The three-day long Amcho Bastar travel meet (September 17 to 19) was organised by the district administration to showcase the potential of Bastar district in the southern part of Chhattisgarh. Outsiders and tourists mostly have a fixed notion about Bastar, which they feel is affected by Left-wing extremism. But Bastar with its vibrant Adivasi culture, varied cuisine and beautiful locales is a haven for tourists.
To highlight the positive side of Bastar, which also has a rich and interesting history, bloggers, journalists and social media influencers visited many places during these three days to explore it to the fullest. The district’s most distinctive feature is its 75-day long Bastar Dussehra which starts from October.
These photographs are a reason why Bastar should be on every traveller’s bucket list.
Mushrooms, both big and small in size, are savoured by the vast Adivasi population of Bastar. Such scenes of rural women selling white mushrooms by the roadside are pretty common across the district. No doubt such a scene offers visitors a distinct local flavour. Image by Deepanwita Gita Niyogi
Bastar’s famous tuma or tumba art is the practice of making such hollow containers for holding either water or mahua drink. These are made in the villages from dried gourd shells after drying the gourd and cleaning the interior. Lamps made of gourd shells are also made by skilled artisans. When hung from ceilings, these create intricate lighting patterns based on the designs carved on the surface of the dried gourd shell. Tuma is a sustainable and natural alternative to plastic water bottles and can be carried by Adivasis during field work. Image by Deepanwita Gita Niyogi
For those who crave for adventure, Bastar offers exciting treks and views of scenic waterfalls. There are quite a few famous waterfalls in the district. The Tirathgarh waterfalls is a must visit during monsoon. Image by Deepanwita Gita Niyogi
A view of the mammoth chariots kept in Jagdalpur, the district headquarters of Bastar. The chariots having either four or eight wheels are taken out during the Bastar Dussehra festival every year. Image by Deepanwita Gita Niyogi
For the religious-minded, there are several temples in Jagdalpur which can be covered during the morning heritage walk in the city. Here is a glimpse of the beautiful arches at the Ramchandra Mandir. Image by Deepanwita Gita Niyogi
A glimpse of the Bastar Rajmahal or the royal palace, one of the main attractions of Jagdalpur. The current ceremonial ruler is Maharaja Kamal Chandra Bhanjdeo of Bastar. Image by Deepanwita Gita Niyogi
At once a busy and lively place, the weekly rural markets or haats of Bastar are a must visit. Here, women are seen selling dried mahua flowers. Items like dried fish, poultry, fresh vegetables, colourful bangles, clothes and bamboo baskets are also sold. Men can be spotted gossiping and resting in between work; women are seen chatting or consuming mahua drink. Image by Deepanwita Gita Niyogi
Savouries, both sweet and fried, like these are a treat if you go hungry at a rural market. Notice the intricate tattoo on the woman’s arms. Image by Deepanwita Gita Niyogi
Murals on an orange-painted wall at BADAL (Bastar Academia of Dance, Arts & Language), where artisans can come, stay and learn. It is on the outskirts of Jagdalpur. Image by Deepanwita Gita Niyogi
The famous Chitrakote waterfalls on the Indravati river where tourists can enjoy overnight camping. The famed Bodh fish, known as the shark of Bastar, is also found in the Indravati. Image by Deepanwita Gita Niyogi
A Pondicherry in Bastar? One can spot French style buildings with pretty windows at the Bastar Art Gallery site beside Dalpat Sagar in Jagdalpur. It is a perfect place to chill out and click great pictures. A conservation architect from Nagpur, Shivani Sharma, has worked on the place, says Jeet Singh Arya of Unexplored Bastar, a travel start-up aimed at highlighting the beauty of Bastar. It was a pump house during the colonial time. There is an ancient tree here which has been protected. Image by Deepanwita Gita Niyogi
Other photo-features by Deepanwita Gita Niyogi:
Pathalgadi: Assertion of Adivasi rights over land
Stone quarrying, development projects threatening Jharkhand’s sacred groves