Where is Chhattisgarh?
Chhattisgarh is in the central-east of India. It shares its borders with Uttar Pradesh in the north, Jharkhand in the northeast, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh to the west, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in the south, and Odisha in the east. Chhattisgarh was established as a new state on November 1, 2000, as the 26th state of the Union. It was bifurcated from the state of Madhya Pradesh. Raipur is the capital of Chhattisgarh.
What is the Geography of Chhattisgarh?
By area, Chhattisgarh is the ninth largest state of the country, and population-wise, it is on the 17th rank. The total population of Chhattisgarh is 25,545,198 (2011). The state spreads across a total area of 136,034 km2 (52,198 sq mi). The rural and urban areas of the state are 1,31,940.34 km² and 3,251.66 km², respectively. At present, the density of population in the state is 188.96 persons per sq km.
Chhattisgarh has both hilly and fertile plains. The northern and southern parts of the state are mostly hilly. However, the central part of the state is replete with fertile land. Gaurlata near Samri is the highest point of Chhattisgarh. The state has an abundant Deciduous forest. It is estimated that 44 per cent of the state is covered by deciduous forest.
‘Van bhainsa’ or wild Asian buffalo is the state animal while ‘Pahari myna’, or hill myna is the state bird. Meanwhile, Sal (Sarai) that generally grows in the Bastar division is the state tree.
The northern area of the state shares the great Indo Gangetic Plain. The Rihand River creates the Sarjuna basin. Therefore, its importance is immense in Sarjuana district. It has a catchment area of 145 sq km. The Satpura range of the eastern end and the Chota Nagpur Plateau of the western edge separates the Mahanadi River basin from the Indo Gangetic plain. The Mahanadi basin shapes the eastern part of Chhattisgarh. The shape of the state is similar to a seahorse.
The central part of Chhattisgarh which lies in the upper basin of the Mahanadi river and its tributaries is famous for bumper rice cultivation. Maikal Hills plays a vital role in the separation of the upper Mahanadi basin from the upper Narmada basin. The hill range is famous for its flora and fauna. The Mahanadi River flows via two states of the country-Chhattisgarh and Odisha. Hence it is considered as the main river of Chhattisgarh.
Chhattisgarh has several kinds of soils. Out of which two types are in abundance-the black clayey soils and the red-to-yellow soils. The latter soil is less fertile because the amount of sand is high in this soil. The state is known for the production of rice, maize, jowar, groundnut, gram, and so on. Chhattisgarh is famous for rice cultivation, and it is called the rice bowl of India.
The Koriya district of the state is known for its natural environments such as forest, mountains, rivers, and waterfalls as well. It was a princely state during British time. There is a dense forest in Koriya district, which is the home to several wildlife animals in the state. The main attraction for the tourists in Koriya is the Amrit Dhara Waterfall. This natural waterfall originates from Hasado River, and the waterfall has a height of 27 m.
What is the Climate of Chhattisgarh?
The climate of Chhattisgarh is tropical. However, it is not hot and humid, due to its closeness to the Tropic of Cancer. The state depends on monsoon for rains. The monsoon generally breaks in late June in Chhattisgarh, and it continues till October. The monsoon showers not only prove to be a boon for the farmers; instead, it also provides lots of respite to the people from the scorching heat. The state gets an average of 1,292 millimetres (50.9 in) of rain.
In the summer season, the temperature of Chhattisgarh can touch up to 49°C (113 °F). Winter in Chhattisgarh falls from November to February. But in the cold season, the temperature in Chhattisgarh varies from place to place. In some areas, the temperature stands at 25°C, while the mercury in some places dips to 0°C as well. The drastic change of temperature occurs in Chhattisgarh due to vast tropical diversity, and the temperature differs according to altitude and wind patterns.
What is the Economy of Chhattisgarh?
The economy of Chhattisgarh depends particularly on several sectors such as mining, agriculture, energy production, and manufacturing. The state is blessed with major deposits of coal, iron ore, dolomite, and several other types of minerals. The central lowland of Chhattisgarh is famous all over the country for its extensive rice production.
It is the leading state in India in mineral production with a 15.66 per cent share in 2017-18. Manufacturing activities have been focusing mainly on metals production.
Extensive reserves of bauxite, limestone, and quartzite are found in the state. Therefore, the mineral production of this state during 2018-19 was Rs 9,575 crore.
Chhattisgarh is known for its cement plants, steel plants, and rice mills. The Bhilai Steel Plant in Durg district of this state is significant in the country. Some of the districts of Chhattisgarh like Raipur, Durg, Bilaspur, and Korba are doing very well in the industrial expansion in the state.
What is the Transportation System of Chhattisgarh?
Chhattisgarh connects with the entire country by road, rail, and air. The roadways are the chief transport system in Chhattisgarh. Overall, eleven national highways pass from Chhattisgarh, and their total length is about 3,078.40 km.
Major roadways of this state is-130A New, 130B New, 130C New, 130D New, 149B New, 163A New, 343 New, 930New. Other national highways include NH 6, NH 16, NH 43, NH 12A, NH 78, NH 111, NH 200, NH 202, NH 216, NH 217, NH 221, NH30NH 930 New. Swami Vivekananda International Airport in Raipur is the major airport of the state.
What are the Popular Tourist Attractions in Chhattisgarh?
There are several tourist spots in Chhattisgarh such as Danteshwari Temple Shri Rajiv Lochan Mandir, Chitrakote Waterfalls, Rajeev Smriti Van, Mahakoshal Art Gallery and so on. Apart from these, there are several other places which are worth visiting.
