New Groups Opened to our latest Ranthan Kharak trek in Kumaon
New Groups Opened to our latest Ranthan Kharak trek in Kumaon

Difficulty

Moderate | Level 2

Duration

4 Days

Highest Altitude

2,820 ft

Age

8 to 62 years

Duration

4 Days

Age

8 to 62 years

Difficulty

Moderate | Level 2

Highest Altitude

2,820 ft

Chhattisgarh Jungle Trek

The Jungle Book Trek

It is hard for the jungles of Chhattisgarh to not set your imagination ablaze. The setting is such that you are constantly transported to the mysterious world of Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book. Lying in the heart of the Guru Ghasidas National Park, this trek winds through deep forests and a cave goes alongside a river and has an air of omnipresence of wildlife.

Now, not many have heard of Guru Ghasidas National Park. Yet, at 1,440 sq km it is larger than the Ranthambore National Park and Kanha Tiger reserve put together. Or bigger than Bandipur and Mudumalai National Park put together, which makes this trek inside a large and relatively unexplored forest a thrilling experience.

What makes this trek even more special is that you need the Forest Department to help you get inside a National Park. These are reserved areas and access to the common man is prohibited. So with the help of the Forest Department, we get to explore a real, wild jungle untouched by safari tourism. It is not often you get to experience the jungles of our country like this.

The trek is meant for those who want to experience trekking through the wilderness.  If jungles and wildlife are fascinating to you, then this is the trek you must do.

A word of caution: While the trek is by no means difficult, it is not easy on the legs either. There are long walks every day - about 10 km on largely forested terrain. Fitness is critical.

Chhattisgarh Jungle Trek Videos

Watch these videos to plan and prepare for your trek.

Quick Itinerary

A route map of the Chhattisgarh Jungle Trek

Day 1

Reach Ramgarh Post and Trek to Turripani

Drive Distance: 70 km | Drive Duration: 2 hours

Trek Distance: 10.50 km | Trek Duration: 5 hours

Pick up for trekkers is at 5:30 AM from Baikunthpur Road Railway Station. Take the overnight train from Raipur the previous day to reach the pick-up point on time. The cost of the cab is Rs 1,800 per vehicle (5-6 seater) from Baikunthpur Road Station to Ramgarh. The contact number of your driver & details will be shared a day or two before your departure.

From Ramgarh, trek through the beautiful Sal forests of Guru Ghasidas National Park. Many surprises await on the way.

Day 2

Trek from Turripani to Tadiyabaan

Trek Distance: 7 km | Trek Duration: 4 hours

Moderate. Gently rolling terrain through mixed forests before reaching the beautiful Tadiyabaan lake, where you will camp for the night.

Day 3

Trek from Tadiyabaan to Pandupara

Trek Distance: 10 km | Trek Duration: 6 hours

Moderate - Difficult. The most tiring and the most rewarding day of the trek. There is a good amount of elevation through dense forests on this day. Camp right on the river bed after a long day's trek at Pandupara.

Day 4

Trek from Pandupara to Singhor Roadhead. Drive to Bainkunthpur Road Railway Station

Trek Distance: 4.2 km | Trek Duration: 4 hours

Drive Distance: 90 km | Drive Duration: 2 hours

Easy. Mellow walk on the river where water flows ankle-high, all the way to the roadhead.

The last day cab will cost 2,200/- per vehicle (5-6 seater) from Singhor road head to Baikunthpur town and then to the railway station.

Please note: The distance between campsites may vary by 100 meters depending the weather conditions and the route you take. The altitude may also vary by 100 feet for similar reasons.

IMPORTANT POINTS

Documents required: It is mandatory for trekkers to carry a photocopy of their Aadhar card and your passport-size photo for entry at forest check posts on the trek, along with your medical certificate and disclaimer.

