Bastar women only trip - Dussehra Special Oct 2026

Bastar Dussehra – Of jungles, tribes and faith

Chhattisgarh

5 Days

Light Walk/Climb (1-3 km/day)

Starts in 17 weeks

START DATE

17 OCT, Sat

END DATE

21 OCT, Wed

₹ 42,000

₹41,500*

on double sharing

* 5% GST extra

❮

Bastar Dussehra – Of jungles, tribes and faith

₹ 42,000

₹ 41,500 * 5% GST extra

START DATE

17 OCT, Sat

END DATE

21 OCT, Wed

₹ 42,000

₹ 41,500 * 5% GST extra

When was the last time you visited a place most people cannot point on a map? Bastar — what the Ramayana called Dandakaranya — is a land of tribes living in a world that you and I do not seem to inhabit. This almost mysterious district in the heart of Chhattisgarh offers unspoilt nature, mighty waterfalls, and a window into the lives of the Madia, Muria and many other tribal communities. Join F5 on our Bastar women only trip to explore it during Bastar Dussehra — the world's longest festival — a 75-day celebration of the tribes and their deities, Mawali Mata and Maa Danteshwari.

Highlights

Try local tribal cuisine

Witness cultural performances

Witness the widest waterfall of India

Float on a bamboo raft

Important

Our Bastar Dussehra group trip is to ex-Jagdalpur.

Getting there

Any doubts on arrival and departure guidelines?

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Arrive by 4PM on 17 OCT

Jagdalpur Airport (JGB)

Chhattisgarh

Return after 3PM on 21 OCT

Jagdalpur Airport (JGB)

Chhattisgarh

Itinerary

20°C - 30°C | Sunny days, Pleasant nights

Chance of rain: Low-Medium

Note: This is a prediction. The weather may change

Day 1: Arrival, Chitrakote, local dinner

Arrivals

Local cuisine

Arrive at Jagdalpur by 4PM and proceed to Chitrakote. Check in and relax. Enjoy local tribal cuisine for dinner, at a beautiful spot with the massive Chitrakote waterfalls as the backdrop. Overnight at Chitrakote.

The weather would be pleasant with temperatures ranging between 20 and 30 degrees C. Days will be sunny with chances of an odd shower.

Basic North Indian and Central Indian food will be available. We will include local delicacies wherever possible

Bastar, although completely safe, is still developing as a tourist destination. The services, especially during a high footfall event like Bastar Dussehra may be slower. Please cooperate with your lead to enjoy the Bastar all women group tour to the fullest.

Day 2 : Chitrakote Falls, Narayanpal Temple, Ghumar

Drive: 1-2 hrs

Walk: 1-3 hrs

Local sightseeing

Visit the Chitrakote Falls. Walk down to the lower river bank – see the hidden shivalings, go on a river walk and enjoy a footbath. Visit to the thousand year old Narayanpal Temple, built by the Nagvanshi dynasty, this is the only Vishnu temple in Bastar. Visit the local market, called haat bazaar. Visit the Tamda Ghumar waterfalls and then to Mendri Ghumar waterfall, where we'll savor local tribal cuisine amidst stunning vistas. Enjoy the sunset. Overnight at Chitrakote.

FUN FACT!

The local tribal liquors like Mahua (brewed from sweet flowers) and Salfi (often called Bastar’s beer) are tapped straight from palm trees. The community treats them as sacred, medicinal gifts from nature rather than mere alcohol, using them in every major life ritual like birth and death.

Day 3 : Heritage Walk, Danteshwari Temple, Mawali Parghav

Heritage walk: 1-2 hrs

Shaktipeeth Temple

Dussehra festival

Checkout and Visit Barsur for a heritage walk. Considered a heritage city with temples every step of the way, Barsur was the erstwhile capital of the Nagvanshi kings. The temples have a striking resemblance to the temples in Odisha and MP, as the region shares boundaries with both the states. Proceed to visit the Ma Danteshwari Temple in Dantewada. One of the 52 Shaktipeeths in India, this is the most revered shrine of Bastar. Danteshwari is the kuldevi of Bastar. Stop on the way to see the megaliths at Gamawada and also see some of the unique memory pillars. Attend a fascinating Dussehra event - Mawli Parghaw. Get to know the chronicles of Goddess Danteshwari, traditions and rituals followed by the tribal communities.

We will have an extremely experienced guide with us to explain the stories and rituals of the events. Please follow him/her as Bastar Dussehra events are crowded due to locals as well as tourists.

There will be fair bit of walking (albeit slow progress) involved during the Dussehra festivities

FUN FACT!

The stone megaliths and memory pillars across Bastar are not just graves; they are personalized ancestral histories. The tribal artisans carve intricate symbols directly onto the stone to illustrate the deceased individual's life achievements, favorite hobbies, profession, or status.

Day 4 : Tirathgarh falls, caves, bamboo rafting, Bahar Raini

Walk: 1-2 hrs

Local sightseeing

Rath Yatra festival

Visit the Tirathgarh waterfalls in Kanger Valley National park where the water here cascades from about 300ft. Visit one of the many natural caves of Bastar that have stalactite and stalagmite that are million years old. Float down the river on a bamboo raft at Dudmaraas, surrounded by the lush green forest. Witness the Rath Yatra or Bhitar Raini where the chariot of Ma Danteshwari surveys the city. The chariot is never pushed as the deity rides on it; therefore huge crowds pull it on either side to turn it, moving it in one direction or another. It is a sight to behold. Enjoy the vibrant streets and markets. Overnight at Jagdalpur.

