Ramgarh Caves, Surguja

Ramgarh (Jogimara-Sitabengra) Caves, Surguja
(A blog/travelogue by Jitendra Nakka)

Introduction

Surguja Division lies in the nothern part of Chhattisgarh, comprises of sky-touching mountains, lush-green-dense forest, enchanting waterfalls, serpentine valleys, and mysterious caves, but there is few more things that add to the importance of Surguja, those are its history, archeology, art and sculpture, custom and tradition. Unlike Central Chhattisgarh region, North and South Chhattisgarh region vary in their custom and tradition, as both these regions are tribal dominated areas, but their is one factor, which is common for all the three regions of Chhattisgarh, that is the mythology related to Lord Ram during his exile. 

Today, I am sharing my travelogue on Ramgarh caves, situated in the Udaipur Block of District Surguja, which is famous for Ramayan History.

Where and How to reach?

A 308m tall mountain is situated at Rampur, block-Udaipur of Surguja joins together with another mountain of 310m height to form a sacrosanct pilgrim called as Ramgarh. For Lodging and Boarding, there are few good guest houses and hotels available near Ambikapur(Surguja District HQ), whereas if needed there are some dhaamshalas available at Lakhanpur and Udaipur.

Ramgarh is nearly 3kms away from Udaipur  and 45 kms from District Head Quarter, Ambikapur. It is nearly 295kms from Raipur. Ambikapur and Raigarh are the nearest railway stations available here, whereas Raipur and Ranchi(Jharkhand) are the nearest airports for this site.

Salient Features:

This site is one of the highest points of block-Udaipur. Here, there are three caves namely Sitabengra, Jogimara and Hathipol, where it is believed that Goddess Sita once used to live here, at the time of Lord Ram's exile.

Sita-bengra cave:
This 14m long, 4.2m broad, 2m high cave is believed to have used by Goddess Sita at the time of Lord Ram's exile. This place is believed to have used as theater in ancient time. two holes and a verticle pit can be seen, which is still evident that this place used for having 'plays' for enjoyment and entertainment.Just from the starting of the stage to the ramp below, there are ancient stairs carve out of stones.

 Author(Right) with Mr. Dinesh Soni(Left)

There is one more mythological story believed to have related to this place, that when great Sanskrit Poet, Kalidas, left Ujjain after a fight from King Bhoj, he spent some of his valuable time writing his most important creation "Meghdootam". Even now-a-days also, cultural programmes are organised here at the month of Asadh. 

Jogimara cave:
This is a comparatively small artficial cave of dimensions 3m x 1.8m x 1.8m, where there are many cave paintings on the roof part depicting stories about earlymen going for collective works(may be harvesting or hunting). There is one inscription carved out in the stone which is inferred to have written in ancient Bramhi Language, which says the lovestory of a couple in which the Sutnuka, the Goddess's Dancer was loved by a handsome businessman Devdin, devotee of Varuna(God of Wind).  This inscription is believed to have created during Maurya Dynasty(Ashoka reign).

Author(Above) with his staff

Conclusion:
 

There are few more tourist places to visit nearby this sacred site, which are Hathipol, Pauri Darwaja, Turrapani, Singh Darwaja, Maheshpur etc. Its my genuine request to all the interested tourists, if you get a chance to visit Surguja, do visit Ramgarh caves.

Last but not the least, My special thanks to my Surguja Staff, Mr. Dinesh Soni, Mr. Navin Tiwari and others for making my experience such a special one.

Read More

Tamta Hill, Jashpur

Tamta Pahaad(Hill), Pathalgaon, Jashpur
(A blog by Jitendra Nakka)

Introduction

Chhattisgarh has been divided into three physiographic zones namely, (1) Southern Plateau, (2) Central Plains and (3) Northern Hills. Among these, Northern Hillls covers nearly 21% of the total area of Chhattisgarh State. Jashpur is the one of the northmost districts of Chhattisgarh, known for its rocky massive hills. One such hill in the block of Pathalgaon is Tamta Hill, also known as Tamta Pahaad.

Author with his staff

Where and How to reach?

 Tamta Pahaad lies 30 kms from Pathalgaon block of Jashpur district. It is named after the village where it is located.

From District Head Quarter, it is nearly 130 kms away (Via Pathalgaon). From State HQ, Raipur, it is nearly 360kms away. Raigarh and Ambikapur are the nearest railway stations, whereas Raipur and Ranchi(Jharkhand) are the nearest airports available for this beautiful site. This marvel lies in the Raipur-Ranchi Highway, hence it is 24X7 connected with roadway facility.  

Salient Features

Village Tamta homes a beautiful dome like hill in its middle part, which is popularly called as Tamta Pahaad and revered as Sole Lingum of Lord Shiva.

Tamta Pahaad is nearly 100 ft high and possesses nearly 300 stairs to reach upto hilltop. Some part of stairs are connected with hill on the one end and other end lies to valley, whereas some portion lies to valley on the either sides, making the view more exotic, more thrilling + more furious. Locals often speak about the stories of tourists, who just by over-excitement, themselves, happened to have hugged death.

Tourist climbing-up stairs to the hilltop

Author with his staff

Remarked as the sacred Lingum of Shiva, its a mandate to visit this marvel, bare-footed. Every year, there is a fair(Mela)  being held at this village, followed by huge rush of followers and disciples.


Conclusion

Just reaach the top of the hill, andd enjoy the soothing wind-blow. You can also observe one small pond like water-reservoir in the hilltop, where it is sacredly believed that, the water nevers dries up by the blessings of Lord Shiva, the almighty.   

A small water-reservoir in the hiilltop

Last but not least, My special Thanks to Mr. Surya Prakash Sao, Mr. Jagdeep Bhagat for arranging such a memorable tour for me and my colleagues. 

