Best time to visit : October to February
Kawardha may be developing into a city, but its charisma of a quaint historical town refuses to give up its character. Historical monuments and archaeological heritage make it one of the best-kept secrets of Chhattisgarh, one of the East India states. Abundance of forests around the city brings in wildlife lovers in huge numbers. Worth mentioning is the tribal culture of the region that too contributes towards the growing interest of tourists. Remember that the city and its surrounding areas can be best explored only with complete tourist information or with an experienced city guide.
Facts
Kawardha serves as the headquarters of Kawardha District (better known as Kabirdham District) and boasts of some well-preserved monuments in its close vicinity. Because of the erotic sculptures of these monuments resembling those found at the world-famous Khajuraho Temples of Madhya Pradesh, the place is popular as the ‘Khajuraho of Chhattisgarh’. Located near the Maikal Range of Satpura Mountains, the town enjoys moderate to extreme heat during summers, while winters are pleasant for sightseeing in Kawardha. Exploring the living style of the tribes like Gond and Baiga can be extremely fascinating for those experiencing a mundane city life.
When in Kawardha, one can relish on tribal as well as non-tribal cuisines of Chhattisgarh. The use of jungle fruits like rakhia and tangy spices results in cuisines that you might have never tried earlier. Sweets like jalebi and petha are the great add-ons. Some heritage hotels in the city have in-house restaurants that serve North and South Indian dishes. Maharaja and Annapurna are the two preferred restaurants here.
Shopping in Kawardha introduces the tourists to the ethnic handicrafts prepared by the local tribal as well as non-tribal residents. These include home decors as well as traditional ornaments in some eye-pleasing designs. Shops selling these items can be located in all parts of the city.
Nearby Places:
- Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary (about 105 km.): Popular for the presence of Bengal tigers, leopards, wild bison and many other wild lives.
- Bilaspur (about 110 km.): Kanan Pendari Zoo, Tala Shiva Temple, Ratanpur Mahamaya Temple, Bubble Island Amusement Park and many other attractions are famous here.
- Raipur (about 115 km.): It is the state capital and home to some popular museums, art galleries, parks and amusement parks.
- Kanha National Park (about 130 km.): Kawardha shares a close boundary with Kanha, an internationally-famed wildlife reserve popular for tigers and many other wild animals and birds, along with attractions like museums and sunset points.
While planning excursions from Kawardha, one may come across many other tourist places like Durg, Bhilai, Amarkantak, Sirpur and Rajim, each only few miles away.