Surguja: Highlands, Culture and History

Surguja reveals itself in many different ways: Tibetan culture and crafts in Mainpat, distinctive highland landscapes, and historic sites and temples. When planning a stay, you can first decide whether culture, scenery or history should be the main focus.

Tibetan Culture and Crafts in Mainpat

Seven Tibetan camps are operating in Mainpat, offering visitors an insight into Tibetan culture. The Tibetans there earn their living mainly by making woollen clothing and carpets. Cultural insights and textile crafts are therefore among the place’s distinctive features. At the Buddha Temple, visitors can appreciate the art of Buddhist viharas and the people of Tibet. The camps, textile production and Buddhist art offer different perspectives on the Tibetan presence in Mainpat.

Highland Landscapes and Natural Wonders

The Manpat Hills are considered the highest hill range in Surguja district. The district’s mountainous terrain also features distinctive pat formations: plateaus with small flat-topped hills. The pat formations are plateaus with small flat-topped hills, while the Manpat Hills form a hill range.

Several natural wonders are also named in Mainpat: Ultapani is one of the area’s natural wonders, and Jaljali is known there as the unique “Shaking Earth” phenomenon. Thus, the landscape includes larger landforms, such as hills and plateaus, alongside specific natural features. Those wishing to focus on nature and scenery will find different perspectives on Surguja and Mainpat here. In Chhattisgarh, Tirathgarh Waterfall is located in Kanger Valley in Bastar district; it plunges 300 feet. Kanger Valley was designated a national park in 1982. In Chhattisgarh, the viewing experience at Chitrakote Waterfall is more impressive during the monsoon; October to April and the monsoon season are the best times to visit Tirathgarh.

Ramgarh: History and Traditions

Ramgarh is considered the oldest historic site in Surguja. The Ramgarh Mahotsav has been held there annually since 1973 on the first day of the month of Ashadh; Ramgarh is in the Udaipur Development Block of Surguja district.

Religious associations are also part of the site’s history. Jogi Mara in Ramgarh is associated with Rama’s ascetic form; Sita Bengara is named after Sita. Alongside the annual Mahotsav, these different associations can be seen as further aspects of Ramgarh’s cultural and historical significance.

Temples and Historical Perspectives

The ancient Deur Temple, dating to around the 11th or 12th century, is located in Maharanipur village in Surguja district. The Guuri-Shankar Temple is also located in Deogarh.

Getting There and Planning Your Trip

Ambikapur is connected by a broad-gauge railway line to Anuppur, a railway junction and border town in Madhya Pradesh.

Discover more destinations: Bhojpur, Dantewada, Raigarh, Kanker, Bastar, Jashpur, Kawardha, Bilaspur

For the main travel overview: Chhattisgarh.