves of Surguaj district which is believed as the first theatre of Asia and also the place were great Sanskrit poet Kalidas wrote the epic Meghdutam.
This apart, the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board (CTB) has begun preparations for ‘Sirpur Mahotsav-2015’ to be held next year in January at the historical site, officials 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’.
Tourism Minister Ajay Chandrakar has directed the CTB officials to make all efforts to make the ‘SirpurMahotsav-2015’, a grand success. The CTB has also designed a brochure for this event.
Sirpur is 78 km away from Chhattisgarh’s capital Raipur and is located on the banks of the river Mahanadi. Chhattisgarh government is planning to develop Sirpur, known for its archaeological monuments, as a Buddist destination to woo foreign visitors.
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.
Notably, this year the Union Tourism Ministry has also included Chhattisgarh among the top 10 ‘tourist attractive’ states of India, officials informed. 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, they stated.
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.
Treees 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.