| State |
Chattisgarh |
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| City |
Kanker |
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| Nearest
Airport |
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| Distance
from |
Km |
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| Railway
Junctions |
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| Local
Languages |
Hindi |
 |
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Kanker Palace Heritage -
Kanker / Chattisgarh
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[Reservation] |
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 The
region of Kanker and Bastar, situated in the
dense tropical forestlands of Central India, is
a land of unsurpassed natural beauty. Since time
immemorial pristine tribal societies have
created and sustained delicate rhythms of life
in harmony with nature. On coming to this land,
one gets an exhilarating sense of coming into
something wondrous and untouched. Our project
has been conceived to touch this moment. Kanker
Palace, the residence of the erstwhile ruling
family of the Princely State of Kanker, has been
developed as a retreat from where sensitive and
interested international tourists might access
the region.
It also assumes that
Kanker Palace, with its age-old and deep ties
with the people of the region, and a heritage
site itself, is well placed to serve as it
intends to. Given the physical difficulties in
accessing the interior, Kanker Palace, at a
convenient distance from Raipur and its airport,
as well as at one with the region itself, is
ideally suited to be the base for and a
“gateway” to the region. Built in the first
quarter of the last century, and rebuilt and set
in a garden in 1937, Kanker Palace was earlier
known as Radhanivas Bagicha.
The residence of the British Agent during the Raj,
it is now lived in by the Royal family. With its
Colonial style architecture, the Palace is
stately, elegant, and has an old world charm and
ambience. Five suites in the right wing of the
Palace have been developed to host guests. These
have modern facilities, including Western style
baths and toilets. On the whole, however, our
attempt is to retain the earthy flavor of the
region. We have a set of itineraries
for our tour of Kanker and Bastar. We organize
tours in the tribal villages, forests, we also
do boating safaris, angling in the most secluded
part of rivers and back waters, jeep safaris to
the wild life centuries and villages and much
more. Modifications can be made to suit specific
preferences. We could also design special
packages on request.
Places Of
Interest
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Central India: Kanker
and Bastar - As one leaves the plains of Chhattisgarh
southwards, there is a gentle but unmistakable ascent into the
hills. The forest thickens all around as the road winds up
serpentine ghats. The hills in the distance, bathed in a misty blue
hue, appear to fade into each other. Somewhere along, in a clearing
on the side, men with poles slung over their shoulders and women
with baskets on their heads, make their way down a forest track in a
single file, unmindful of the occasional vehicle going past. The
cicadas hum busily as the piecing cry of a jungle fowl rings across.
The air is fresh and sweet with the fragrance of wild flowers. One
gets an exhilarating sense of coming into something wondrous,
beautiful and untouched.
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Kanker -
For long, the journey into this fascinating land
has begun at Kanker. Nestled in the bend of river Dudh, a tributary
of the Mahanadi, and framed by an arc of hills, this picturesque
town quietly watches over the routes that lead into the interior.
Today a district head quarter with a population of 30.000, Kanker,
for most of its history, was a kingdom. Descendants of the last
ruling dynasty of the Chandravansh are still respected by a town and
tribal folk proud of their heritage.
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Further On -
The vicinity of Kanker abounds in sites of
natural beauty and archaeological significance. Some of these are
easily accessible and make excellent short trips. 30 Kms south of
Kanker, amidst dense forest, rise the hills of Keshkal. The road
climbs up a spectacular series of ledges in 12 loops. At the top are
two picture-perfect Rest Houses which offer an array of breathtaking
views of the lush expanse of jungle and the interlocking valleys
below. On a rainy day, clouds float about in the ghats and numerous
streams spring to life and gurgle down the slopes. As some distance
is the tribal village of Bahigaon, famous for its warmth and dances.
Among several of the region’s Forest Sanctuaries is the Wildlife
Reserve at Sitanadi, to the north-east of Kanker. An old British
Rest House sits atop the central hill around which spreads a dense
forest. The Reserve protects, among other species of wildlife,
sambhar, bear, leopard, Spoted deer, wolf, line fox, langur,
peacock, bird of paradise and jungle fowl. It is also being prepared
for the tigers. Approximately 30 Kms south-west of Kanker is the
reservoir of Dudhawa. A toy-like Rest House on a hill overlooks a
vast expanse of water, an ideal setting for angling and bird
watching!
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Jagdalpur and
Beyond - Jagdalpur, the district
headquarter of Bastar 106 kms south of Kanker, is the center
of this region. Situated on the banks of the seasonally turbulent
Indravati, it has been the seat of an ancient kingdom ruled by
several dynasties. The present Bhanj Deo-Kakatiya Ruling House
traces its ancestry back to the 14th Century A.D., and
even today commands an enviable loyalty among among tribals,
who vividly remember, through oral traditions, a glorious and
tumultuous past Jagdalpur is also a virtual museum of tribal life
and arts. At any time of the year, Muria, Maria, Dhurwa, Bhattra and
other tribals, attired in the distinctive dress, headgear and
ornaments of their tribe, can be seen sitting or walking around its
many tree-lined roads.
....Room View....
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