Stay facility: On the trek, you will be staying 3 in a tent

A route map of the Chhattisgarh Jungle Trek

PRO-TIPS

Onward Travel

Take the Durg-Ambikapur Express train from Raipur Junction to Baikunthpur Road at 9:30 PM on Day 0 of your trek. This ensures you will reach Baikunthpur Road before 5:00 AM on Day 1, in time for your pick up. Please note there are no other trains that reach Baikunthpur Road. In case you miss this train, you will have to arrange a taxi from Raipur and take a road journey overnight.

Return Travel

While returning, you will reach Baikunthpur Road by evening on Day 4. Take the Durg-Ambikapur Express that leaves at 11:50 PM from Baikunthpur Road to Raipur. Plan your travel out of Raipur any time after 10:00 AM on Day 5 of the trek.

Day 1

Reach Ramgarh Post and Trek to Turripani

Drive Distance: 70 km | Drive Duration: 2 hours

Trek Distance: 10.50 km | Trek Duration: 5 hours

Pick up for trekkers is at 5:30 AM from Baikunthpur Road Railway Station. Take the overnight train from Raipur the previous day to reach the pick-up point on time. The cost of the cab is Rs 1,800 per vehicle (5-6 seater) from Baikunthpur Road Station to Ramgarh. The contact number of your driver & details will be shared a day or two before your departure.

From Ramgarh, trek through the beautiful Sal forests of Guru Ghasidas National Park. Many surprises await on the way.

Day 2

Trek from Turripani to Tadiyabaan

Trek Distance: 7 km | Trek Duration: 4 hours

Moderate. Gently rolling terrain through mixed forests before reaching the beautiful Tadiyabaan lake, where you will camp for the night.

Day 3

Trek from Tadiyabaan to Pandupara

Trek Distance: 10 km | Trek Duration: 6 hours

Moderate - Difficult. The most tiring and the most rewarding day of the trek. There is a good amount of elevation through dense forests on this day. Camp right on the river bed after a long day's trek at Pandupara.

Day 4

Trek from Pandupara to Singhor Roadhead. Drive to Bainkunthpur Road Railway Station

Trek Distance: 4.2 km | Trek Duration: 4 hours

Drive Distance: 90 km | Drive Duration: 2 hours

Easy. Mellow walk on the river where water flows ankle-high, all the way to the roadhead.

The last day cab will cost 2,200/- per vehicle (5-6 seater) from Singhor road head to Baikunthpur town and then to the railway station.

Please note: The distance between campsites may vary by 100 meters depending the weather conditions and the route you take. The altitude may also vary by 100 feet for similar reasons.

IMPORTANT POINTS

➤Documents required: It is mandatory for trekkers to carry a photocopy of their Aadhar card and your passport-size photo for entry at forest check posts on the trek, along with your medical certificate and disclaimer.

➤Stay facility: On the trek, you will be staying 3 in a tent

PRO-TIPS

Onward Travel

Take the Durg-Ambikapur Express train from Raipur Junction to Baikunthpur Road at 9:30 PM on Day 0 of your trek. This ensures you will reach Baikunthpur Road before 5:00 AM on Day 1, in time for your pick up. Please note there are no other trains that reach Baikunthpur Road. In case you miss this train, you will have to arrange a taxi from Raipur and take a road journey overnight.

Return Travel

While returning, you will reach Baikunthpur Road by evening on Day 4. Take the Durg-Ambikapur Express that leaves at 11:50 PM from Baikunthpur Road to Raipur. Plan your travel out of Raipur any time after 10:00 AM on Day 5 of the trek.

The Variety on the Chhattisgarh Jungle Trek

Trekking through the beautiful Sal and Teak forests. Picture by Nitesh Kumar

A bliss of walking along the Gopath River. Picture by Nitesh Kumar

The surprise of the red Bhagjhar plateau. Picture by Nitesh Kumar

Sandhya UC, Co-Founder, COO

Sandhya is a founding partner at Indiahikes. Over the past ten years, she has explored and put on the map a few of the greatest Himalayan treks in India, including Kashmir Great Lakes and Kedarkantha. She is a TedX Speaker and has been awarded the "Women of Worth" Award by Outlook Business in 2017. She believes in sustainable living just as she believes in sustainable trekking.

