Another quick trip home. And I hardly spent any time at home. Travelled around in some parts of Chattisgarh. A must for all people bitten by the travel-bug. The holiday passed by in a whiz but left behind memories to be cherished for a long long time.
Highlights of my trip to Bastar-land
· Chitrakoot Waterfalls: The highest waterfalls in India (in terms of volume) Scary and fabulous, especially after the monsoons.
· Tirathgarh Waterfalls: The most beautiful waterfalls I have ever seen. It fell suddenly from a deceptively quiet pool down a cliff (black and layered rocks, like in a mica chip). Imagine a frothing white curtain on the slate-grey-black rocks. And then it fell again almost a hundred feet into a stream. The steam curved and got lost between the bends of a high gorge, green in the post-monsoon season. Breath taking and I am still lost for words.
· Kailash Caves: Situated on a hill (you have to climb more than half kilometre of steep steps) in the middle of one of the last surviving virgin forests in the country. A deceptively tiny entrance to the cave (we had to literally crawl inside) led to a huge hall. We kept climbing down; our mouths open, gaping in awe. The stalagmites and stalactites could win any sculpture competition in the world. But keep your oxygen masks ready. The walk back to the entrance made us breathless for reasons other than the beauty of the place. Not suitable for people with claustrophobia, vertigo and arachnophobia (huge spiders all around).
· A village Haat: Colourful and so very beautiful. If you are a non-vegetarian you must try the ant chutney (Yes, the tribals actually eat ants. And no, I managed to resist the temptation to try it. I didn’t quite fancy being bitten by red ants crawling inside my mouth)
· A wooden swing: In the middle of the village with beautiful traditional carvings on the old worn-out wooden swing pillars. And spikes (three-inch thick iron spikes) on the seat of the swing. The story: During the festival of the Danteshwari Goddess, a young girl of the tribe (probably an untouched virgin) is made to sit on the spikes and is swung till Goddess Danteshwari comes and rescues her. I don’t know how the story ends. Does she die? Or does the Goddess rescue her? What I do know is that this actually happens.
· The women and their jewellery: My oh my is all I can say. Dark-skinned, draped in half-saris, blouse-less showing off their beautiful backs. Adorned in silver. We tried to purchase some jewellery in the village haat but it was ridiculously expensive. The village women save and scrounge to be able to purchase even a simple bangle.
· Bastar art: Terracota, wood-work and wrought iron. Unbelievable stuff.
· The roads: It is difficult to believe that India has such good roads till you actually travel on them. A pleasant surprise.
· The countryside: The road passes through avenues of dark green shady trees. Trees that look almost pruned (Later we discovered why. The villagers/tribals keep cutting off branches for firewood and cattle-feed, which gives the trees the pruned look). Paddy fields on both sides of the road which stretch endlessly, like meadows in light green. And the meadows interspersed with black rocks precariously balancing like magic and high cliffs. Blue skies, light green meadows that stretch till the eyes can see, dark green trees and black perfectly shaped black rocks.
Highlights of my trip to Bastar-land
· Chitrakoot Waterfalls: The highest waterfalls in India (in terms of volume) Scary and fabulous, especially after the monsoons.
· Tirathgarh Waterfalls: The most beautiful waterfalls I have ever seen. It fell suddenly from a deceptively quiet pool down a cliff (black and layered rocks, like in a mica chip). Imagine a frothing white curtain on the slate-grey-black rocks. And then it fell again almost a hundred feet into a stream. The steam curved and got lost between the bends of a high gorge, green in the post-monsoon season. Breath taking and I am still lost for words.
· Kailash Caves: Situated on a hill (you have to climb more than half kilometre of steep steps) in the middle of one of the last surviving virgin forests in the country. A deceptively tiny entrance to the cave (we had to literally crawl inside) led to a huge hall. We kept climbing down; our mouths open, gaping in awe. The stalagmites and stalactites could win any sculpture competition in the world. But keep your oxygen masks ready. The walk back to the entrance made us breathless for reasons other than the beauty of the place. Not suitable for people with claustrophobia, vertigo and arachnophobia (huge spiders all around).
· A village Haat: Colourful and so very beautiful. If you are a non-vegetarian you must try the ant chutney (Yes, the tribals actually eat ants. And no, I managed to resist the temptation to try it. I didn’t quite fancy being bitten by red ants crawling inside my mouth)
· A wooden swing: In the middle of the village with beautiful traditional carvings on the old worn-out wooden swing pillars. And spikes (three-inch thick iron spikes) on the seat of the swing. The story: During the festival of the Danteshwari Goddess, a young girl of the tribe (probably an untouched virgin) is made to sit on the spikes and is swung till Goddess Danteshwari comes and rescues her. I don’t know how the story ends. Does she die? Or does the Goddess rescue her? What I do know is that this actually happens.
· The women and their jewellery: My oh my is all I can say. Dark-skinned, draped in half-saris, blouse-less showing off their beautiful backs. Adorned in silver. We tried to purchase some jewellery in the village haat but it was ridiculously expensive. The village women save and scrounge to be able to purchase even a simple bangle.
· Bastar art: Terracota, wood-work and wrought iron. Unbelievable stuff.
· The roads: It is difficult to believe that India has such good roads till you actually travel on them. A pleasant surprise.
· The countryside: The road passes through avenues of dark green shady trees. Trees that look almost pruned (Later we discovered why. The villagers/tribals keep cutting off branches for firewood and cattle-feed, which gives the trees the pruned look). Paddy fields on both sides of the road which stretch endlessly, like meadows in light green. And the meadows interspersed with black rocks precariously balancing like magic and high cliffs. Blue skies, light green meadows that stretch till the eyes can see, dark green trees and black perfectly shaped black rocks.
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