Shopping in Jagdalpur is a delightful experience. The tribes of the state are amazingly skilled in making a wide variety of handicrafts.

Such handicrafts have already earned worldwide acclaim and make wonderful showpiece, gift or utility item. So great is the attraction of these handicrafts, shopping in Jagdalpur.

Popular shopping items in Jagdalpur are: Woodcrafts and bamboo crafts, Bell metal items, Wrought iron items, Terracotta Stone-sculpting, Cotton fabrics. (more…)

By Air: The nearest airport is at Raipur, the state capital (140 km away).

By Train: Currently, trains do not come to Kanker.

By Road: As Kanker is on the national highway (43) it is well connected by road. Private buses as well as taxis are available.

The Kanker District is situated in the southern region of the state chhattisgarh. Small hilly cavities are seen throughout the area. Mainly five rivers flow through the district namely- doodh river, Mahanadi, Hatkul River, Sindur River and Turu River.

Previously Kanker was a part of old Bastar district. But in 1999 Kanker got it’s identity as an independent district. Now it is surrounded by four districts of chhattisgarh state, namely Bastar, Dhamtari, Durg and Rajnandgaon.

At present the Kanker district has 6 tehsils named Kanker, Charama, Narharpur, Bhanupratappur, Antagarh and Pakhanjoor and 7 blocks named Kanker, charama, bhanupratapur, Narharpurn Antagarh, Durgu kondal and Koyali beda.

The tribal society of Kanker is famous for making exotic handicrafts with a variety of designs and shapes. These handicrafts include woodcarvings, bell-metal items, terracotta items, bamboo items etc.

The Kanker District is situated in the southern region of the state chhattisgarh. Small hilly cavities are seen throughout the area. Mainly five rivers flow through the district namely- doodh river, Mahanadi, Hatkul River, Sindur River and Turu River

In tribes of Kanker and Baster There is an important festival celebrated called Madai. In Bastar Region the celebration of festival starts from December. On Poornima the Madai festival celebrates in respect of the goddess Kesharpal Kesharpalin Devi

Shivani Temple is situated in Kanker city. This temple is called Shivani Maa temple. According to a myth this Goddess is a combination of two Goddess name Kali and Durga. The vertically half part of goddess Kali and the remaining half part is of goddess Durga. This type of statue is only two in whole world. One is in Kolkata and another is in Kanker.

15 kilometers form Kanker; there is a small mountain. On this mountain there is a spot named Neele Gondi from where the Doodh River takes its shape. There is a place named as Malanjhkudum from where the river produces three waterfalls, the heights of these waterfalls are 10 meters. 15 meters and 9 meters correspondingly. The spot is very good for traveling. (more…)

Madai Festival: In tribes of Kanker and Baster There is a important festival celebrated called Madai. In Bastar Region the celebration of festival starts from december. On Poornima the Madai festival celebrates in respect of the goddess Kesharpal Kesharpalin Devi. In january the people of Kanker, Charama and Kurna celebrate the Madai festival. In the month of February the festival again goes to Bastar district and their the festival celebrated in the respect of Cheri-Chher-Kin.

In the ending of February the Madi festival goes to Antagarh, Narayanpur and Bhanupratappur and in the month of March it goes to Kondagaon, Keshkal and bhopalpattanam. This festival is a moving festival and moves throughout the Kanker, Bastar and Dantewada regions from December to March. The festival celebrated in the respect of local God and Goddess. This festival is celebrated in a big ground where thousand of peoples can go simultaneously. In starting tribes arranged a procession of local God or Goddess after that the worship is done and then the festival starts.

A lot of shops, Restaurant, crafts, dances and other cultural program can be seen in this festival. Outsider people come to that place and enjoy in the festival. Although the festival is of tribes but all the communities have faith, celebrate and enjoy the festival. In other festivals Mati-tihar, Gobar-boharani, Ramnavmi, Navakhani are important. Dusshera, Diwali, Holi are celebrated as usual like the other parts of India.

Hareli: Celebrated in the month of ‘Shravan’, Hareli is a symbol of agricultural prosperity. Farmers worship farm tools and cows on this occasion.

They place branches and leaves of ‘Bhelwa’ (a tree resembling cashew tree) in the fields and pray for good harvest. People also hang small Neem branches at the main entrance of houses on this occasion to prevent occurrence of seasonal diseases.

Pola: Pola follows Hareli. It is celebrated by worshipping bullocks. Children play with idols of Nandi bull (the vehicle of Lord Shiva) made of clay and fitted with clay wheels. A bull race is a major event of the festival.

Kanker is located at 20.27° N 81.49° E. It has an average elevation of 388 metres (1272 feet).

The Kanker’s economy is based on agriculture. This is the main work of tribes. Because the land is hilly and forested, trees must be cut and the land ploughed before the rainy season begins.

The land is planted with rice or other grains, in a agricultural practice called Marham or Dippa. After a year or two, the land is deserted and new land prepared for planting.

Rice is the main crop of area. However wheat, sugar cane, chana, Kodo, Moong, Tilli, bhutta is the also important crops along with many types of vegetables and fruits such as mangoes and bananas.

As of 2001 India census, Kanker had a population of 24,486. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Kanker has an average literacy rate of 77%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 83%, and female literacy is 71%. In Kanker, 12% of the population is under 23 years of age!

Gadiya Mountain: A natural form of a fort, this mountain has a tank that never dries. The tank is named Sonai-Rupai after the daughters of the Kandra king, Dharma Dev, who established his capital on the mountain. To the south of the tank is a cave, Churi Pagar, which provided safe refuge to the King, his family and 500 people in case of attack. Towards the southeast part of the mountain is a 50 meter long cave, Jogi Cave, where monks used to meditate. A small pond in this cave flows over the rocks like a waterfall. The Doodh River flows at the bottom of the mountain. Thousands of devotees celebrate Mahashivratri by climbing this mountain.

Malanjhkudum Waterfalls: Towards South direction and 15 kilometers away form Kanker, there is a small mountain. On this mountain there is a spot named Neele Gondi from where the Doodh River takes its shape. After crossing the 10 kilometers length of mountaineer path there is a place named as Malanjhkudum from where the river produces three water falls, the heights of these 3 falls, 10, 15 and 9 meters in height, 15 km from Kanker, on the Doodh River, make for a superb picnic spot. There is a road to the falls. The waves of this water fall are very attractive and challenging. This spot is very good for traveling. This water fall is very popular in students, teachers, leaders and artists and officers. This is an ideal place for picnic. The road is available to reach this spot. (more…)

The History of kanker is started from Stone era. In starting stage here human was like abysmal and their behave was like animals. With reference of Ramayana and Mahabharat there was a dense forest area named Dandakaranya and the Kanker state belonged to Dandakaranya.

According to myths the Kanker was the land of monks. A lot of Rishis (monks) named Kank, Lomesh, Shringi, Angira were lived here. In sixth century before Christ the region was affected by Buddhism. The ancient history of Kanker tells that it remained always independent state.

In 106 AD the Kanker state was under the Satvahan dynasty and the king was Satkarni, This fact is also descripted by Chinese visitor Whensaung.

After Satkarni his disasters named Pulumavi, Shivshri and Shivskand became the king. After Satvahans the state was under control of Nags, Vakataks and Gupt dynasties time to time. (more…)