Nature, tribal culture, handicrafts, homestays and eco-tourism are boosting local employment and economy.

A new chapter in tourism potential in Bastar

Raipur, September 2026/ Bastar in Chhattisgarh is now forging a new identity for itself. Once a region known for Naxalism and violence, this region is now emerging as a new tourist destination due to its natural beauty, rich tribal culture, arts, traditions, and hospitality. With the changing environment, new opportunities for tourism, eco-tourism, rural tourism, and local entrepreneurship are emerging in Bastar.

Bastar's greatest feature is its wonderful confluence of nature and culture. Destinations like Chitrakoot and Tirathgarh Falls, Kanger Valley National Park, Kutumsar and Kailash Caves, Maa Danteshwari Temple, Dalpat Sagar, and Bastar Palace offer tourists a unique experience of nature, adventure, spirituality, and history. Visitors here not only experience the sights but also connect with local life, traditional cuisine, handicrafts, folk dance, and music. This is why Bastar is being developed not just as a tourist destination, but as a unique region for experiential tourism. 

Connectivity is opening up new avenues for development

Improved connectivity is a key pillar for expanding tourism. Efforts to strengthen road, rail, and air connectivity in Bastar are providing new impetus to tourism potential. The "Bastar 2.0" blueprint, which proposes the construction of 228 new roads and 267 bridges, is a significant initiative to enhance connectivity to remote areas.

The Maa Danteshwari Airport in Jagdalpur plays a vital role in connecting Bastar with the rest of the country. Air connectivity is currently available to Raipur and Hyderabad. Projects like the Raoghat-Jagdalpur rail project hold the potential to further strengthen regional connectivity in the future. Improved connectivity will benefit more than just tourists. It can also provide markets for local products, better connectivity to rural areas, and new tourism-based employment opportunities for youth.

Homestays will bring the benefits of tourism to villages

Rural and tribal homestays have become a vital link in tourism development in Bastar. Through the Chhattisgarh Homestay Policy 2025-30, efforts are underway to provide tourists with experiences of rural life, tribal culture, local arts, handicrafts, and traditional cuisine through stays with local families.

The greatest advantage of homestays is that the economic benefits of tourism are passed directly to local families. Accommodation for tourists also creates income opportunities for other nearby families through meals, local guides, transportation, handicrafts, and cultural activities.

In Bastar, there is a provision for assistance of Rs 1 lakh per room for the construction of a new room and Rs 50,000 per room for the renovation of an existing room. This provision of assistance for a minimum of one to a maximum of nine rooms allows rural families to engage in tourism activities according to their capacity. Currently, proposals for grants have been sent to banks for 85 beneficiaries, and 27 homestays are already registered with the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board. 

Culture became the biggest strength of tourism

Bastar's tribal culture is one of its greatest specialties. Bell metal and metal crafts, wood and bamboo art, traditional jewelry, dance, music, and cuisine are a center of attraction for tourists from India and abroad. Events like Bastar Pandum are providing a wide platform for this cultural heritage. The 2026 Bastar Pandum featured 12 forms of tribal culture and saw the participation of approximately 55,000 tribal people. Held in the presence of President Smt. Draupadi Murmu, this event provided an opportunity to showcase Bastar's cultural identity at the national level.