How to find offbeat places

yatrayatra · Jan 17th, 2007, 12:43

Captain, this has to be a professional organization for it to work.

Darwish · Jun 30th, 2007, 19:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by hawaiiyogagrl

Great site.
Unfortunatley, I just tried to pull up stuff about Dist. Raipur in Chattisgarh (who would want to go there?) and the links don't work as the server is down. Bummer.
Hope it comes up again, but having seen the wiring there, and knowing the fickle nature of electricity, it may be awhile.

I'm here in Chattisgarh now and I must say it is quite ok. Raipur is even much better then cities in UP.

Now I'm in more remote area's and things are a bit more difficult. especially because of the non stop rain

Chattisgarh will be developed in future as it has all the resources.

uligaen · Jun 30th, 2007, 20:37

Ok, it is raining really a lot... but the temperatures are now absolutely great!

And yeah, I make some advertising for Chhattisgarh. I quote an old newspaper-article:
'Where in India would one find the biggest waterfall? Where in India would one find the densest forest after Amazon? Where in India would one find the deepest living cave in the world with oldest stalactite and stalagmite formations? Where would one find 22000 varities of rice grown in a single area, the oldest tribal community, the Goddess of Teeth, Asia's only university of music, oldest erotic sculptures, a Buddhist site four times larger than Nalanda...?' The answer is: in Chhattisgarh! Statement in a newspaper in 2004 of the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board Managing Director.

Unfortunatly I do not have time to explore it :-(

hawaiiyogagrl · Jun 30th, 2007, 22:23

What are you guys doing in Raipur?
I always feel like I am the only one going to Chhattisgarh.
I am headed there and further into the state in a few weeks. How is the power? Usually fickle in the rains, but you are posting...
Oh, and I would add to the above list- amazing temples

Jorge Reverter · Jun 30th, 2007, 23:19

Uligaen, Darwish,

Nothing more to say about Chhattisgarh???? I'll be there for a couple of weeks next October and I would appreciate first hand information even if I've got quiet a lot of info from internet. I'll stay three or four days in Raipur for Sirpur, Rajim and Champaram and then a week or ten days in Jagdalpur for the Dushera tribal festival and moving through Bastar District. Any other place "off the beaten tracks"?????

Jorge

uligaen · Jul 1st, 2007, 13:30

About the power situation: I can only comment about Raipur and here it is strangely now (we just had the strongest rains in 100 years...) better than it was 2 weeks ago! But still there is hardly a day without a power cut, though usually not for a long time. Worst till now was about 6h in one day. (If the Naxals blow up again some power towers then those places in the south which do have power access at all will be affected again...)

Jorge: As I mentioned I do not have time to explore so I do not have really first-hand information. I was lately a couple of days in Narayanpur (district capital of the newly formed Narayanpur district) visiting a few villages close by. It is surely an amazing place to see the tribal life (try the local liquor - very tasty...) and there is suppossed to be a good weekly market in Narayanpur itself, where you can watch the tribals coming to town to sell their goods (unfortunately, the Maoist told the tribal men not to go to the city, so only the women are allowed to go (maybe this changes till you go)).
You heard of Abhujmar? That is supposedly a really really secluded area, where the government is not present and the tribals don't wear cloths at all. None of my friends in Raipur went there. I think it would be really big task going there (and of course, no tourist facilites...).

I am not aware of any foreigner being killed, kidnapped or whatever by the Maoists till now. Especially in Bastar region (so Bastar district, Dantewada etc.) a lot of security personal are stationed. Still be careful, as there were attacks on regular busses as well and not only on police vehicles.

I let you know if I manage to get a few days off and to see a few things.

Jorge Reverter · Jul 1st, 2007, 15:48

Uligaen,

Many thanks for the information. I have already "tasted" quite a lot of tribal's liquors in Orissa especially made from Mahua and Sagu palm. I must say that I like it!!! Normally in all the tribal villages and in the weekly markets was the main thing to do ( to get drunk).

So, now i'll try the Bastar's liquors.

I have got information about 200 weekly markets in Bastar district, probably most of the "haats". Narayampur is more or less on my way from Raipur to Jagdalpur not far from Kondagaon. I'll try to pay a visit to the weekly market or at least to have a chai there.

