Raigarh

Raigarh caters to a range of travel interests: the district brings striking landscape contrasts together with nature watching, music and traditional crafts. When planning your trip, consider whether you would like to focus on the wooded high plateaus and Gomarda Wildlife Sanctuary, the dance and music tradition, or silk and metalwork.

Landscape and Wildlife

The district’s topography changes significantly from north to south. In the north are the high, wooded plateaus of Pandrapat and Khuria. In the south, the landscapes extend to the treeless, dusty plains of Raigarh and Sarangarh. This contrast gives you a clear sense of the district’s varied scenery, without limiting your trip to just one type of natural landscape.

Near Sarangarh, Gomarda Wildlife Sanctuary is located in a hilly region. The sanctuary covers 275 square kilometres. Tourists visit to see wild buffalo moving in herds. If wildlife watching is important to your travel group, Gomarda offers a distinct nature-focused experience; its hilly surroundings and the size of the sanctuary are as much a part of the picture as the buffalo herds.

Dance, Music and Crafts

Raigarh is associated with classical music and the Kathak dance tradition known as the Raigarh Gharana. Another cultural highlight is the Chakradhar Samaroh: it is known for special music and dance performances and is held every year in Raigarh on the occasion of Ganesh Puja.

Silk production is another subject associated with the district. Tasar silk and Malburry silk are produced there. Kosa silk is distinct from these and is often used for traditional Indian saris because of its lustre, suppleness and softness. These qualities help explain why silk is interesting as a textile craft, and not just as a product name.