    



 

Read More

Rajpuri Waterfall, Jashpur

Rajpuri Waterfall, Bagicha, Jashpur
(A blog by Jitendra Nakka)

Introduction

Bagicha block is the most beautiful block of District Jashpur. Here, there are numerous sites which are worthseeing. One such marvellous site is Rajpuri Waterfall.

 Pic: Rajpuri Waterfall

 

 Author @ Rajpuri Waterfall

 Closer view of Waterfall

Where and How to reach?
Rajpuri block is just 2-3kms from Bagicha Block Head Quarter. It is approachable throughout all the season of the year. Raigarh and Ambikapur are nearest Railway stations while Ranchi(Jharkhand) and Raipur are the nearest airport available here. Nearby Bagicha, there are some good lodges and hotels which can provide attractive tour&travel package to tourists.

Author and Mr. Jagdeep Bhagat @ Rajpuri Waterfall

Salient Features:
Rajpuri is thin but it is one of the most beautiful waterfalls of Jashpur District. It is nearly 60-70 ft high. Water from the nearest brook descends down to a considerable height of 60-70 ft to form this marvel called as Rajpuri.

Religious Importance:
Other than the annual Fair being held here, people love to visit this serene sacred site, as it is worshiped as the abode of Lord Shiva. I visit this place on Makar Sankranti and experienced huge rush of devotees and nature lovers here.

From the left bank of the waterfall, stairs have been prepared by Govt, in order to promote local tourism. For enthusiastic fellows like me, Govt. has also built railings on the either sides of the fall, so as to warn people, not to go further beyond that.

 

  Stairs for nearer view of Waterfall

Mr. Jagdeep Bhagat @  Rajpuri Waterfall

Conclusion:
  When it comes to Tourism of Chhattisgarh, You must visit Jashpur, you must visit RAJPURI.

Last but not the least my special thanks to Mr. Surya Prakash Sao and Mr. Jagdeep Bhagat of Jashpur for their perseverance, coordination and help, they provided me and my colleagues during this visit.

Read More

Daraav Waterfall, Dangiri, Jashpur

Daraavghagh Waterfall, Dangiri, Jashpur

(A blog by Jitendra Nakka)

Introduction

As per I know, Bagicha block is considered as the best tourist destination of Jashpur District. There are numerous stories, numerous facts, numerous wonders, which are waiting for a true explorer to get revealed. Dangiri Waterfall is one such wonder.

 

 Daraav Waterfall, Dangiri, Bagicha

 Author(Right) with Colleagues and Staff at Dangiri Waterfall

Where and How to reach?

Dangiri waterfall is nearly 36 kms from Block Head Quarter, Bagicha and nearly 124 kms from District Head Quarter, Jashpurnagar. It is nearly 449 kms from State Head Quarter, Raipur. Raigarh and Ambikapur (Surguja) are the nearest railway stations here. Ranchi (Jharkhand) and Raipur are the nearest airports available for this place. This place is approachable in the months of winters and summers.

For lodging and boarding, good hotels and lodges are available near around Block Head Quarter, Bagicha, which offer exciting tourist packages inside block and district. As the above site is near to Bagicha, it is advisable to stay at block HQ itself. 

Salient Features

           Danigiri is actually the name of the Village Panchayat, upon which the waterfall is named, but according to Local records and Survey of India, the waterfall is actually renowned as Daraavghagh Waterfall or Daraav Waterfall, after the local forest range, which is called Daraav Forest Range.

A small brook called Geor Nallah of say stream order 3-4 originates from a upstream village called Malsema and descends down to considerable height of 90-100 ft to form this marvel which is called Daraav Waterfall or Dangiri Waterfall. The banks of this valley are completely steep, or I should say nearly perpendicular. 

Daraav Waterfall, Dangiri, Bagicha

Daraav Waterfall is actually a rapid, where water upstream is actually forced to fall from a narrow rocky path, increasing the speed of the waterfall. The above waterfall descends down in 4 stages, where it is visible upto third stage covering half of the fall upto 50-55 feets approximately. After 3^rd stage, the water from waterfall falling from a greater height, gets collected in a reservoir nearly 40-45 feets above and then again takes a narrow outlet to escape for the 4^th stage of fall and stores all the water in a big but shallow reservoir, from where, all the accumulated water again starts flowing to the lower valley area.

The surrounding rocks of the bank and waterfall are completely granitic rocks and continuous flow of water makes them more slippery and hard to traverse, making your journey more challenging.   

Conclusion

The most exotic feature of this site is that it’s completely hidden under Daraavghagh forest range; where the height of each tree of this area is no less than 40-50 feet, giving this site a more fierce look. A visitor has to explore this area just by following the roaring sound of this mysterious waterfall, completely audible from last one and a half kilometers.    

Author traversing unmetaled tracke to reach Waterfall

 

 Author Staff reaching up to Waterfall

          Reaching here, is so challenging, that even locals of neighbouring villages are ignorant of this spell-binding site. Just for reaching here, you have to come down 3-4 steep mountain valleys, with completely unmetaled (kachcha) road, testing your trekking and mountain-climbing skills. I really praise the work of Forest Dept. for creating jungle roads, suitable for travelling, without whom, the entire journey would be impossible.  The same brook, Goer Nallah, meets a visitor 3-4 times before reaching this marvel. Goer Nallah is so bouldary along its way, that a minute mistake of vehicle, may directly lead you to death. As told by the locals, a local fair is celebrated every year at this place.

             Last but not least, My special Thanks to Mr. Surya Prakash Sao, Mr. Jagdeep Bhagat for arranging such a memorable tour for me and my colleagues.   

Read More