Jorge

roopesh_kohad · Jul 1st, 2007, 19:01

Good to see lot of people are headed towards Chhatisgarh. I along with rangas (another IMer) and a couple more are headed to Bastar. We will be starting from Hyderabad on Fri, 13th July afternoon. We will be driving all over. Our itinerary is like this:

13th July: Hyderabad -> Bhadrachalam. Overnight at AP tourism Punnami.
14th July: Visit the temple in Bhadrachalam. Drive towards Jagdalpur. In between visit Tirathgarh falls. Drive all the way to Chitrakoot falls. Overnight in log huts facing the falls.
15th July: Wake up and spend morning around the falls. Then come back to Jagdalpur and visit the railway station (we are railfans as well!!), museum, temple and if possible tribal "haat" in the evening. Overnight in Jagdalpur.
16th July: Drive back all the way to Hyderabad via Bhopalpatnam. In between visit "Ramappa" temple near Warangal.

If anyone is around in Jagdalpur at that time, we can catch up. We are more worried about the weather than the PWG/police/salwa-judum. For last few days I have been reading about Chhatisgarh in some literature on net (http://www.cgnet.in) and got lot of insight into this region and their issues. "Abujmarh" has dubious distinction of only part of India which was not "surveyed" and there was no presence of government. Amazing!! Discussing Chhatisgarh in thread about "offbeat places" is most apt.

rangss · Jul 1st, 2007, 19:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by roopesh_kohad

Good to see lot of people are headed towards Chhatisgarh. I along with rangas (another IMer) and a couple more are headed to Bastar..

that should be rangss

hawaiiyogagrl · Jul 1st, 2007, 21:07

Thanks for the pictures!
Will be in Chattisgarh then too.. maybe my husband and I will IM you guys if we are close by.
Keep this thread going with your tales. Chattisgarh is my favorite place in India so far and I barely know it. I haven't been to the Bastar at all. I am usually further north. I'll post pictures this time too.

roopesh_kohad · Jul 12th, 2007, 20:12

We are leaving tomorrow afternoon for the trip as described earlier. Will post detailed report and pictures once we come back.

steven_ber · Jul 12th, 2007, 20:17

Sounds like a great trip.

Quote:

Drive to Chitrakoot falls

I hope you mean Chitrakote Falls, it would be one hell of a drive to Chitrakoot.

Enjoy the trip.

Jorge Reverter · Jul 12th, 2007, 21:25

Waiting the news and pics of your trip with great interest. I must go there (Jagdalpur) for Dusshera next October. All the best.

Jorge

hawaiiyogagrl · Jul 14th, 2007, 14:57

Aloha from Jagdalpur!Tirathgarh falls was the coolest part of our Bastar trip so far- also the weekly market.Also, everyone is so friendly and the food is great.
Will post pictures when we are home.
Weather is great- rain but totally pleasant, not too cold nor too hot. Power has been consistant in this part of Chhattisgarh, but last week when further north we lost power every night from 8 to 9 pm.

HareshLondon · Jul 31st, 2007, 04:06

Hello,

I am new to the forum.
I visited Punjab last year.
Did the usual, Amritsar, Jullundhar.
THe Golden Temple was great, however I did feel that the surrounding area was far too commercial and dirty.
I find the big cities in India really off putting.
As somebody who is developing photography as a hobby I think rural India is full of better opportunities.
Also its not as crowded or dirty.
I visited a small town in punjab, on the way to the mountains It was called Mahilpur.
I stayed in a large house, the owner lives abroad and I think his relation, a young guy who was crippled by polio rents out the odd room to travellers. The food was good and it was off the beaten track.

I find big city/town India repulsive,the first thing I did when I arrived in New Delhi at IG International was get on a bus to Punjab and HP ASAP.

THe house that I stayed in Mahilpur was big and spacious even though I only had one room.
The guy in the house arranged all the local taxis for me.
He even arranged visits to the local villages and temples.
I went to a nice Sikh temple, that I have actually located on Youtube, here the link:

YouTube - Gurdwara Shaheedan, Mahilpur, Punjab.

Also I visited some local Hindu shrines to local holy men.

Kangra and Dharamsala visits were good I went to a "Baba Balak Nath temple in Kangra.

