Bilaspur
The Granary of Chhattisgarh
General Information
District: Bilaspur, State: Chhattisgarh, India
Area: 6376 Sq. Km.
Languages Spoken: Hindi, English, local dialects
Long Distance Code: +91-7752
Importance: Commercial capital of Chattisgarh
Best Time to Visit: October to February
Description
Bilaspur is situated on the banks of the River Arpa and is said was founded long back by a fisherwoman known as Bilasa, hence the city derives its name from the ancient fisherwoman and is known as Bilaspur. <br />Bilaspur was always ruled by the Haihai dynasty of Raipur till the Maratha rulers of Nagpur annexed the kingdom. However long may be the history of Bilaspur, it came to be known only after the Maratha rulers from Nagpur took over. They started building a fort, never got completed. <br />This small town, which went into obscurity years back, today has come up as the commercial capital of the state of Chhattisgarh. It is one of the most important railway junctions of Indian railway, joining the two distant metros of Mumbai and Kolkata (Howrah) through the railways. The climate of Bilaspur is extreme, as the temperature rises in summers and dips in winters. The nearby coalmines are the reason for the city's development and the place for migration for many looking for jobs.Location
Bilaspur district is located in eastern part of Chhattisgarh and is surrounded by Koriya district in the North, Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh in the South, Raipur district in the East and Korba, Janjgir - Champa district in the West. The main rivers are the Agar, Maniyaar and the Arpa Rivers.
Ratanpur, the ancient capital of the Chhattisgarh state is situated around 25 kms away from Bilaspur. One of the most important towns in the Chhattisgarh region, Ratanpur, was founded by Kaluchuri king Ratandeo and hence it was named as Ratanpur. \r\nAn ancient ruined fort, which stands wrath of time and nature, is worth a visit and so are the innumerous temples like the Mahamaya temple, the Buddheshwar temple, Ramtek and many others.
Mallhar is located around 14 kms from Bilaspur, which is famous for the 10th and 11th century temples. There is also a museum, which has a rare and ancient collection of various idols found in the region.
