Dhamtari is a working trade town about 65 km from Raipur, long known for rice milling, timber and, historically, a narrow-gauge railway that made it a collecting point for forest produce. It is not a place with a list of grand monuments. What it offers is a base on the Mahanadi, with a few well-defined outings that suit travellers who like river landscapes, temples and forest country.
The nearest of these is Gangrel Dam, officially the Pandit Ravishankar Sagar, an earth-fill dam across the Mahanadi completed in 1979. It is the longest dam in Chhattisgarh and feeds a large reservoir that also supplies water to the Bhilai Steel Plant. Closer still, in town, is the Bilai Mata temple, dedicated to the goddess Durga as Vindhyavasini.
Further out, the road runs south-east into Nagri and Sihawa, where the Mahanadi rises in the hills. At Sihawa, the Karneshwar Mahadev temple complex dates to the twelfth century and is protected by the state. Beyond it lies Sitanadi Wildlife Sanctuary, a large teak-and-bamboo forest in the Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve. These are day trips requiring a hired car, an early start and patience with rural roads.
Dhamtari suits those who enjoy slow, regional travel and combine it with a stay in Raipur. The best months are October to March. Summers are very hot and the monsoon is heavy, though the countryside is at its greenest then.
Before you plan
Dhamtari at a glance
- Best months
- October to MarchOctober to March; pleasant weather. Summers are very hot, and the monsoon brings heavy rain.
- Ideal trip length
- 1 to 2 days from Raipur1 to 2 days from Raipur; 2 or 3 days if you include Sihawa and Sitanadi
- Airport
- Swami Vivekananda Airport, RaipurSwami Vivekananda Airport, Raipur (RPR), about 65 to 75 km away by road
- Railway station
- Dhamtari has a small stationDhamtari has a small station; Raipur Junction (R) is the main railhead, about 65 km away
- Getting around
- Hire a car with driver for Gangrel…Hire a car with driver for Gangrel Dam, Sihawa and Sitanadi; autos and buses serve the town
- Daily budget
- Varies widelyVaries widely; car hire is the main cost, so agree a day rate beforehand
- Senior comfort
- Gangrel Dam and Bilai Mata are easyGangrel Dam and Bilai Mata are easy; Sihawa and Sitanadi involve long drives and rural roads
- Language
- Hindi and ChhattisgarhiHindi and Chhattisgarhi; there is also a large Marathi-speaking community
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Dhamtari: January, February, November, December. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Dhamtari itinerary
One good day
1 day in Dhamtari
Visit Bilai Mata temple in the morning, then drive to Gangrel Dam, about 11 to 17 km from town according to published sources, for a walk along the reservoir. Have lunch in town and rest, then use the late afternoon for the Onakona side of the reservoir if time allows.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Dhamtari
Start with Bilai Mata temple, then spend the middle of the day at Gangrel Dam and its banks. Return to town for an early dinner.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Dhamtari
A gentle first day with the town temple in the morning and the dam and reservoir later.
Day-by-day plan →
