Tourist Places To Visit In Guru Ghasidas (Sanjay) National Park

Situated in the northern region of Koriya district in Chhattisgarh is the beautiful tiger reserve by the name of Guru Ghasidas National Park. This park shares its area with the state of Madhya Pradesh and is also known by the name of Sanjay National Park. The entire reserve is spread across 180.17 sq km and is one of the four tiger reserves in the country. The aim of national park is to preserve, help and maintain the species of tiger in the region along with other endangered animals, birds and plants. Other than the park itself, there are several tourist places to visit in Guru Ghasidas National Park; let’s have a look at the top most visited places in the vicinity.

Located on National Highway 43 is the Amritdhara Falls, which is quite a popular destination to go to. The waterfall is part of the Hasdeo River that runs through the district of Koriya. This waterfall is about 90 ft high and is quite close to the Nagpur Gram Panchayat in Maharashtra as well. Due to it being quite a heighted waterfall, people tend to enjoy here more. Due to the water falling from a great height, the fall creates a misty ambience, making it very attractive for people who visit. A fair is held around these falls every Mahashivratri and it is also said that there is a Shiv Mandir in the vicinity.

The Gaur Ghat Waterfall, also known as Gavar Ghat Waterfall my many is a lovely natural waterfall in Chhattisgarh state in Koriya District. The waterfall has a height of 50-60 ft and the water falls on several blunt rocks. The waterfall is surrounded by dense forests that are green and provide a great scenic view. The best time to visit these falls is during monsoons when the rains make the place look even more beautiful that what it is. During the rains, the water overflows, making it an even more fun time to visit. You can spend a day enjoying a nice picnic with your family or simply relax by the water body.

The Pondi Jagganath Temple in Koriya District of Chhattisgarh is a famous one for pilgrims and devotees of Lord Jagganath. The Utkal society in Khadgava Janpad Panchayat is the one that takes care of the temple and its premises and they are the ones who are responsible for all the happenings inside the temple. This temple is a replication of the Puri Jagganath Temple in Odisha and is beautifully constructed. The famous Rath festival is also followed here where little children and adults as well pull carts (raths) with idols of Lord Jagganath inside. This festival is celebrated with much enthusiasm in this temple and is enjoyed by all.

The Korea Palace in Koriya District has a lot of historical significance. This amazing treasure of the state and the district is a must see beauty and is close to the Korea Talaab. This palace is set up at a distance of 5 minutes from the center of town and is a must visit place for heritage lovers. When you visit, you can get a glimpse of how the kings and queens would live in the royal era during their rule. Since Koriya was a princely town of the British Empire, the architecture of the palace is done as per their style and is absolutely beautiful. This is a place worth going to, especially if you are more inclined towards history and architecture.

Located at a few kilometers from Guru Ghasidas National Park is a beautiful waterfall by the name of Akuri Nala. Situated in Koriya district, this waterfall is an attraction that most tourists do not miss; the place is so scenic has a lot of natural beauty and green landscapes. The entire area of the waterfall is surrounded by lush green forests and the place where the water is actually falling, has a lot of rocks that one can even sit on and enjoy the view. This is a great place to visit with your friends and family and a lovely place for rehabilitation.

The Marine Fossil Park near the forest area is a popular attraction for archeologists and people who have interest in the same. This is a unique place to visit located on a one kilometer stretch at the confluence of Hasia Nala and Hasdeo River. On this stretch, researchers have found fossils of marine animals, dating back to several years ago; these fossils were discovered by forest officials and later on scientists were sent to explore more. These fossils that were found are remains of sea creatures from the past, proving that there used to be a sea at this particular place, several years ago.

Sirouli Village in Koriya district of Chhattisgarh is a quaint and a peaceful village. Inside the nooks and crannies of this small village, you can find a very peaceful temple as well known as the Sirouli Temple. This temple houses a shrine of Lord Shiva that is well revered and also has a shiv ling that is worshipped by many when visited. The temple is quite simple and is red and yellow in colour. Outside the main temple, there are two tiny temples that have shrines of other gods and goddesses in Hindu culture.

The Siddh Baba Temple in Koriya district is close to Guru Ghasidas National Park and is a well known temple in the vicinity. This is a very unique temple with the structure being situated on top of a hill. One has to trek up to the temple in order to reach it; once you reach it, you can get the most beautiful views of the city below from there. Also, a small pond has been constructed in the temple premises in which a lot of people put holy flowers and consider the pond holy. The shrine inside is orange in color and is highly respected in this region of the state.

The Jhumka Dam is a beautiful location to go to; located at quite a distance from Guru Ghasidas National Park, this dam is a popular tourist attraction. The water coming from the Hasdeo River is used for various purposes by the district with one of them being the making of hydro electricity. The Jhumka Dam helps in this process and at the same time, it is a place where one can relax as well. On the other side of the dam, there is a space for people to relax and spend a rejuvenating day with your friends and family. This is the perfect location to sit back relax, fish, swim and do other water activities. This place is best visited during summers or even monsoons.

Shri Koteshwar Mahadev Temple is yet another famous temple to visit when you are on your trip to Guru Ghasidas National Par. Located in Koriya district itself, this Shiv Mandir is a unique one because of its characteristics that set it apart from the other temples. Inside the temple you will find a shiv ling that is believed to have emerged from the ground. This shiv ling is worshipped daily and is fed by milk. A wall like structure has been built around it and people come inside, go around the shiv ling, offer their prayers and then leave the temple. The architecture of the temple is pretty simple and is made of stone.