I also went to Anandpur Sahib on the way to Shimla.
The local taxi drivers In Mahilpur were very good. Hoshiarpur district is renowned for its wooden handicrafts.

It was good to interact with people who were not in such a hurry as they are in the big cities.

Regards

Haresh

Jul 1st, 2007, 15:48	#37
Jorge Reverter Maha Guru Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Murcia - Spain Posts: 1,089	Uligaen, Many thanks for the information. I have already "tasted" quite a lot of tribal's liquors in Orissa especially made from Mahua and Sagu palm. I must say that I like it!!! Normally in all the tribal villages and in the weekly markets was the main thing to do ( to get drunk). So, now i'll try the Bastar's liquors. I have got information about 200 weekly markets in Bastar district, probably most of the "haats". Narayampur is more or less on my way from Raipur to Jagdalpur not far from Kondagaon. I'll try to pay a visit to the weekly market or at least to have a chai there. Jorge Attached Thumbnails

Jul 31st, 2007, 04:06	#45
HareshLondon Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: London, UK Posts: 10	Off the beaten track in Punjab Hello, I am new to the forum. I visited Punjab last year. Did the usual, Amritsar, Jullundhar. THe Golden Temple was great, however I did feel that the surrounding area was far too commercial and dirty. I find the big cities in India really off putting. As somebody who is developing photography as a hobby I think rural India is full of better opportunities. Also its not as crowded or dirty. I visited a small town in punjab, on the way to the mountains It was called Mahilpur. I stayed in a large house, the owner lives abroad and I think his relation, a young guy who was crippled by polio rents out the odd room to travellers. The food was good and it was off the beaten track. I find big city/town India repulsive,the first thing I did when I arrived in New Delhi at IG International was get on a bus to Punjab and HP ASAP. THe house that I stayed in Mahilpur was big and spacious even though I only had one room. The guy in the house arranged all the local taxis for me. He even arranged visits to the local villages and temples. I went to a nice Sikh temple, that I have actually located on Youtube, here the link: YouTube - Gurdwara Shaheedan, Mahilpur, Punjab. Also I visited some local Hindu shrines to local holy men. Kangra and Dharamsala visits were good I went to a "Baba Balak Nath temple in Kangra. I also went to Anandpur Sahib on the way to Shimla. The local taxi drivers In Mahilpur were very good. Hoshiarpur district is renowned for its wooden handicrafts. It was good to interact with people who were not in such a hurry as they are in the big cities. Regards Haresh Last edited by machadinha : Jul 31st, 2007 at 05:31. Reason: edited out duplications

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Jan 17th, 2007, 12:43	#31
yatrayatra Account Closed Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: india Posts: 118	Captain, this has to be a professional organization for it to work.

Jun 30th, 2007, 20:37	#33
uligaen Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Back home for now Posts: 29	Ok, it is raining really a lot... but the temperatures are now absolutely great! And yeah, I make some advertising for Chhattisgarh. I quote an old newspaper-article: 'Where in India would one find the biggest waterfall? Where in India would one find the densest forest after Amazon? Where in India would one find the deepest living cave in the world with oldest stalactite and stalagmite formations? Where would one find 22000 varities of rice grown in a single area, the oldest tribal community, the Goddess of Teeth, Asia's only university of music, oldest erotic sculptures, a Buddhist site four times larger than Nalanda...?' The answer is: in Chhattisgarh! Statement in a newspaper in 2004 of the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board Managing Director. Unfortunatly I do not have time to explore it :-(

Jun 30th, 2007, 22:23	#34
hawaiiyogagrl Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hawaii Posts: 232	What are you guys doing in Raipur? I always feel like I am the only one going to Chhattisgarh. I am headed there and further into the state in a few weeks. How is the power? Usually fickle in the rains, but you are posting... Oh, and I would add to the above list- amazing temples

Jun 30th, 2007, 23:19	#35
Jorge Reverter Maha Guru Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Murcia - Spain Posts: 1,089	Uligaen, Darwish, Nothing more to say about Chhattisgarh???? I'll be there for a couple of weeks next October and I would appreciate first hand information even if I've got quiet a lot of info from internet. I'll stay three or four days in Raipur for Sirpur, Rajim and Champaram and then a week or ten days in Jagdalpur for the Dushera tribal festival and moving through Bastar District. Any other place "off the beaten tracks"????? Jorge

