Jagdalpur is a city in Bastar district in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. Jagdalpur is the administrative headquarters of Bastar District and Bastar Division. It was earlier the capital of the former princely state of Bastar. Jagdalpur has a primarily agrarian economy, although it also has many small scale industries and a few large scale industries as well. Furniture Industries and rice mills are the most common industries in this region. Nagarnar Steel Plant, being set up at its outskirts, is at an advanced construction and is slated for commissioning in October 2018. Bastar district was formerly part of the princely state of Bastar. Forests play an important role in the lives of the people in Bastar district, providing food security and livelihood through the collection of minor forest produce, and employment (as casual labour) in the Forest Department. The forests provide for people’s consumption needs – fuel and firewood, medicines, food and drink, implements and housing materials.
History: Traditionally the area is mentioned as Dandakaranya in the epic Ramayana, and part of the Kosala Kingdom in the Mahabharata. Around 450 AD, the Bastar area was ruled by a Nala king called Bhavadatta Varman, who is recorded as having invaded the neighbouring Vakataka kingdom during the reign of its king, Narendrasena (440-460). A brother of Prataparudra II, Annamaraja, has been associated with ruling what eventually became the state of Bastar. This appears likely to be historical revisionism, dating from a genealogy published by the ruling family in 1703 because the document records only eight generations spanning almost four centuries of rule. Such revisionism and tenuous claims of connection to the Kakatiyas were not uncommon because it was perceived as legitimising the right to rule with warrior status. According to this chronology, the state was established around 1324 CE and the founder established his kingdom at Bastar under the tutelage of a local goddess, Danteshwari. That goddess remains the tutelary deity of Bastar region and the Danteshwari Temple stands today at Dantewada. He ruled till 1369 when he was followed successively by Hamir Deva.
In 1731, Jagdalpur became the capital and the royal palace was built by the rulers. Until the rise of the Marathas, the state remained fairly independent until the 18th century. In 1861, Bastar became part of the newly formed Central Provinces and Berar, and in 1863, after years of the feud over the Kotapad region, it was given over to the neighbouring Jeypore state in 1863, on the condition of payment of a tribute of Rs. 3,000, two-thirds of which sum was remitted from the amount payable by Bastar. By virtue of this arrangement, the tribute of Bastar was, reduced to a nominal amount. Pravir Chandra Bhanj Deo (1929–1966), the 20th and the last ruling head of the Bastar state, ascended the throne in 1936 before it acceded to India in 1948 during the political integration of India.
*(All the above information are from Wikipedia.)
Transport:
Airport: Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur is the nearest airport located at a distance of 292 km from Jagdalpur.
Rail: Jagdalpur Railway station is connected to Raipur and Araku station.
Road: Jagdalpur is connected to Raipur through National Highway 30. It is connected to the nearby cities by state highways.
Local: Auto Rickshaws are available for local transport. Vehicles can also be hired for local sightseeing.
Tourist Interest:
Places of attractions in Jagdalpur are Chitrakote Waterfalls, Kanger Ghati National Park which has the Teerathgarh Waterfalls, Kanger Dhara Waterfalls, Bhaisa Dhara, Kutumsar Caves and the Kailasa Caves within, Bastar Palace, Chitradhara Waterfalls, Mendri Ghumar and Tamra Ghumar.
Tour Planner:
Day 1: If travelling from Raipur by road towards Jagdalpur visit Bastar Palace en route then visit the Kanger Ghati National Park.
Read my experience in Kanger Ghati National Park.
Day 2: Go to Chitradhara Waterfalls (there may be no water in the non-monsoon seasons), Mendri Ghumar and Tamra Ghumar and then spend the rest of the day near Chitrakote Waterfalls.
Read my experience in Chitrakote Waterfalls.
Hotels: There are a few hotels in Jagdalpur that has online booking facilities. Some of the hotels here are Hotel Akansha, Ravi Residency, Bastar Jungle Resort and more.