Located at a distance of 60 km from the capital city of Raipur is a beautiful religious town by the name of Champaran (Champaranya), which was also known as Champajhar in the past eras. This place is religiously influential and a lot of pilgrims from all over the country visit Champaran throughout the year. Leaving the temples aside, there are other tourist places to visit in Champaran like the Mahakoshal Art Gallery, Rajiv Gandhi Smriti Van and many other places that make it worth going to this lovely village. Champaran lies in the district of Raipur and is close to the capital city, making it easy for anyone visiting Raipur come down here as well. Not sure which places to visit? Below is a list of different attractions in and close to Champaran for your ease.

The temple of Saint Vallabhacharya is divided into two parts; the Prakatya Baithakhji Mandir and Mool Prakatya, both of which are dedicated to Shri Vallabhacharya, the founder of Pushti Bhakti Marg. This is the temple where prayers are offered and ‘seva’ is done. The temple has several silver doors with designs on them and vibrant colours inside the temple as well, with a rich history narrating how Shri Vallabh was born, where he was brought up and how he became instrumental in bringing the form of Lord Shrinathji out of the Govardhan Hill in Vraj; the same Shrinathji that now resides in a town called Nathdwara in Rajasthan.

The shrine inside the temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and is adorned in silver and gold. Apart from regular seva that is performed here, there are many rituals and traditions that are held inside the temple for important festivals and Utsavs. This is a must see temple in the region.

Mool Prakatya is the other temple in Shree Mahaprabhuji Pragatya Sthal temple complex and is a highly revered one as well. Mool Prakatya temple is the second Baithakji and is locally also known as Chhati Baithak. The puja and ceremonies are in this temple are performed by Shri Raghunathlalji and Goswami Shri Vallabhlalji with loads of enthusiasm. This temple is decorated with a  lot of lights and colours during Baisakhi which is close to the birth date of Mahaprabhuji Vallabhacharya. There is a small stream that passes through both these temples and is believed to have flown down from the holy river of Yamuna; this is a revered spot and many pilgrims come here to touch the water and tryu to seek blessing for themselves and their loved ones.

Located a little further from Champaran in the district of Raipur is the famous temple called Rajiv Lochan Mandir, dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Even though there are several temples in the vicinity, this one is a must visit. With its architecture being sublime and beautiful surroundings, this is one of the most visited temples close to Champaran. There are exquisite carved idols of Goddess Durga, Narasimha and also depiction of holy rivers like Ganga and Yamuna. Inside the temple you can see other structures tht were made by true artists back in the day. There are idols of many other gods and goddesses as well for people to worship.

Established in 1976, the Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most visited attractions close to Champaran. The sanctuary spreads over a wide area of 245 sq km and houses several endangered species of animals, insects, birds as well as flowers, trees and plants. The sanctuary is named after two forest villages called Bar and Nawarapa, which are situated at the center of the sanctuary. The terrain is undulating with several tributaries of the Yamuna serving as the main source of water in the sanctuary for all the critters. You can spot several animals like Indian Bison, Sambhar, Neelgai, Wild Boar and many more along with several species of birds living closer to the water body.

The Champakeshwara temple is another famous temple in Champaran, located very close to Shree Mahaprabhuji Pragatya Sthal temple complex. Usually known as Vaishnava Peeth or Sudamapuri, this temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and Radha. This is a great temple to visit with your family and you can even stay at a Dharamshala if need be. This temple also has long coridoors that have images of Shri Vallabhachrya, depicting his life, throughout the temple premises. It is also very colorful and has pillars that have intricate vibrant designs on them. When you visit the main temples of Prakatya Baithakhji and Mool Prakatya Baithakji, this temple is in the same area and is a must visit as well.

The Doodhadhari Monastery and Temple was built by King Jaitsingh in the 17th century and the shrine inside the temple is dedicated to Lord Ram. This temple is situated in the banks of Maharajbandh River and there is also a monastery present in the vicinity; this monastery was named after Swami Balbhadra Das, who used to drink only milk as food. The architecture of the temple is very beautiful and consists of several murals on the pillars and walls that are noticed by pilgrims. The location where this temple and monastery stand, right beside the Yamuna, makes it a picturesque place where thousands flock every year.

After you are done seeing all the temples in the area, head over to Rajiv Gandhi Smriti Van, a garden in Raipur district, very close to Champaran. This is a great place for some rehabilitation and rejuvenation for people who are tired of everyday hustle and bustle. If you are visiting Champaran, visit this garden in the afternoons to simply lie on the grass and enjoy the peaceful garden. But the best time to go to this garden is early morning or evenings, when you can have a nice stroll around it with lovely fresh air and several birds chirping. The best part about this garden is that everything operating inside the garden runs on solar energy; this is a great place to take your children and show them how important conservation of power is.

Purkhauti Muktangan is an open air museum near Champaran. Purkhauti also means ‘related to ancestors’ and this museum is lived up to its name. Sprawling over an area of 20 acres, the Purkhauti Muktangan was made with the aim of preserving the culture and traditions of our ancestors and thus presenting it in the form of a museum. This museum is unique and shows the life and ways of living of people around Chhattisgarh. There are several carvings and idols of the tribes that live in the area as well. If you are interested in history and art, Purkhauti Muktangan is definitely a place you would want to visit.

One of the most unique as well as popular places to visit in Champaran is the Mahakoshal Art Gallery in Champaran. This is a famous place to go to and you can quickly recognize it by its unique octagonal shape. This art gallery exhibits some of the rarest artifacts from the region as well as a lot of tribal work. This is an enjoyable place for art lovers, who have value for ancient art and want to learn more about the region as well. The museum is very old, dating back to almost 150 years. Apart from the exhibits inside the museum, the structure itself is a work of art and attracts many visiting this beautiful town of Champaran.

Ram Mandir in Champaran is a beautiful temple located within a few kilometers of the town. This is a very peaceful temple with a beautiful structure. Inside the temple there are many decorative jhoomers and several wall paintings depicting the life of Lord Ram. The best time to visit this temple is during the evening aarti; the place is lit up and the priest performing the aarti recites several prayers and hymns, along with offerings. This temple is a very peaceful one and often people visit to offer their prayers as well as experience some solace. Visit Ram Mandir to have a different experience in Champaran.