Jul 1st, 2007, 13:30	#36
uligaen Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Back home for now Posts: 29	About the power situation: I can only comment about Raipur and here it is strangely now (we just had the strongest rains in 100 years...) better than it was 2 weeks ago! But still there is hardly a day without a power cut, though usually not for a long time. Worst till now was about 6h in one day. (If the Naxals blow up again some power towers then those places in the south which do have power access at all will be affected again...) Jorge: As I mentioned I do not have time to explore so I do not have really first-hand information. I was lately a couple of days in Narayanpur (district capital of the newly formed Narayanpur district) visiting a few villages close by. It is surely an amazing place to see the tribal life (try the local liquor - very tasty...) and there is suppossed to be a good weekly market in Narayanpur itself, where you can watch the tribals coming to town to sell their goods (unfortunately, the Maoist told the tribal men not to go to the city, so only the women are allowed to go (maybe this changes till you go)). You heard of Abhujmar? That is supposedly a really really secluded area, where the government is not present and the tribals don't wear cloths at all. None of my friends in Raipur went there. I think it would be really big task going there (and of course, no tourist facilites...). I am not aware of any foreigner being killed, kidnapped or whatever by the Maoists till now. Especially in Bastar region (so Bastar district, Dantewada etc.) a lot of security personal are stationed. Still be careful, as there were attacks on regular busses as well and not only on police vehicles. I let you know if I manage to get a few days off and to see a few things.

Jul 1st, 2007, 19:01	#38
roopesh_kohad Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Pune, Maharashtra Posts: 155	Good to see lot of people are headed towards Chhatisgarh. I along with rangas (another IMer) and a couple more are headed to Bastar. We will be starting from Hyderabad on Fri, 13th July afternoon. We will be driving all over. Our itinerary is like this: 13th July: Hyderabad -> Bhadrachalam. Overnight at AP tourism Punnami. 14th July: Visit the temple in Bhadrachalam. Drive towards Jagdalpur. In between visit Tirathgarh falls. Drive all the way to Chitrakoot falls. Overnight in log huts facing the falls. 15th July: Wake up and spend morning around the falls. Then come back to Jagdalpur and visit the railway station (we are railfans as well!!), museum, temple and if possible tribal "haat" in the evening. Overnight in Jagdalpur. 16th July: Drive back all the way to Hyderabad via Bhopalpatnam. In between visit "Ramappa" temple near Warangal. If anyone is around in Jagdalpur at that time, we can catch up. We are more worried about the weather than the PWG/police/salwa-judum. For last few days I have been reading about Chhatisgarh in some literature on net (http://www.cgnet.in) and got lot of insight into this region and their issues. "Abujmarh" has dubious distinction of only part of India which was not "surveyed" and there was no presence of government. Amazing!! Discussing Chhatisgarh in thread about "offbeat places" is most apt.

Jul 1st, 2007, 21:07	#40
hawaiiyogagrl Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hawaii Posts: 232	Thanks for the pictures! Will be in Chattisgarh then too.. maybe my husband and I will IM you guys if we are close by. Keep this thread going with your tales. Chattisgarh is my favorite place in India so far and I barely know it. I haven't been to the Bastar at all. I am usually further north. I'll post pictures this time too.

Jul 12th, 2007, 20:12	#41
roopesh_kohad Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Pune, Maharashtra Posts: 155	We are leaving tomorrow afternoon for the trip as described earlier. Will post detailed report and pictures once we come back.

Jul 12th, 2007, 21:25	#43
Jorge Reverter Maha Guru Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Murcia - Spain Posts: 1,089	Waiting the news and pics of your trip with great interest. I must go there (Jagdalpur) for Dusshera next October. All the best. Jorge

Jul 14th, 2007, 14:57	#44
hawaiiyogagrl Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hawaii Posts: 232	Aloha from Jagdalpur!Tirathgarh falls was the coolest part of our Bastar trip so far- also the weekly market.Also, everyone is so friendly and the food is great. Will post pictures when we are home. Weather is great- rain but totally pleasant, not too cold nor too hot. Power has been consistant in this part of Chhattisgarh, but last week when further north we lost power every night from 8 to 9 pm.

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