Raipur
The Gateway to Chhattisgarh

About 40 km from Raipur, the city of Arang is famous for being the temple town of Chhattisgarh. This ancient city was once ruled by the Rajput Haihayas dynasty. It is home to several Hindu and Jain temples that date back to the 11th and 12th centuries: the Bhand Deval Jain temple, the Panchmukhi temple, the Hanumana temple, and the Mahamsmaya temple. A copper plate, the Arang plate of Bhimasena II of the Rajarsitulya clan, with an inscription dating back to the time of the Gupta Empire was discovered during archaeological excavations. It establishes that historically the city was a Hindu and Jain religious center.
This city owes its name to two words: ara, which means saw, and anga, which means body. It was here that Lord Krishna appeared in the guise of a Brahmin and was offered the Dakshina by King Muratdhwaja. As he was about to be cut, a drop of tear fell from his eyes and Lord Krishna asked him if he regretted his decision. He replied in the negative and told the brahmin to demand Dakshina from the half of the animal that had not shed a tear. The god Krishna then revealed his true identity and gave his blessing to the king. Archaeological research has uncovered some Jain images made from precious stones.
The main tourist attraction of the site is the Bhand Deval temple, revered by the Jains. There are beautiful black stone carvings of Jain Tirthankaras, and the shrine is therefore considered one of the few places where the images of all 24 Jain Tirthankaras are often carved on a single stone. It was built in the 11th century in the same style as the temples of Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh.

The village of Champaran is about 60 km from Raipur and is considered to be the birthplace of Saint Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya, founder of the Vallabh sect. It was once home to Champajhar and has two temples built in honor of the saint: Prakatya Baithakji Mandir and Mool Prakatya also called Chhatti Baithak. The nearby Mahanadi River is worshipped as the Yamuna River.
Champaran is considered to be the birthplace of Gandhi’s first Satyagraha movement in 1917. In 1916, on his return from South Africa, Gandhi saw farmers oppressed by indigo planters. So he used a method equivalent to the one he had used in South Africa to organize mass protests against this injustice, as the British were forcibly growing indigo to extract opium for their trade with China. In November 1917, in the village of Barharwa Lakhansen, Gandhi opened the very first basic school.

The industrial town of Bhilai is famous for its steel mill, one of the largest in India. It is an industrial town about 25 km from Raipur. It is famous for being the only manufacturer of rails in India, used by the Indian Railways. This modern planned city is divided into neat areas of single-story houses and wide tree-lined roads. One of the most popular sites is the Maitri Bagh, or Friendship Garden, which makes an excellent picnic spot. It is located near the Maroda water tanks and has a well-maintained zoo. There is also an artificial waterfall and a small train called Maitrey Express, which children love. The park, which was created to symbolize the cooperation between India and the USSR, also has a musical fountain and is at its busiest when there are evening shows.
The colorful sculpture Arjuna’s Rath, located at the Civic Centre, is also a place that attracts locals and tourists to Bhilai. In the evening, the well-lit monument is a sight to behold.
Travelers can also visit the famous Jagannath Mandir, which is known for its annual Ratha Yatra (chariot procession) festival. In the vicinity of Bhilai is Deobalod, known for its ancient Shiva temple. The must-visit for all tourists coming to Bhilai is Dhamdha, located about 30 km away. This place, with an ancient fort and temples, is a quiet place for picnics and even for a weekend trip. Some 80 km away is Siyadevi, known for the Sita Maiya temple. Set in a jungle and surrounded by picturesque waterfalls, it is said that Lord Rama lived here for a time with his wife, the goddess Sita, and his brother Lakshmana.

The city of Sirpur (formerly Shripura) might be a little hamlet situated on the banks of the Mahanadi watercourse, concerning eighty klick from Raipur. There area unit anthropology remains associated with Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism. Excavations have discovered ruins of ancient structures throughout the village space, as well as Buddhist viharas believed to be older than the illustrious university in Nalanda, Bihar.
One may also realize a large number of temples and monasteries, the foremost necessary of that area unit the Lakshman Temple, Gandheswara Temple, emblem Vihara, and Anandaprabhu Kutir Vihara.
It is believed that the Lakshman Temple was created within the seventh century collectively of the foremost stunning brick temples in Asian country and boasts of Gupta design. throughout the year 1872, the British officer and anthropologist Alexander Merce Cunningham visited variety of those monuments and printed his findings, as well as the Lakshman Temple with its stunning and wealthy sculptures. The place has therefore gained international recognition. it’s dedicated to Lord Hindu deity and faces east. It stands on an enormous platform accessible by steps from the north and thus the south. It consists of a garb Graha (sanctum sanctorum), associate antarala (a little foyer between the sanctum and also the hall), and a mandapa (outer hall with pillars). Another highlight is that the Sirpur Music and Dance competition, control among the building each Gregorian calendar month.
There area unit several Buddhist sites to explore, beginning with the foremost illustrious, the Buddh Vihar, noted for its stunning carvings that tell stories concerning life within the past. the foremost necessary cloister in Sirpur is that the Teevardev Omaha Vihara, a few klick from the Lakshman Temple.
The most recent excavations have discovered twelve surviving Buddhist vihara, one religious belief vihara, the monolithic statues of Buddha and Mahavira, and twenty-two temples of Shiva and 5 of Hindu deity, moreover as associate underground depot.