About Dantewada

Named after the goddess Danteshwari, Dantewada is a town and a nagar panchayat in the Dantewada district in the state of Chhattisgarh. It is also the administrative headquarters of the district. As per the census record of 2011, the Dantewada is the third most populous district in the state of Chhattisgarh. Known for age old temples and lush green forest areas it is one of the most important part of Chhattisgarh and has all potential to attract tourists from far and wide.

Brief History of Dantewada

Before the Independence of India, the district of Dantewada was a part of the Estate of Bastar. Post the Indian Independence in the year 1947, the Estate of Bastar became a part of Bastar District in Madhya Pradesh after the ruler of Bastar ruler acceded to the Indian government. Bastar District was then divided into three districts that are Bastar, Kanker and Dantewada in the year 1999. In the year 2000, Dantewada was amongst the 16 Madhya Pradesh districts that constituted the state of Chhattisgarh. The district of Dantewada was sub divided in 2007 which resulted in a new district of Bijapurt, 4 Tehsils in Chhattisgarh including Bijapur, Usoor, Bhairamgarh, and Bhopalpatnam. In the year 2012, this was further bifurcated into another new district Sukma with 3 Tehsils Chhindgarh, Konta an Sukma.

Geography and Climate of Dantewada

Dantewada district is situated between 18.9000°N Latitude and 81.3500°E Longitude. It has an area of 3,410.50 km² . It is bounded by Bastar district on the north and northeast, while on the east lies Malkangiri in the state of Odisha. On the south and southwest Dantewada is bounded by Khammam district of Andhra Pradesh, and on the west by the River Indravati, which forms the border of the Karimnagar district of Andhra Pradesh and Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra. The average temperature during the winter here is around 22°C while the average temperature during summer is around 33°C. There is low average rainfall experienced by this city during the monsoon. For more information on geography of Dantewada, click here

Places of Interest In and Around Dantewada

Dantewada is a beautiful city which is situated in the southern region of the state of Chhatisgarh. This district/city is blessed with beautiful long and tall series of hills which are full of thick green teak and saal forests. The rivers Indravati, Shabhari and Godavari flow throughout this district. Other than these, two other periniel rivers that is river Shankhini and river Dankiny are also present in this region. These rivers along with waterfalls give this city a scenic beauty. Apart from this scenic beauty, there are many historical places to visit here which includes Barsoor, Dantewada and Bhadrakali which are truely worth visiting. Bailadila Iron ore Project Township, parks, mines and Hill top habitations in Kailash nagar and Aakash nagar are places worth a visit while travelling to Dantewada. For more information on tourism in Dantewada, click here

Festivals Celebrated in Dantewada

Various festivals are celebrated by the people of Dantewada which shows the richness and variety of the cultural heritage. The tribes of Dantewada celebrate different festivals and fairs throughout the year which also includes some of the major festivals of Hindus like Diwali, Dusshehra, Holi, Goncha that is the Rath Utsav, Fagun etc. Apart from these there are some unique festivals celebrated by the people of Dantewada such as Pandum, Bhoramdeo Festival, Lokotsav, Teeja, Pola , etc. Folk songs and dances like Bastaria dance forms part of their festive culture. Pandum is observed by the tribes during different occasions. Some of the major Pandums observed here includes Vijja Pandum, Pane Pandum, Ama Pandum, Dela Pandum, Amus, Podla Pandum, Chikma, Pane Pandum, Karta and Gadi Pandum.

Art and Culture in Dantewada

Art and Culture of Dantewada is much influenced by tribal culture of the region. To this day, there are several tribes living in Dantewada, like the Dandami Mariyas, Dorla and Halba. These tribes usually feed on non vegetarian food and liquor. They do not wear much clothing but instead ornaments are used to cover their bodies. Khosa, Phuli, Khinwa, garland of Karipot, Muhar Mala, Chapsari, Chude, Chudiya, etc. are some of the ornaments worn by these tribes. The ornaments are mostly made of gold, brass, silver, aliminium, clay, lead and wood. They celebrate various festivals that are mostly concerned with reaping, harvesting and farming. The different handiworks of the tribals made of wood, clay, metals, bamboo, shell and peacock feather are unique and worth appreciating. Click here for more information on culture of Dantewada

Shopping in Dantewada

The city of Dantewada has some of the incredible scenic and historic places which make it one of the most preferred tourist destinations from far and wide. The various tourist destinations here, including the plains, hills, seas and beaches are all available in this beautiful city. Apart from the scenic beauty the tourists who visit here are also interested in some extensive shopping. The nearest shopping zones from Dantewada city is in Jagdalpur which is barely 87 km away from Dantewada. Here there are two famous shopping zones the Gole Bazar and Sanjay Market.


At these Bazaars there are different kinds of items are available that satisfies the needs of the residents as well as the tourists who visit this place. The Gole Bazaar lights up beautifully during the festival of Diwali and is an amazing spectacle for the visitors. One can also go shopping in Dantewada at Kumharapara - Jagdalpur. There are exclusive handicrafts and gift items created by the local tribals showcased in the markets here. The knick knacks available in such markets are usually made of wood, metal, stone, wrought iron, terracotta or burnt clay. There are also different varieties of ornaments, toys, showpieces, etc to choose from while shopping at the markets in Dantewada. Click here for more information on culture of Dantewada

Transportation in Dantewada

Dantewada is connected with by all transportation networks to the major cities of India. Luxury private buses are available from almost every major cities of Chatthisgarh, like Raipur, Durg, Bilaspur, & Rajnandgaon to Bailadila, which goes through the city of Dantewada. Dantewada also has a very well connected network of roadways with Hyderabad, the capital city of Andhra Pradesh. Apart from the well maintain road network, Dantewada also has a well connected network of railways. The South East Railway runs a regular passenger train from Visakhapatnam to Bailadila which stops a while at Dantewada before reaching Bailadila. The nearest Air terminal for the city of Dantewada is Raipur.
The local transportation in Dantewada majorly includes auto, buses and taxis.

Economy of Dantewada

The economy in Dantewada being agrarian in nature, it is easy to trace several agro based industries in this region. The economy of the city of Dantewada has seen a rapid growth in the recent years. About 80 percent of the population here is engaged in agriculture. Apart from Paddy being the mainly cultivated crop in this region, some of the other major crops cultivated here include wheat, maize, oilseeds, groundnut, grains and pulses. Dantewada uses this strong agricultural productivity in boosting the trade and commerce of the region. Due to the increase in the production of agricultural products and the export and import of these products the agricultural industry has become a major contributor in the economy of this region.

Dantewada at a glance

Country: India
State: Chhattisgarh
District: Dantewada
Location: 18.9000°N 81.3500°E
Altitude: 703 - 139 meters above sea level
Languages spoken: Hindi, Halbi, Bhatri, Gondi, Parji, Dharvi, Dorli, Aboojhmarhi, Damdami
Avg. Winter temperature: About 22.23°C
Avg. Summer temperature: About 33.97°C
PIN: 494XXX-495XXX
STD Code: 07856
Major festivals: Vijja Pandum, Ama, Pane, Dela, Podla, Amus, Chikma, Karta, Pane Pandum, Gadi Pandum

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