Ratanpur is a beautiful town in Chhattisgarh, located at
a distance of about 25 km from Bilaspur. The town lies on the National Highway
from Bilaspur to Ambikapur. The place was previously known as Ratnapur, named
after its founder, King Ratnadev. The place also acted as a capital of Kalchuri
dynasty during the 1,000 AD and remained a significant place for many
centuries.
At present, Ratanpur has become a chief religious destination of Chhattisgarh,
as devotees from different parts of the state come here to visit the Mahamaya
temple and the temples located close to it. Another special attraction of this
place is the Ratanpur Fort, which has been recently renovated by the
Archaeological Survey of India and its findings has been put on the National
Archaeological Map. The rich and glorious past of this place attracts a lot of
historians and archeologists apart from the tourists.
Attractions
Mahamaya Temple- One of the main attractions of the
place is the Mahamaya temple, which was structured by King Ratnadev. The temple
holds idols of two goddesses, namely Laxmi and Saraswati. It is also regarded
as one of the Sidh Peeth in the country. The Mahamaya temple is visited by
Hindu devotees all round the year. They
visit this place to offer their prayers and receive blessings from the
Goddesses.
Close to this temple, several temples dedicated to Hindu Gods and
Goddesses have been structured. Other temples that you can find at this place
are Bhuddeshwar Shiva temple, Baba Bairavnath temple, Ratneswar Mahadev temple
and Ekbira temple. Mahamaya temple receives a large number of crowds during the
festival of Navaratri. During this time of the year, Ratanpur holds many fairs.
Ratanpur Fort- It is one of the oldest historic
monuments of the region, whose exact date of construction has not been found
yet. This historic fort was in a state of ruins for several years and its
renovation has been recently completed by the Archaeological Survey of India. One
of the main attractions of the site is the Ganesh Gate, over which you will
find a stunning stone sculpture. You will also find a fine sculpture of Lord
Shiva depicted in his tandav dance, at the entrance.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit the place is during the months of
October to May.
Accommodation
There are no accommodation facilities at this place. So,
the best option for accommodation for tourists visiting this place is Bilaspur,
located at a distance of about 25 km. Bilaspur is dotted with several budget
and mid budget hotels that offer standard accommodation services.
How to Reach
By Road: The place is easily accessible
through road from Bilaspur, located at a distance of about 25 km. Regular bus
and taxi services are available to this place from Bilaspur and few other
places in Chhattisgarh.
By Air: The nearest airport to this place is
Chandigarh Airport, which is located at a distance of about 135 km from
Bilaspur. The airport is well connected with places like Delhi, Amritsar, Goa,
Jaipur, Ahmadabad etc. Bus and taxi services are available from the airport to
get to the place.
By Train: The nearest railway station to this
place is Kiratpur Sahib Railway Station, located at a distance of about 65 km
from Bilaspur. The station is well connected with places like Delhi, Manali,
Shimla, Kullu and Chandigarh. Taxi services are available from the station to
get to the place.
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