Bastar/New Delhi
At a time when extensive anti-Maoist operations are under way in Chhattisgarh with the Home Ministry’s March 2026 deadline in mind, efforts are also being made to open up the entire Bastar Division comprising seven districts — Bastar, Dantewada, Kanker, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Sukma, and Bijapur — to tourism opportunities.
Way back in September 2021, the Bastar district tourism meet, which saw the participation of journalists and bloggers thanks to former collector Rajat Bansal, was one of the initial conscious moves in this direction.
Through the formation of tribal samitis, or groups comprising local youth, attractive places in Bastar district such as the Madarkonta Cave, the Kanger Valley National Park and waterfalls like Tirathgarh and Chitrakote were made accessible to tourists. Homestays were added to ensure that visitors could stay back and immerse themselves in the tribal cultural experience through the exploration of arts, culture and cuisine.
What began in Bastar soon spread to the neighbouring Dantewada district, which the Ministry of Tourism has highlighted as a religious destination thanks to the Maa Danteshwari Temple. However, the district also offers additional attractions such as Barsur, an ancient archaeological site; the thousand-year-old Dholkal Ganesha atop the Bailadila Hills where iron ore is mined by NMDC; and the beautiful Bodhghat Saat Dhar on the Indravati river.
Jayant Nahata, Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Panchayat in Dantewada, informed The Indian Tribal about the various measures being undertaken to promote tourism in the district, where the monsoon has its own special magic.
“There has been soft training in hospitality as well as infrastructure development. The district administration has trained locals to form tourism committees known as Paryatan Samitis. There are five of them in total. Guides have also been trained,” Nahata said.
Hard infrastructure includes bamboo huts, homestays and public toilets. One such place, Jhirka, offers canteens and tribal photo spots. For publicity, the district administration has released a song dedicated to Dantewada and a coffee table book.
Tourism In Insurgency-Infested Places
The Maoist-affected village of Jhirka, home to the Jharalawa waterfall, has been developed as a tourist spot. “It was once a Maoist stronghold, but now, due to the presence of security camps, tourists can go trekking. Homestays have come up in Muchnar village and at the Malangir waterfall,” he added. While Muchnar even has a telescope for skywatchers, Chandenar Dam, a scenic waterbody, is ideal for kayaking.
Budhram Kawasi, a tribal resident of Madarkonta village and a member of the Amcho Bastar Samiti, said that tourist flow usually picks up in November–December. “Bastar district relatively had a less intense Maoist insurgency compared to that in Sukma, Bijapur and Narayanpur districts, so many visitors prefer it. However, gradually, tourists can travel to these other places as well.”
Tourism has created livelihood opportunities for the youth of Chhattisgarh, many of whom grew up under the shadow of insurgency.
Mukesh Potai, a hotel management graduate from Raipur, works at the Dev Hills nature resort in Balodabazar-Bhatapara district. The young man, who loves reading wildlife books, said his ancestral village is in Narayanpur district.
“Being in the tourism industry has helped me secure a job and travel outside the State.” Potai, whose close relative was killed in a Maoist attack around 2009, said that although foreigners rarely visit Chhattisgarh and tourists from other States are still limited, the State’s own tourist flow remains consistent.
Mansingh Baghel begs to differ. A Dhurwa tribal, he runs a homestay in Dhudmaras village near the Kanger Valley National Park, which has been recognised by the United Nations. The homestay began in December 2022, though preparations had started earlier. “I have three mud houses and two bamboo huts and offer bamboo rafting and kayaking on the Kanger river, just 300 metres from the homestay.”
So far, Baghel has hosted 40,000 tourists from Bengaluru, Kolkata and Maharashtra, as well as from France and Australia. “Promotion is strong on social media, and visitors became more interested after the UN recognition for the best tourism village. When people ask about insurgency, I assure them it’s safe. The stay costs between Rs 1500 and Rs 2500. Tribal cuisine, such as seasonal greens, tubers and chapra, or red ant chutney, are definite attractions. Most food is sourced locally as the haat is far away. A speciality is chicken wrapped in leaves.”
Kawasi said that Madarkonta has never faced any fear. The 15 samiti members charge Rs 100 per person for the trek to the cave. Of this, 10 percent is paid to the janapad and the gram panchayats. “Former Bastar collector Rajat Bansal stayed here and came up with the concept of the local samiti. Members were trained and asked to share information about the cave with tourists.”
Things have progressed. There is now a ticket counter at the village, two kilometres from the cave area. “People used to view Chhattisgarh, especially Bastar, differently. But things have changed. Guests can stay in tents for Rs 1000 and enjoy indigenous red rice, saag and bhaji like the Kolyari Bhaji and red ant chutney. Kolyari, a leafy green, is gathered from trees and cooked into a bhaji. The leaves are boiled and then fried.” Similar samitis have been formed elsewhere too. The residents of Nambi village in Bijapur district guide tourists to the local waterfall.
Tourism And Tribal Rights
President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have spoken highly about Bastar’s emergence from the shadows of Naxalism and cited the successful conduct of the Bastar Olympics as a case in point. Union Home Minister Amit Shah too has remarked on the tourism potential of Bastar if Maoists lay down arms.
But not everyone is happy with the influx of tourists into tribal strongholds. A group of tribals, requesting anonymity, said that with numerous surrenders across the Bastar region, tourism inroads have become easier. “Abujhmad lies empty. Top Naxal leaders have fled to Hyderabad and some even to Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra. Security camps have come up in large numbers to offer protection, but will the tribals’ jal, jangal aur zameen remain safe in the changed scenario? Will the capture of forests and the start of mining activities not happen?”
A member of the Gondwana Samaj in Kondagaon pointed out that tourism is being encouraged big way. “But it is a conspiracy against tribals as innumerable security camps have come up and grabbed tribal lands. Many of our people are fleeing as forces often enter and search villages. They disturb our way of life,” he alleges.
Some point out to the negative impacts of tourism on both people and the environment, even though the buzzword now is sustainable tourism. In some tiger reserves like Kanha, children of displaced tribals have been offered jobs as guides when they grew older. In Sariska Tiger Reserve, local youths have been roped in as tiger trackers, a move that supports both the local community and wildlife conservation. But in an age where content creation has reached a frenzy to attract social media followings, ethical practices are not always followed.
