Jagdalpur: Chhattisgarh is developing Bastar as a tourism destination by focusing on connectivity, community-based tourism, homestays and the region’s tribal and cultural heritage, according to information shared on the state’s tourism development initiatives.
Bastar is known for attractions including Chitrakote and Tirathgarh waterfalls, Kanger Valley National Park, Kutumsar and Kailash caves, Maa Danteshwari Temple, Dalpat Sagar and Bastar Palace. The region’s tourism offering also includes traditional food, handicrafts, folk music, dance and other aspects of local life.
Connectivity Projects Form Part of Tourism Plan
Improving road, rail and air connectivity is among the focus areas for expanding tourism in Bastar. The Bastar 2.0 blueprint proposes 228 new roads and 267 bridges to improve connectivity to remote areas.
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Maa Danteshwari Airport in Jagdalpur currently provides air connectivity to Raipur and Hyderabad. The proposed Rowghat-Jagdalpur railway project is also cited as part of the region’s future connectivity plans.
Homestays Link Rural Communities With Tourism
The Chhattisgarh Homestay Policy 2025-30 provides a framework for promoting rural and tribal homestays in Bastar. The initiative allows visitors to stay with local families and experience local food, handicrafts, art and aspects of tribal and rural life.
Under the assistance provisions cited for Bastar, ₹1 lakh per newly constructed room and ₹50,000 per renovated existing room is available. Assistance is provided for homestays with a minimum of one and a maximum of nine rooms.
According to the sources the proposals involving 85 beneficiaries have been sent to banks for subsidy and that 27 homestays are already registered with the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board.
Tribal Culture Remains Central to Tourism
Bastar’s tribal heritage includes bell-metal and metal crafts, wood and bamboo work, traditional jewellery, dance, music and cuisine.
The Bastar Pandum 2026 festival provided a platform for 12 forms of tribal culture and saw participation from around 55,000 tribal people, according to the source. President Droupadi Murmu also attended the event.
Religious, Eco and Adventure Tourism
The region has opportunities across religious, cultural, eco and adventure tourism. Maa Danteshwari Temple and Bastar Dussehra are among its prominent religious and cultural attractions, while Kanger Valley and Dhudmaras are associated with nature and adventure tourism.
Plans cited for Dhudmaras include facilities such as a glass bridge and canopy walk. The village has also been selected for the UN Tourism Best Tourism Villages Development Programme, according to the source.
Training for Local Tourism Workforce
The tourism roadmap includes training for local residents. According to the source, 45 young people have received training in tourism management.
The tourism ecosystem described in the source includes homestay operators, guides, local drivers, food-service providers, handicraft sellers, cultural performers and young people involved in adventure tourism.
The focus of the tourism initiatives is on linking Bastar’s natural and cultural attractions with community participation, while expanding infrastructure and tourism-related services in the region.
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