Chhattisgarh Jungle Trek: A Photo Story

Jungle treks are rare. And here’s a glimpse of one such trek with you. It’s the Chhattisgarh Jungle trek. 

“The forests in these regions are untouched and dreamy. I’m not surprised that Rudyard Kipling was inspired by these forests while writing The Jungle Book. They absolutely live up to our imagination of The Jungle Book!” says Arjun Majumdar, the founder of Indiahikes. 

Frankly, these forests are out of bounds for the public. You require special permissions from the forest department to get in. Indiahikes has a special arrangement with the forest department to trek through these forests. As trekkers, it’s a rare privilege to see and feel these near-inaccessible forest reserves.

This photo story gives you a day-wise glimpse of this rare jungle trek.

The Dense Sal Forest

Himalayan treks usually follow a pattern. You start by trekking through pine, oak, rhododendron forest, pop out of the tree line into the meadows and then trek to a high point in the alpine zone. 

But things are totally different on the Chhattisgarh Jungle trek. 

You trek through dense Sal forest. “The forest is alive with wildlife. You always have this uncanny feeling that you are being watched. There is an invisible omnipresence of wild animals around you. Sometimes it sends chills down your spine,” shares Senior Trek Leader Nitesh Kumar, who was instrumental in designing the current  route of the Chhattisgarh Jungle Trek.

Experiencing Ancient Caves in the Jungle

“Entering the cave was a different experience. It’s dark. And the walls of the cave have been uniquely patterned by years of erosion,” shares Nitesh.

The Thrill of Finding Pug Marks

You'll find many fresh pug marks of wild animals on the Chhattisgarh Jungle trail. "These pug marks can be as fresh as a 10-30 minutes ago. And it gives you chills thinking that merely a few minutes prior, a wild animal crossed this path," Nitesh says while sharing his experience of trekking in the jungle.

These fresh pug marks always remind you about the presence of the wild animals. It's like you are always being watched.

Staying in a tribal village. Camping by the shores of a lake and river

The camping experience of Chhattisgarh Jungle trek is also unique. On the first night you stay in a homestay at a tribal village called Turripani. This experience takes you close to the lives of villagers who stay so deep into the forest. You also get to savour some local delicacies like litti chokha. You'll notice how intimately their life is connected to the forest cycles.

After the first night, you shift to staying in tents. What's absolutely a delight is the fact that both the camps from now are stationed by a water body. The first campsite -- Tadiyabaan is by the Tadiya lake. The second campsite, Pandupara is on the banks of the Gopat river.

The Enjoyable River Walk

On no other trek do you get this unique experience. "The Gopat river is very gentle, very unlike the roaring, gushing rivers in the Himalayas. This river lazily snakes through the forest. And the water merely comes up to the ankles," Nitesh says while describing the Gopat river.

Climbing to the Highest Point

The trail within the jungle of Chhattisgarh may seem like it's flat. But it's not so. There are good ascends and descends on this trek. You climb to the highest altitude of 2,820 ft on this trek.

Trekking deep into the jungles of Chhattisgarh is a unique experience. Very different from a Himalayan trek. Do this trek to experience life in jungles in the heart of India. It's a rare experience, not accessible to all. And something that can be savoured only while on a multi-day trek in this region.

To know more about the best time to do this trek, watch this video.