The district of Koriya in Chhattisgarh is a lovely place where natural resources are in abundance. The district is home to beautiful waterfalls, temples and Chirmiri, known as ‘heaven on earth.’ Chirmiri is a hill station situated in Koriya district and is perched on a higher altitude; this attribute of the place makes it even more exciting. There are a lot of places to visit in Chirmiri and around the area as well inside the district that are worth visiting. Whether it is visiting temples or sitting by a beautiful waterfall, there are several places to see when you visit this quaint hill station.

Developed by the Utkal Society of Koriya District is one of the most beautiful temples in the area; the Pondi Jagannath Temple. This temple was made keeping the Jagannath mandir of Odisha in mind. The temple complex is big with several small temples within; they are all made out of white marble and have a unique shine to them. The best time to visit is during the Rath festival that takes place during Septemberor sometimes even later. The pulling of the carts also known as raths with Lord Jagannath in it is the prime thing to do at this temple during this time.

Baigapara in Bilaspur District is a small village with a lot of green meadows and tall trees. The people living there are mostly from tribal communities and live life like the olden days. They have natural ways of cooking food, growing their own produce and living with each other in harmony and peace. The best way to know more about the region is to converse with the local people in area. Visiting Baigapara is a great way to observe the local lifestyle and appeals to people who have a knack for anthropology.

The Gaurghat Waterfall is situated next to Hasdeo River which is the prime water body in that area. This waterfall is quite heighted and stands at 60 ft on the Hasdeo River. The banks of this waterfall are perfect to have a picnic and spend a day just relaxing. The waterfall is also 5 km wide and looks beautiful in monsoons. When it rains, the beauty of the place goes up even further; a lot of people love visiting during this time because the waterfall is in its full bloom.

Situated at a height on a hill top is a quaint temple called Kalibadi Temple. Just a kilometer away from the train station, this temple is easy to get to. The main attraction here is the shrine of Goddess Kali who is another form of Maa Durga. A lot of people worship this god and are ardent devotees. Tourists coming from different cities in the country enjoy going to this temple, especially during festivals. This temple is well decorated and lit up during festivals like Diwali and Navratri.

The Maha Maya Temple is one of the most famous temples in Ratanpur which is a few kilometers away from Chirmiri and you can get there by bus or car. This temple has a shrine of Saraswati and Lakshmi in the same alter. These dual goddesses have many devotees all over the country who come to Ratanpur to visit. There is a huge Shiva idol on the entrance gate which is its trademark; every year during Shivratri, there are thousands of devotees who come to pray to the gods in the temple.

Located in the waters of River Banas, the Ramadha Waterfall is one of the tallest waterfalls in the region. The height of the waterfall is estimated to be around 100 ft- 200 ft which is quite high. People visit this place to experience the grandiosity of the place. The best time to visit Ramadha Waterfalls is during monsoons when the waterfall’s white cascade falling from a height looks even more beautiful. You can also visit during summers to beat the heat and take a swim inside the water.

Carved out inside a mountain is a remote temple called Gufa Mandir in Chirmiri. This is one of the top most places to go to as it is thrilling to go inside the cave first and into the temple, some people get claustrophobic and do go in. During monsoons, you can see water trickling down this cave which looks absolutely scenic. Inside the mandir you can see various rocks that have been given forms of gods and goddesses, which is pretty amazing.

Located on National Highway 43 is another lovely waterfall called Amrit Dhara Waterfall. This waterfall is also located on the Hasdeo River, making this water body so very beautiful. The best time to go to see this waterfall is during Amritdhara Mahotsav, a festival where there is entertainment. When the festival is over, the place goes back to its natural state, which is a great place to have a picnic and spend a day with family and friends.

The Kanthideval Temple in Chhattisgarh is in Ratanpur which is a hub of temples. The most famous temple in Ratanpur is the Maha Maya Temple which is quite renowned. In the same temple complex is the Kanthidevi Temple that was built in the 15th century. The temple was reconstructed and is now managed by the Archeological Survey of India. The temple is made of red sandstone and is shaped like an octagon. The walls of the temples are sculpted with images of gods and goddesses. It is a beautiful place to see within the Maha Maya Premises.

Located right inside the district of Koriya in Chhattisgarh is a small waterfall by the name of Akuri Nala. Standing at a distance of about 65 km from Baikunthpur, Akuri Nala is surrounded by all sides with medium and big stones with water flowing over them. This is a great place to visit at any time of the year; monsoons are great because the waterfall is in its full swing and visiting here in summers is great too because the weather is quite cool around the waterfall in this season as well and it is a grteat way to beat the heat.