Marked by a lot of natural beauty, Madku Dweep is an island located on Shivnath River in Chhattisgarh. Surrounded by calm waters and a variety of flora, this island is a perfect day time getaway for families. In this island you can explore ruins from the past centuries along with excavation sites and temples that have been found from underneath the earth. There are several tourist places to visit in Madku Dweep and outside in the vicinity too and besides how its topography is, it is a highly significant historical place that holds a lot of value and gives answers to a lot of questions about people living in this region. Let us look at some of the places you can visit in and out of the island.

Most of the temples in Madku Dweep have been reconstructed as the ones that were excavated were almost dilapidated. Archeologists in the region together have reconstructed these temples; the finished product of these temples is a class apart and even if they were reconstructed, the charm of the ancient temple remains the same. One such revamped temple in Madku Dweep is the Shiva Temple; material that was excavated by archeologists over the years, gave architects a way to remake these temples. In the center of the temple, there is a Shiva Ling with an earthen pot on top of it, so that people can give milk to the Ling.

Hanuman Temple in Madku Dweep is yet another ancient temple; small in size and colored in light orange, this temple house a shrine of Lord Hanuman. There are two entrance s to the mandoir, one from the front and one from the back and both entrances have steps to get inside the temple. The shrine of Hanuman inside the temple is also orange in colour and the surroundings of it have been decorated with much enthusiasm. If you are an ardent devotee of Shri Hanuman, this is a must visit temple on the island.

The Holy Cross on Madku Dweep Island is a famous landmark; at this location, there is a huge cross that has been set up on a podium and is very significant for Christians. This is a place where a lot of Christians as well as people of other faith visit to offer their prayers to the almighty. This is not a church, but a place of cultural belief. The huge cross that has been erected here signifies the establishment of faiths like Christianity and is a place of prayer for a lot of people, especially the locals. Visit this place to know more about it.

Located in Bilaspur district in Chhattisgarh is the Kanan Pendari Zoo Park. You can reach this place via a bus or can use your own transportation. This zoo is unique and has several animals that can be seen. You can see a variety of birds as well as animals. There is also a reptile section that appeal to a lot of people. The zoo is decently sized and can accommodate quite a few people. The best time to visit the zoo is during winters when the temperature is good enough to see the animals.

The next famous temple in Madku Dweep is Harihara Temple, which has also been reconstructed. This is a small temple made of stone; the front part of it has a conical shape on top and the entrance is painted in orange. If you walk two steps inside this structure, you will see a Shiva Ling which you can go and worship. In front of the temple there is a small bell that you can ring right before entering the temple. From the ancient times, this temple has a lot of significance amongst locals as well as tourists.

The newly renovated Radha Krishna Temple has a lot of significance and is well revered by devotees of Krishna. The entrance of this temple has a flight of steps that you have to take before you can get to the main alter. Like the Harihara Temple, this temple has a conical structure on the top as well, but this temple has two rooms within the structure. The Radha Krishna Temple has been reconstructed using old material from the ruins found in the region. On the walls of this temple, you can see simple inscriptions that are interesting to decipher. Deep inside the temple you can see a shrine of Lord Krishna and Radha.

Bubble Island is an amusement park in Bilaspur Chhattisgarh and is one of the most popular places to visit in the district. This amusement park is one of the only ones in the region and has a great selection of rides and other fun things to do. This is the best place to go to in the summer as you have the chance to beat the heat by going to the water park inside the amusement park. There are several water slides that are exciting and thrilling at the same time. The park suits all age groups and does not charge a very high fee to get in.

Dindeshwari Temple is located in the Malhar region of Bilaspur District; it is an ancient temple and has a lot of history attached to it. The deity established in this temple is made of stone and is absolutely beautiful to witness. Dindeshwari Temple has been reconstructed and you can see traces of the old structure here and there. Right in front of the temple is a small pond where most locals do a holy wash early in the morning or evenings; some villagers also bathe and wash their clothes there. Coming to the temple, it has a very refreshing ambience which pleases and calms the mind.

Malhar in Bilaspur is famous for many pilgrimage spots in the region and has some of the famous temples in Bilaspur. One such famous temple is the Devrani Jethani Temple; basically these are two temples, situated at a distance of a few meters from each other. It is said that they were built for both the wives of kings in a certain era. The Jethani temple has pillars at the entrance that have intricate carvings of significant things in that era; the top panel of the pillar has figurines depicting stories from ancient times. Devrani temple has similar features but a few differences, there is a Ganesha idol right outside the temple which is worshipped by a lot of people. This is a beautiful temple to explore and feed the historian inside you.

Devoted to two goddesses Laxmi and Sarasvati, Mahamaya Temple in Ratan pur is one of the most popular and famous temples in the area. Located close to Madku Dweep, Mahamaya Devi Temple is one of the many Shakti Peeths in India and is a famous one. This is a very famous temple as both the goddesses are highly revered anywhere in India. The temple was built in the 12th century and also has a shrine for Lord Shiva and the gate to this temple is huge with a head of Lord Shiva at the entrance. Visit this temple to complete pilgrimage.

Chhattisgarh has something for everyone and has an abundance of natural resources and a few manmade things. The Kutaghat Dam is a beautiful and great place to go to for a day trip. Located at a few kilometers from Madku Dweep, this dam is the perfect place to enjoy a picnic with your family and friend; you can even take a swim in the water that flows from the dam. The best time to go to the dam is during summers when it’s really hot and during monsoons when the rain makes the dam look even more beautiful.