Dantewada is a town and a nagar panchayat in the Dantewada district in the state of Chhattisgarh, India.[1] It is the administrative headquarters of Dantewada District. The town is named after the goddess Danteshwari, the presiding deity of the Danteshwari Temple located in the town, 80 km from the Jagdalpur tehsil. The goddess is worshipped as an incarnation of Shakti and the temple is held to be one of the fifty-two sacred Shakti Peethas.
HOW TO REACH
By Air:-
Raipur airport is considered as the most convenient place from where one can discover Bastar. Travelers can take the air route which makes reaching Bastar convenient. Vishakhapatnam is another famous airport that one can opt to reach Bastar.
By Road:-
You can reach the town via road as Jagdalpur is well connected by roads which further connect the major cities and towns of Chhattisgarh with other nearby states. NH – 49 extended up to Vishakhapatnam in the east and Jagdalpur is also connected to Koraput and Jeypore in Orissa through NH – 49. The district head quarter of Bastar is situated at a distance of 300 km from Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh and 313 km north-west of Vishakhapatnam city. Bastar is just 77 km away from Dantewada, another beautiful place. There are good services of Buses and Cabs available.
By Train:-
Travelers wishing to travel to Bastar, Chhattisgarh via rail will have to get to Raipur. Otherwise, you can also use Jagdalpur, the district head quarters of Bastar where one can get some limited railway facilities as well.
WHAT TO SEE
Goddess Danteshwari Temple:-
Goddess Danteshwari Temple, an ancient temple, was constructed in the 14th century by the rulers of the Chalukya Dynasty. This temple is dedicated to Goddess Danteshwari. Representing the symbol of feminine divinity, this temple is believed to be a part of the 52 Shakti Peeths. As per legends, Goddess Parvati is believed to have burnt herself because of the insult of Lord Shiva by Her father. As a result, Lord Shiva performed the Taandav(dance) with Goddess Parvati’s body in his arms. During the Taandav, Lord Shiva destroyed the Yaga of Daksha. Lord Vishnu tried to cut the body of the Goddess, which got scattered to around 52 places. These 52 places have been termed as the Shakti Peeths.
Bailadila Mountains:-
Bailadila Mountains are known for having rich deposits of iron ore. Moreover, around 14 reserves have been identified in the mountains, out of which only 3 are in working condition. This place has been converted into an industrial site and has been segregated into two zones, namely the Bacheli and the Kirandul. These mountain ranges have various peaks resembling the hump of an ox and are thus, called the ‘Baila Dila’ in the local language. On the topmost peak of this mountain is located the Aakash Nagar. At Aakash Nagar, the iron ore mines are situated. Another peak of these mountains is the Kailash Nagar, which has deposits of Blue Dust, a blue coloured iron ore.
Bodhghat Sath Dhar:-
Bodhghat Sath Dhar is a waterfall which is formed by the combination of the seven segregated parts of the Indravati River. Surrounded by forests and mountains, this waterfall is around 6 km from Barsur. Due to its peaceful surroundings, the site has emerged as a beautiful picnic spot.
Barsur Village:-
Barsur Village is famous for having 147 temples and 147 ponds, and is located on the shores of the Indravati River. It is believed that this village was ruled by the Gangawanshi rulers during 840 AD. Along with the ruins of various temples, the Battisa Temple, Mama-Bhanjaa Temple and the Chandraditya Temple can also be visited. The Chandraditya Temple is constructed with sandstone, which is considered a sedimentary rock. Besides, a huge statue of Lord Ganesha and an ancient pond can also be seen.
Mama-Bhanjaa Temple:-
Mama-Bhanjaa Temple houses the idols of Lord Ganesha and Lord Narasimha, who is among the 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Reflecting the Dravidian style of architecture, this temple possesses a height of around 50 ft. Moreover, it has several walls carved with different sculptures and a dome. Tourists can also visit a Shiva Temple and a Ganesha Temple, which are located in proximity of the Mama-Bhanjaa Temple.