FUN FACT!

Bastar Dussehra lasts for an incredible 75 days, making it the longest-running festival on the planet!

Day 5 : Craft Village. Fly out

Handicrafts

Return flights

Drive: ~1 hr

After breakfast, check out and head to the craft Village, to see the making of Bellmetal (Dhokra) Handicrafts, through the wax technique. This technique has a resemblance to that followed during the Harappan civilization. After lunch, proceed to the airport for your return flight. Our Bastar Chhattisgarh woman group tour ends.

Please book your return tickets after 3 PM.

FUN FACT!

The Dhokra bell-metal technique you will see in the craft village is over 4,000 years old. It is the exact same "lost-wax" casting method used to create the famous "Dancing Girl" statue found in the ancient ruins of Mohenjo-daro.

Important

Our Bastar Dussehra group trip is to ex-Jagdalpur.

Add ons

Single Occupancy Supplement (if you don’t want to share the room) – INR 12,000 + 5% GST

Child Pricing (5 to 10 years old) – INR 37, 000 + 5% GST

Children between 11 and 17 years of age pay the same price as adults. If your child is less than 5 years old, please reach out to us.

Inclusions & exclusions

Inclusions

We want to enable you to travel wallet free. That’s why, when you travel with us, we take care of most of your travelling expenses. Our Bastar Dussehra tour package includes:

Accommodation on double sharing for 4 nights
All meals starting from dinner on Day 1 to lunch on Day 5
A Hindi speaking guide from Day 1 to Day 5
Transportation in an AC vehicle as per the itinerary
All entry tickets
Bamboo Rafting
Toll and Parking
Your F5 trip lead

Exclusions

Some expenses are excluded (especially those of personal preferences) and will have to be taken care of by the individual. Exclusions include:

Flights to and from Jagdalpur
Snacks and meals other than mentioned
Packaged water bottles
Activity charges other than mentioned
Tips and personal expenses like shopping and medication
Any cost arising due to natural calamities, personal flight delays and aspects beyond our control. We will definitely facilitate an alternative and handle the contingency, the cost being yours.
5% GST

Policy

Terms & Conditions

REFUNDS/CANCELLATION

15% of the trip cost if cancelled 90 days or more in advance.
25% of the trip cost if cancelled 89 – 60 days in advance.
50% of the trip cost if it is cancelled 59 to 16 days in advance.
Last 15 days – no show – the entire amount will be forfeited.
If you use our services to book flights, cancellation charges will apply.

DISCLAIMER

F5 Escapes is in no way responsible for any untoward incident happening due to the ignorance/negligence of the guests, natural/man-made calamities, accidents, or any other events that are out of human control during the trip.
All our trips are well-researched, including identifying access to medical facilities. In case of a medical emergency, F5 will assist the traveller in getting medical attention.
F5 reserves the right to cancel the trip under certain conditions; in such a case, the amount will be refunded in full.

FAQs

What type of accommodation will be provided?

We select accommodation based on their uniqueness/character, location, cleanliness and comfort, hospitality, food quality, and more. Hence, we work with a variety of stays - boutique hotels, heritage properties, well appointed standard hotels, premium homestays etc. You can download the pdf itinerary for more details on the stays being used in the Bastar women only trip

What kind of food will be available during the Bastar Dussehra group tour?

North Indian and Central Indian food will be available, with local delicacies wherever it is possible. If you have any special dietary requirements, please let us know in advance.

Is Bastar safe?

Absolutely. We have done our research and our female team member has travelled solo in Bastar extensively over 10 days. We have partnered with people we absolutely trust and who have been working at grass route level to bring tourism to Bastar in a sustainable manner. We have curated this itinerary to give you the authentic experience. You will see that women participate in all local activities in abundance and the tribal communities are run as much by women as by men. Roads are in good condition and people are respectful. Please ensure that their customs and culture are respected.

As a solo-female traveller, can I join the group trip to Bastar?

Absolutely! We design our women group tours to make it convenient, fun, and safe for women travellers. While solo trip for ladies give you the autonomy to pace your trip, group travelling is hassle-free and without the mental load of planning and organising. You travel with a group of like-minded women, make new friends, and share experiences for a lifetime. Join our Bastar Dussehra 2026 women group trip to experience the joy of travelling with your tribe.

What are the company policies on smoking/drinking?

Everyone joining is an adult and we realise that we cannot dictate the behaviour on how you should enjoy the trip. There are different kinds of local mild brews that you can sample. All we ask is to drink responsibly. Hangover delays are going to cost a lot, and will not be tolerated at all. So please do not test your limits and enjoy in moderation. Also, do respect your roommate’s comfort levels with the alcohol smell and avoid drinking in the room if she is not comfortable. If you smoke, please do so outside the room, even if the rooms have ashtray.

How does F5 Escapes promote responsible and sustainable tourism?

When we travel, we visit somebody’s home, be it a city, village or a place of stay. We treat them with utmost respect. We encourage all our guests to leave no trace, only footprints. We recommend carrying one's own steel water bottles. Most places of stay we partner with provide clean drinking water and water is available for refill. Small shift, big impact. We are mindful about our group not littering the destination. We try choosing vendors who make a conscious effort to employ locals, thereby enabling us to give back to the local economy. We encourage local handicrafts and on several trips we visit local artisans. We try to reduce overcrowding by travelling in small groups of maximum 12 people. We support women-led enterprises and seek them out on our travels. We work with local organisations across India involved in conservation, culture preservation and employment generation.

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