Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh is the single most state of India who had a Hindu ruler till British took control over the soil. This region is mostly dominated by the pastoral denizens and boast an amalgamation of tribal and non tribal cultures and ethnicity. 

Chhattisgarh is situated at the central place of India. It was formerly a part of Madhya Pradesh, which used to be the largest state of the nation in terms of area. This southern part of Madhya Pradesh gained an independent recognition and was declared as a state on 1st November, 2000. Due to the presence of 36 princely forts in the region, it obtained the name as Chhattisgarh. Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Jharkand and Uttar Pradesh are its neighbouring states. Raipur is the capital of this region. 

Geography of Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh is mainly dominated by forests as they comprise of 44% of the total area of the state. The northern and southern parts of the region fondle the hills and mountains. The northern part of this region is sloppily scattered across the Indo-Gangetic plain. This land's fertility is boosted with the presence of the Rihand river. The eastern part is guarded by the Satpura range and the western part is curdled with the Chota Nagpur Plateau. These two rocky plateaus dissect the Mahanadi river from the Indo Gangetic plain. The southern part is situated on the Deccan plateau. This part is enriched with Godavari and Indravati rivers. Mahanadi is however the most important river of the state rendering fertility to a major portion of the region. 

History

The history of Chhattisgarh relates to the mythological era of India. In archaic period, it was known as Dakshin Kosala. During the Mughal rule, this place was popularly known as Ratanpur territory. In the Hindu epic, Ramayana, this place plays an important role as Lord Ram had stayed in Dakshin Kosala during his Vanvas. Besides the mythological concept, the history dates back to 4th century A.D. The most ancient ruler of this region belonged to Rajput clan. During 10th century A.D, a Rajput ruler, Kalingaraja flourishly ruled over this state and his successor, Ratnaraja continued to maintain the legacy. This empire had made Ratanpur as her capital, which has now become the present state. However, this dynasty could not exist for longer time period and were defeated on the hands of Marathas in 1741. Raghunathsinghji, the last survivor of the Rajput clan was deposed by these invaders. This clan could not stand for a longer period because of their greedy attitudes and dishonesty towards their own soil. Due to the repeated attacks of different clans, this region became poor and devastated. Finally this landscape fell into the hands of the British in 1818. This is one of the fewer states which always had a Hindu ruler till the British Raj began. The remarkable first Indian revolt which took place in 1857, was initiated from this place under the leadership of Vir Narain Singh. This freedom fighter was the first son of this soil to attain martyrdom. 

Culture and Tourism

Chhattisgarh is one of the prominent pastoral states of India. A perfect fusion of eastern and western culture is diluted in every particle of this soil. Diversity is reflected in every forum. The rich ethnicity, diversed folklore, versatility in harmonisation has multiplied the grace and dignity of this soil. The various musical and dance forms including Pandwani, Soowa, Panthi, Raut Nacha are note worthy. The art here is multi-faceted and boasts elegance in every single delivery. The tourism is not left behind, but has moreover played a pivotal role in increasing the Govt's revenue. Some of the major attractions include Mahamaya Temple of Ratanpur, Chitrakote Falls, Tirathgarh, Pali and Kendai Falls, Kangerghat National Park, Kailash and Kutumbsar caves, Khutaghat waterfall, Dindneswari Devi temple present in Mallahar, the Achanakmar sanctuary, Udanti sanctuary, Sabari temple, Nar Narayan temple etc. attract tourists and pilgrims from various parts of the nation as well as from beyond the nation.