In ancient times, Chhattisgarh was the region known as Dakshin Koshal, which finds mention in both the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Over time it was ruled by a succession of Hindu dynasties, and they have left it a legacy of temples, ranging from modest to imposing.
Danteshwari Temple is temple dedicated to Goddess Danteshwari, and is one of the 52 Shakti Peethas, shrines of Shakti, the divine feminine, spread across India. The temple built in 14th century by the Chalukyas of the South, is situated in Dantewada, a town situated 80 km from Jagdalpur Tehsil. Dantewada is named after the Goddess Danteshwari, the presiding deity of the earlier Kakatiya rulers. Traditionally she is the Kuldevi (family Goddess) of Bastar state. According to legends the temple is at the spot where the tooth of Sati fell, during the episode when all the Shakti shrines were created in the Satya Yuga.
The idol of Danteshwari Mai is chiselled out of black stone. It is believed that this temple possesses many divine powers.
Bhoramdeo Temple is a very old Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located at a distance of 18 km from Kawardha town in Kabirdham district of Chhattisgarh. This temple, scenically situated amidst mountain ranges, was built in the period of 7th to 11th century AD. The temple was built by King Ramchandra of the Nag Dynasty and have a special attraction for lovers of history and archaeology. The Bhoramdeo Temple has a resemblance with the Khajuraho Temple, and that is why it is also called the Khajuraho of Chhattisgarh.
Jagannath Temple was originally established in I860. Recently, a much bigger temple has been constructed over the smaller original structure. Situated in the middle of the prosperous residential Gayatri Nagar, the temple attracts hundreds of devotees each day. The main festival here is the Rath Yatra.
Mahamaya Temple is dedicated to dual Goddess Lakshmi and Saraswati, located in Ratanpur and is one of the 52 Shakti Peethas, shrines of Shakti, the divine feminine, spread across India. Built in 12-13th century the temple is dedicated to the Goddess Mahamaya. It was built during the reign of Kalchuri King Ratnadev I, founder of Haihaiyavansi Kingdom having its capital at Ratanpur. Traditionally Mahamaya is the Kuldevi of Ratanpur state. Temple has been renovated by the architecture department. Mahamaya temple is situated at Ratanpur, 25 km from district headquarter Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. The Mahamaya temple is built in Nagara style of architecture.
Deorani Jethani Temples The ancient Deorani Jethani Temples in Bilaspur is one of those sites that promise to make your tour the most enjoyable one. Situated in Talagoan near Bilaspur, the temple town is renowned for its numerous holy places and diverse types of tourist attractions. Tourists who want to enjoy a visit to the best temples in Bilaspur must make it a point to add Talagaon in their travel itinerary. The town is located at a distance of 30 km from Bilaspur and is being frequented by thousands of devotees and visitors throughout the year .The major highlight of the temple is the statue of Rudra Shiva.
Ganga Maiya Temple is a holy place situated in Jhalmala, a place near Balod in Durg District. During the Hindu festival of Navaratri, this place is very crowded. Many worshippers of ‘Maa Durga’ come here to every year to celebrate the Navaratri. Navaratri is celebrated twice a year i.e. in the Hindu month of Chaitra and Kunwar.
Dudhadhari Math Temple Built in 1610, the Dudhadhari Math and Temple is probably Raipur’s oldest temple. It is dedicated to Lord Ram. The interior walls of the temple are painted in brilliant colours with scenes from the Ramayana. The name of the temple supposedly comes from a sage named Balabhadra Das, who lived in the temple and survived only on milk.
Bambleshwari Temple is at Dongargarh in Rajnandgaon district. It is on a hilltop of 1,600 feet. This temple is referred as Badi Bambleshwari. Another temple at ground level, the Chhotti Bambleshwari is situated about 1/2 km from the main temple complex. These temples are revered by lakhs of people of Chhattisgarh who flock around the shrine during the Navaratris of Kavar (during Dashera) and Chaitra (during Ram Navami). There is tradition of lighting Jyoti Kalash during Navaratris here. Dongar means mountains while Garh means fort. Legend goes that around 2,200 years ago, Raja Veersen, a local king, was childless and upon the suggestions of his royal priests performed puja to the gods. Within a year, the queen gave birth to a son whom they named Madansen. Raja Veersen considered this a blessing of Lord Shiva and Parvati and constructed a temple here.
Maa Pitambara (Bagalamukhi) Temple The recently built pious shrine dedicated to Hindu Goddess, ‘Bangamukhi’ called Maa Pitambara Temple is located in Amleshwar (Durg/Raipur) town of Chhattisgarh.Goddess Bagalamukhi is one of the ten mahavidyas of (Great Wisdom Goddesses) Hinduism. She is also known as Pitambara Maa in northern parts of India.
Hatkeshwar Mahadev Temple is known as a very highly valued shrine of the Hindus. Hatkeshwar Mahadev Temple is located 5 kms from Raipur on the banks of river Kharun,Chhattisgarh. The chief deity of the Hatkeshwar Mahadev Temple is Lord Shiva. The Hatkeshwar Mahadev Temple was built in 1402 by Hajiraj Naik during the rule of Brahmadeo Rai, son of Kalchuri King Ramachandra. Brahmadeo Rai’s monumental script in Sanskrit is still preserved at the Mahant Ghasidas Memorial Museum. This profusely carved 17th century temple is just outside the town and it enshrines Hatkeshwar Mahadev, the family deity of Nagar Brahmins, who were once a prominent community in Vadnagar.
Amarkantak is situated at a height of 3,500 ft. in the Maikal Mountains in Chhattisgarh. Amarkantak, is being considered and is the important pilgrimage tourist center for Hindus. Amarkantak is a veritable and auspicious paradise situated amongst the dense forests and hills in Chhattisgarh.
Rajivlochan Temple is by far the most revered temple in Rajim. It was probably built by Vilasatunga of Nala dynasty, who succeeded Mahashivagupta Balarjuna, the Somavamsi king of Koshala. M G Dikshit, the excavator of the site, is of the opinion that the temple was renovated and rebuilt a number of times. This temple has a sculpture of the Buddha in the bhumisparsha posture brought here in the past from an unspecified location. Interestingly, the locals worship this image as Raja Jagatpal.
Champaran, formerly known as Champajhar, is a village in the Raipur district of Chhattisgarh.The village is identified with Champaranya and therefore has religious significance as the birthplace of the Saint Vallabhacharya, the reformer and founder of the Vallabh sect. A temple has been constructed in his honour. Near this is a temple of Champakeshwara Mahadeva.
— Aniket Raja
(Input from Chhattisgarh Tourism)
