Chhattisgarh
| Chhattisgarh | |
 |
|
| Capital • Coordinates |
Raipur • 21.27° N 81.60° E |
| Largest city | Raipur |
| Population (2001) • Density |
20,795,956 ( 17th) • 108/km² |
| Area • Districts |
135,194 km² ( ?) • 16 |
| Time zone | IST ( UTC +5:30) |
| Establishment • Governor • Chief Minister • Legislature (seats) |
2000- 11-01 • SK. M. Seth ( list) • Raman Singh ( list) • Unicameral (90) |
| Official language(s) | Hindi, Chhattisgarhi |
| Website | www.chhattisgarh.nic.in |
| Abbreviation (ISO) | IN-CT |
 Seal of Chhattisgarh |
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Chhattisgarh (छत्तीसगढ़), a state in central India, formed when the sixteen southeastern districts of Madhya Pradesh gained statehood on November 1, 2000. Raipur serves as its capital.
It has borders on the northwest with Madhya Pradesh, on the west with Maharashtra, on the south with Andhra Pradesh, on the east with Orissa, on the northeast with Jharkhand and on the north with Uttar Pradesh.
The northern part of the state lies on the edge of the great Indo-Gangetic plain: the Rihand River, a tributary of the Ganges, drains this area. The eastern end of the Satpura Range and the western edge of the Chota Nagpur Plateau form an east-west belt of hills that divide the Mahanadi River basin from the Indo-Gangetic plain. The central part of the state lies in the fertile plain of the Mahanadi and its tributaries, with extensive rice cultivation. The southern part of the state lies on the Deccan plateau, in the watershed of the Godavari River and its tributary the Indravati. Forest covers roughly forty percent of the state.
The Chhattisgarhi language, part of the East-Central group of Indo-Aryan languages, predominates language in the region. The hill districts of the state serve as a home to the Gond peoples, who speak Dravidian languages.
Districts
Bastar, Bilaspur, Dantewada (South Bastar), Dhamtari, Durg, Janjgir-Champa, Jashpur, Kanker (North Bastar), Kawardha, Korba, Koriya (Korea), Mahasamund, Raigarh, Raipur, Rajnandgaon, and Surguja.
Tourism
Chhattisgarh, situated in the heart of India, is endowed with a rich cultural heritage and attractive natural diversity. The State is full of ancient monuments, rare wildlife, exquisitely carved temples, Buddhist sites, palaces, water falls, caves, rock paintings and hill plateaus. Most of these sites are untouched and unexplored and offer a unique and alternate experience to tourists compared to traditional destinations which have become overcrowded. Chhattisgarh offers the tourist a Destination with a Difference. For those who are tired of the crowds at major destinations, Bastar, with its unique cultural and ecological identity, will come as a breath of fresh air. The Green State of Chhattisgarh has 44% of its area under forests, and is one of the richest bio-diversity areas in the country.
Culture, Heritage and Ethno-Tourism Chhattisgarh has identified and is developing ethnic villages and private sector is encouraged for proper maintenance and professional site management of important heritage sites/monuments. -Bhoramdeo -Rajim -Sirpur -Tala -Malhar -Sheorinarayan -Ratanpur
Politics
- Assembly election results of Chhattisgarh
- List of political parties in the state
Recent developments
On September 3, 2005, twenty policemen were killed by a mine in the district of Bijapur. The mine had been laid there by Naxalite rebels, who have joined hands with the rebels in Nepal and Bangladesh. (source: 20 indische Polizisten durch Mine getötet, September 4, 2005, Neue Zürcher Zeitung).