Dongargarh

Dongargarh is a small town a short drive from Rajnandgaon, ringed by six hills and once part of a Gond kingdom. It is best known as a pilgrimage centre for several faiths, and its quiet lanes of wooden houses and surrounding fields give it an unhurried feel.

The main shrine is the Bambleshwari temple, which comes in two parts: Badi Bambleshwari on a hill about 1,600 feet high and the smaller Chhoti Bambleshwari some distance below. The Maa Patal Bhairavi Temple honours a form of Kali. On Chandragiri Hill stands a Jain temple founded with the guidance of Acharya Vidyasagar, and an old image of the Tirthankara Chandraprabhu is also revered. A 30-foot Buddha statue on Pragyagiri Hill can be seen from all six hills. Mangata Wildlife Park, Hazara Falls and the Khaara Reserve Forest lie in the wider district.