Kanger Ghati National Park

The name of Kanger Ghati National Park is derived from the Kangar River, which flows in its length. Kanger Valley is spread over 200 square kilometers.

Kanger Valley got the status of a national park in the year 1982. It is a friendly place for high mountains, deep valleys, giant trees, and various species of wildlife. Kanger Valley National Park is a typical mixed humid deciduous type of forest, in which the Sal, Saugaun, teak, and bamboo trees are available in abundance.

The most popular species in this area is Bastar Maina which enchants everyone with their human voice. The state bird, Bastar Maina, is a type of Hill maina (granular Dhariosoa), which is capable of emulating human voices. The forest is home to migrant and resident birds.

Apart from wildlife and plants, this National Park is home to three exceptional caves – famous for their amazing geological structures of Kutumbasar, Kailash, and Dandak- Stalagmites and Stalactites. National Park is known for the presence of underground limestone caves with dripstone and flowstone.

The stalagmite and stalactite formation is still increasing. Caves in the National Park provide shelter for various species of wildlife. In the eastern part of the National Park, the Bhainsadhara is located where one can see the sandy beaches where crocodiles (Crocodylus palestras) are mostly found.

Tirathgarh Waterfall is located in Kanger Valley National Park. The Kenjhardhara and Bhainsadhara are famous for Crocodile Park. Gypsy Safari is available for tourists to explore the natural beauty of the park.

Attractions Inside the Park

Bhainsa Darha

Darhas translate to water pools created by rivers. Bhainsa Darha is one such water pool which is located 65km away from Jagdalpur. The water here is natural and pure. Crocodiles and tortoises found in the water make up for a great attraction here. Given the fact that the Darha is covered with lush greenery in all directions, you can also plan a picnic or hike in this area.

The Darha remains closed during the rainy season. So the ideal time to visit this place is during winter. Traveling by bike and other two-wheeled vehicles can get risky as roads here are narrow and slippery. It is advisable to travel in a car.

Kanger Dhara Waterfall

Kanger Dhara is a picnic spot located inside Kanger Ghati National Park, 35 km away from Jagdalpur. Permission from the District Forest Office is required (located at the entry gate of the park) to enter the waterfall area. The cascading falls are attractive to look at.

You can also take a bath in the natural water. Summers are the best time to visit the waterfall when the water temperature is comfortable to take a dip. The falls remain closed during monsoons.

Tirathgarh Waterfalls

Tirathgarh Waterfalls is also fondly called Milky Fall because of the milky white color of the water that is formed when the water gushes down and crashes with the rocky slope. From a distance, it looks as if fresh milk is falling down a hill. It is eye-catching to look at.

The falls are also one of the most visited sites in the state of Chhattisgarh. The splashing water speeding down from a height of over 100 feet offers splendid views. The greenery in the surroundings enriches the beauty of the area. There's a nearby temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and Ma Parvati that has a religious prominence amongst devotees who flock in large numbers to offer prayers. The best time to visit this waterfall is from October to February.

Kotumsar Caves

Situated at about 40 km from Jagdalpur, Kotumsar Caves stretch for about 1370 meters and are 35 meters underground. Made up of pure limestone, this alluring cave is adjacent to river Kanger on the western side of Kanger Ghati National Park. Many renowned explorers have searched this cave during the early 1900s. It is one of the most famous caves in the state of Chhattisgarh.

The caves have rocky floors with water pools in several spots. There are no natural lights inside the cave. This, combined with steep and narrow passages (some of which are downward sloping) makes exploring these caves a risky business. Yet, it attracts tourists in large amounts.

You can enter the caves through the narrow steps and will have to pass very narrow chambers and passages before getting to the main hall that features impressive acoustics. This sure gets the adrenaline high and blood pumping. There are several interesting tribal tales attached to the caves. The caves also house several species of reptiles and insects like bats, snakes, frogs, crickets, spiders, millipedes, and more.

Please note the fact that there is a lack of oxygen in deeper areas of the caves. For safety purposes, entry into some parts of the caves is strictly restricted to tourists and the local population.

Kailash Caves

Similar to Kotsumar caves, Kailash Caves are located near Mikulwada district, 40 km away from Jagdalpur. The caves were discovered in the year 1993. Around 250 meters long and 40 meters underground, these limestone caves have religious links attached to them. At the end of the caves, you will find a magnificent structure in the shape of a Shivling. The walls of the cave are hollow.

When struck, the walls reverberate soothing and acoustic musical sounds. This will surely leave you awe-struck.

Limestone Caves

The park has vast limestone deposits. Some of it is in the form of caves and where some of them are in the form of caves and the rest in the form of beds or layers one over the other. These deposits are present between the ground and the soil. The underground deposits create the caves.

The limestone caves are a significant tourist attraction and are spectacular to look at. Some of the main ones are Kailash Cave, Devgiri Cave, Dandak Cave, and Kotumsar Cave. Interestingly, these structures take millions of years to form. There are still some caves in the park that do not have an opening and remain undiscovered.

Safari in Kanger Ghati National Park

Timings: Tourists can enjoy 3-4-hour Gypsy safaris in the morning (6 to 11 am) and afternoon (3 to 6 pm). To create employment opportunities among tribal communities, the forest department has assisted them with loans to buy safari vehicles so that they can take tourists on trips through the forest. Book safaris at the main gate.