- Gujarati tourists in focus: Chhattisgarh estimates that visitors from Gujarat account for 8–9% of its tourist footfall and hopes to attract more through destination promotion
- Beyond the familiar: Forests, wildlife, ancient temples, archaeological treasures, limestone caves and tribal heritage promise distinctive travel experiences
- A destination beyond one season: Tourism Secretary says attractions are available for nearly 10 months of the year, with March–May the peak season
- Vegetarian travellers welcome: Jain and pure-vegetarian delicacies help address the food preferences of visitors from Gujarat
- Connectivity is the key: Tourism Board highlights existing air and rail services, while calling attention to demand and commercial viability in expanding air links
- Travel trade gets a new opportunity: Chhattisgarh Tourism and FICCI seek stronger partnerships with Ahmedabad’s tour operators and tourism stakeholders
R MANICKAVASAGAM
AHMEDABAD, OCT 31
What if Gujarat’s next memorable holiday led not to another familiar hill station or beach, but to a landscape of thundering waterfalls, ancient cave systems, dense forests, extraordinary tribal traditions and centuries-old heritage? Chhattisgarh is making precisely that pitch to travellers from Ahmedabad, positioning itself as a compelling destination for nature, culture, wildlife and experiential tourism.
At a tourism roadshow held in Ahmedabad on Friday, October 30, the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board, with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) as industry partner, sought to connect with Gujarat’s travel trade and introduce more holidaymakers to the central Indian state’s diverse attractions.
The roadshow’s message was clear: Chhattisgarh has the natural and cultural wealth to offer a distinctive holiday, but stronger destination awareness, convenient travel arrangements and thoughtfully designed tour packages will be crucial to converting interest into actual visits.
Gujarat emerges as a promising source market
Neelu Sharma, Chairman, Chhattisgarh Tourism Board, highlighted the contribution of Gujarati visitors and expressed confidence that destination promotion could help increase their numbers.
“With its exotic locations, Chhattisgarh receives a large number of tourists from all over the country. Gujaratis comprise about eight to nine per cent of them. Through this roadshow, we expect their numbers will go up considerably,” Sharma said.
For Ahmedabad’s travel operators, the opportunity lies in packaging the state’s attractions into convenient itineraries that appeal to families, couples, nature enthusiasts, spiritual travellers, wildlife lovers and visitors seeking culturally immersive holidays.
Rather than promoting individual attractions in isolation, integrated itineraries combining waterfalls, forests, heritage sites, local cuisine and cultural experiences could give prospective visitors compelling reasons to extend their stays.
From Chitrakote to tribal heartlands: A different India awaits
Chhattisgarh offers a diverse mix of landscapes and experiences, from the spectacular waterfalls of Bastar to forests, wildlife habitats, ancient temples, archaeological sites and traditional handicrafts.
Chitrakote Waterfall, often celebrated for its dramatic horseshoe-shaped cascade, is among the state’s best-known natural attractions. Limestone caves, trekking opportunities and less-explored landscapes add to its appeal for adventure seekers and nature enthusiasts.
The state’s distinctive tribal cultures and artistic traditions provide another important dimension. Handicrafts, local festivals, traditional practices and village-based experiences can help visitors discover a side of India that remains outside many mainstream holiday itineraries.
For Gujarat’s travel trade, the challenge—and opportunity—is to translate this diversity into well-planned journeys that respect local communities and natural environments while delivering meaningful experiences to visitors.
Neelu Sharma, Chairman, Chhattisgarh Tourism Board, urged visitors and tour operators to discover the state’s natural and cultural wealth and help bring its tourism potential to a wider audience.
Ten months of tourism possibilities
Can Chhattisgarh be promoted as a year-round destination rather than a seasonal getaway?
Addressing this question, Dr S. Bharathi Dasan (IAS), Secretary, Tourism Department, Government of Chhattisgarh, said March to May was the peak season, while the state offered tourist attractions for nearly 10 months of the year.
“March to May is the peak season and nearly 10 months of the year, we offer many tourist attractions,” he said.
The seasonal proposition creates scope for differentiated travel products, with itineraries tailored to the weather, accessibility and suitability of particular destinations.
However, tour operators should establish the best visiting periods for individual attractions before advertising fixed itineraries, particularly where forest access, wildlife experiences, waterfall conditions or local weather may influence travel plans.
A well-designed calendar of experiences could help operators promote the state beyond conventional holiday periods and encourage visitors to explore attractions suited to different times of the year.
Jain and vegetarian cuisine: Hospitality that understands Gujarat
For travellers from Gujarat, destination appeal is often inseparable from food preferences. The availability of familiar vegetarian options can influence the choice of destination, accommodation and tour package, particularly for families and organised groups.
Dr Bharathi Dasan addressed this concern directly.
“Chhattisgarh hospitality industry offers both Jain and pure vegetarian delicacies to cater to the taste buds of tourists from Gujarat and hence food is not an issue,” he said.
The assurance gives travel operators an opportunity to highlight suitable dining arrangements when marketing Chhattisgarh to Gujarati visitors.