Here’s Sandhya talking about the highlights of the trek she herself explored.

What I Like About the Chhattisgarh Jungle Trek

What I Like About the Chhattisgarh Jungle Trek

Sandhya UC, Co-Founder, COO

Sandhya is a founding partner at Indiahikes. Over the past ten years, she has explored and put on the map a few of the greatest Himalayan treks in India, including Kashmir Great Lakes and Kedarkantha. She is a TedX Speaker and has been awarded the "Women of Worth" Award by Outlook Business in 2017. She believes in sustainable living just as she believes in sustainable trekking. Here’s Sandhya talking about the highlights of the trek she herself explored.

1. The varying terrain in the jungle

If you are expecting trekking through the forests of Chhattisgarh to be similar every day, you would be wrong. Every day is a new trek.

Sometimes the forests take you to the top of a hill where you get a bird’s eye view of the jungle. Sometimes you are inside a huge cave in the middle of the forest. Sometimes it’s a flat trail. Sometimes you are trekking by the river. Sometimes you are wading through these rivers and streams. Sometimes you camp by the beach of the river.

The variety in the trail and forests will certainly keep you glued. The forests are never too dense to make you feel claustrophobic, yet when you walk under them, you never want the forest to end.

The Pleasing Jungle of Guru Ghasidas. Picture by Nitesh kumar.

2. The presence of wildlife

As Rudyard Kipling put it so eloquently in his book, “The air was full of night noises that, taken together, make one big silence.” All through the trek, you feel the omnipresence of wildlife.

Very often you walk by the footprints or traces left behind by the wild inhabitants of the jungle. You may even be lucky to get a glimpse of the elusive creatures. You also camp deep inside this wilderness. And when you wake up, it is these sounds of the jungle you will hear.

Often you spot these footprints if you are observant. Here is the footprint of a Hyena. Picture by Nitesh Kumar

3. The rural Chhattisgarh

We consider getting to see Chhattisgarh -- a place not often explored or talked about --- a big highlight. Somehow the idea of going to see this state is not a part of our everyday conversation.

This is a trek that will get you in contact with indigenous culture. You see tribal settlements in the middle of the forests. They have lived, largely isolated from the outside world. So far they haven’t seen trekkers or tourists before. Expect a lot of curiosity from them — especially the children.

The daily life in the rural parts of our country. Picture by Nitesh Kumar

Chhattisgarh Jungle trek is a pot pourri of experiences. Like waking up by the Tadiya lake in the middle of a dense jungle.

Picture by: Nitesh Kumar

Morning at Tadiyabaan Campsite

Know Your Trek

We have always wanted trekkers to be well-informed before they go on a trek. Knowledge is the difference between a safe trek and a dangerous one. It’s also the difference between a wholesome experience and a superficial experience.

Use this section to learn about the Chhattisgarh Jungle trek. It has in-depth information about each day of the trek, what to expect, and how you need to prepare for it. Many years of expertise have gone into this content. Trekkers find that extremely useful.

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PRO TIPS

Why I Believe Everyone Must Trek: A Note from the Founder

Trekking transforms lives. It has completely changed my life. When I see my colleagues at Indiahikes, all of them have been impacted greatly. The transformations have been profound and irreversible. 

I see it in our trekkers too. I have seen them change professions, careers or start a new life. I have seen them get in and out of relationships, and start new projects. These are life-changing experiences. 

I have seen children building resilience. I have seen families come together. When I see those above 55, I see them rediscover passion and a sense of purpose. These are not small gains.

In the mountains new professions, new economies and new businesses have opened up. Our staff no longer go to cities to earn their living. Their income has increased. Above all, they are happiest working in this world. Trekking has been truly transformative.  

Everyone must trek. It transforms lives far more than you imagine.

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