raipur

The capital city of Chhattisgarh, Raipur is essentially a city surrounded by forest greenery. This region was discovered by Ram Chandra, who was a Kalchuri King in the 14th century AD. Once a tourist favourite because of its greenery and quietude, Raipur is now a city developing in leaps and bounds. It is the fastest city in the entire region and a fastly developing industrial centre. One of the most important contributions towards the development was the establishment of Chili Steel Plant.

Ideal for the travellers who love long drives through forests and an encounter with the rustic tribal life, it is also a place with some indigenous Indian art and craft. A wildlife sanctuary, ancient temples and the easy availability of worldly luxuries makes Raipur a destination of non taxing exploration. The Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary is located and is a place to spot the Wild Buffaloes, Panthers, Four-horned antelopes, Tigers and Chital amongst others. The city has multiple lakes among which Budha Lake is the most renowned. It is also a key producer of Kosa fabric, and one can buy local handicrafts crafted out of wood, bamboo, bone, horn, stone and feathers, and Pithora Paintings at Mahakoshal Kala Parishad and Chattisgarh Haat. The Doodhari Temple and Monastery, built in the 1700s are situated to the south of Raipur. It also houses two museums - Mahant Ghasidas Museum and Guru Tegh Bahadur Museum, displaying antiques and also depicting the local tribal culture. Also, another major attraction of this city is the Shahid Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium. This stadium has been the venue for many IPL and other important matches. This city also has a number of malls, which are surely a delight for shopaholics.

Raipur hosts a number of festivals and events throughout the year. Among the most prominent festivals is counted the festival of Pola, which is celebrated to worship bullocks. Bull Race, which is a major part of this festival, is the major attraction.