For a more seamless experience, tour packages could identify accommodation providers and restaurants offering Jain and pure-vegetarian meals, with arrangements confirmed in advance wherever strict dietary requirements apply.
Such attention to hospitality can make a practical difference in converting destination curiosity into bookings and encouraging positive word of mouth among travellers.
Direct connectivity, direct tourism dividends
Transport connectivity will be central to Chhattisgarh’s efforts to attract more visitors from Ahmedabad and elsewhere in Gujarat.
Asked how the Tourism Board would work with airlines, Indian Railways and tour operators to improve travel convenience and develop weekend or short-break packages, Saumil Ranjan Chaubey (IAS), Managing Director, Chhattisgarh Tourism Board, emphasised the role of commercial viability in determining air services.
“Air connectivity depends upon demand and supply, including commercial viability. Presently, the existing services cater to the needs of Gujarat tourists. Apart from direct trains to Raipur, Vande Bharat Express offers faster and convenient service to Vishakapatnam and onward travel to Raipur and other cities of Chhattisgarh. These modes of transport offer seamless travel facility to Gujarat tourists,” Chaubey said.
His response places the focus on making effective use of existing connectivity while recognising that additional air services depend on sustainable demand.
For travellers, however, connectivity involves more than reaching Raipur. The overall journey also depends on convenient onward transfers, reliable local transport, accommodation availability and well-coordinated sightseeing arrangements.
This creates an opportunity for tourism authorities, airlines, railway-linked travel services and tour operators to collaborate on practical packages featuring clearly defined transfer arrangements, realistic journey times and accommodation options.
Short-break packages could target attractions accessible within a manageable travel window, while longer itineraries could combine multiple destinations across the state.
For Gujarat’s travel trade, transparent information on transport, distances, seasonal accessibility and local logistics will be essential to building traveller confidence.
Tourism partnerships must deliver bookable experiences
The Ahmedabad roadshow sought to familiarise travel professionals with Chhattisgarh’s tourism offerings, facilitate industry partnerships and encourage the inclusion of the state in domestic travel itineraries.
Dr Bharathi Dasan highlighted the state’s varied attractions, ranging from deciduous forests and waterfalls to temples, heritage sites and handicrafts, while expressing the government’s interest in strengthening travel trade partnerships.
Chaubey similarly emphasised the roadshow’s role in connecting tourism professionals and introducing emerging destinations to a wider domestic audience.
Jaspreet Singh Bhatia, Chair, FICCI Chhattisgarh Tourism Committee and President, Chhattisgarh Travel Trade Association, underscored the importance of collaboration among travel agents and tourism stakeholders in building awareness and encouraging the inclusion of Chhattisgarh in domestic itineraries.
Ahmedabad–Raipur connectivity: The journey can be part of the holiday
Ahmedabad to Chhattisgarh in 100 Minutes
For Gujarat’s travel trade, Chhattisgarh’s tourism pitch has a practical advantage: Ahmedabad and Raipur are connected by both air and rail, giving travellers a choice between a quicker flight and a longer overland journey.
Published flight schedules updated in October 2026 list IndiGo’s non-stop Ahmedabad–Raipur service, with a flying time of approximately one hour and 40 minutes. The frequency and departure times should be checked for the intended travel dates before bookings are confirmed.
Rail connectivity offers an alternative for families, groups and travellers planning longer holidays. The published Ahmedabad–Raipur timetable lists services including the daily Ahmedabad–Howrah Express (12833), along with other trains linking Gujarat with Raipur and destinations farther east. Depending on the service, the journey takes approximately 20 hours and 40 minutes to 22 hours and 50 minutes. Travellers should confirm operating days, stoppages and availability through official railway booking channels.
This combination of air and rail services creates scope for Ahmedabad-based tour operators to develop itineraries around Chhattisgarh’s waterfalls, forests, heritage sites and cultural attractions. Short-break packages could be designed around destinations that can realistically be covered within a limited stay, while longer rail-based holidays could accommodate a wider circuit.
The next opportunity is to strengthen the last leg of the journey. Pre-arranged airport or railway-station transfers, reliable local transport, accommodation coordination and clearly timed sightseeing itineraries would heFlp visitors travel beyond Raipur with greater confidence.
For the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board and its industry partners, the challenge is to turn connectivity into a complete tourism experience—one in which reaching the state is straightforward and exploring its attractions is convenient, well organised and worth repeating.
For the roadshow to translate into measurable tourism growth, the next step will be to turn presentations into products that travellers can book: clearly priced itineraries, confirmed transport arrangements, reliable accommodation, trained local guides and experiences that showcase the state’s cultural and ecological wealth.
Chhattisgarh’s appeal lies in the breadth of what it offers. The opportunity for Ahmedabad’s tourism industry is to make those experiences accessible, convenient and memorable.
The real success of the roadshow will not be measured by the number of business cards exchanged, but by how many Gujarati travellers discover Chhattisgarh—and how much their journeys benefit the state’s local communities, hospitality businesses and tourism econom