Chhattisgarh Geography for UPSC: Interactive Map, Rivers and Protected Areas
a state of the Chhattisgarh plain ringed by the Maikal and Bastar hill ranges
8
Protected areas mapped
7
Rivers mapped
At a glance
Capital
Raipur
Language
Hindi
Dance
Panthi
Area
1,35,192 km²
Coastline
Landlocked
Highest peak
Bailadila range · 1,276 m
Borders
Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh
Why UPSC asks about Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh is the Mahanadi's upper basin and the Bastar plateau: the Bailadila iron-ore range, the Indravati and Hasdeo rivers, and dense sal forests. UPSC tests the Mahanadi water dispute (with Odisha), Dandakaranya's forest geography, and the state's mineral and power-plant geography.
Mahanadi
Rises Sihawa hills near Nagri, Dhamtari district, Chhattisgarh; flows to Flows into Odisha and the Bay of Bengal via the Mahanadi delta · 399 km
The Mahanadi rises at Sihawa (Dhamtari) and flows through Odisha to the Bay of Bengal; the Hirakud dam is on it.
Sankh
Rises Ranchi plateau (Jashpur region); flows to joins the South Koel to form the Brahmani · 36 km
The Sankh-Koel confluence at Rourkela forms the Brahmani river.
Shivnath
Rises Panabaras hills, Ambagarh Chowki; flows to joins the Mahanadi at Shivrinarayan · 342 km
The Mahanadi's longest tributary in Chhattisgarh.
Indravati
Rises Kalahandi, Odisha; flows to joins the Godavari near Bhadrakali (Telangana) · 336 km
The Indravati drains Bastar's dense forests; the Indravati dam is on it.
Hasdeo
Rises Kenda hills, Korea district; flows to joins the Mahanadi near Baramkela · 292 km
The Hasdeo's coal belt (Hasdeo Arand) is central to Chhattisgarh's power economy.
Dams
- Hasdeo Bango Dam (Minimata Bango)
Arpa
Rises Khodri hills, Bilaspur; flows to joins the Shivnath near Bhimkhoj · 202 km
A Mahanadi-system river flowing past Bilaspur city.
Tel
Rises Nabarangpur, Odisha; flows to joins the Mahanadi near Sonepur (Odisha) · 42 km
A right-bank Mahanadi tributary of western Odisha's Tel valley.
Kopra Jalashay
A reservoir wetland in Chhattisgarh designated Ramsar in 2025, important for waterbirds and local water security.
Ramsar (2025); reservoir wetland of Chhattisgarh.
Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere
A biosphere reserve spanning Chhattisgarh (Bilaspur-Mungeli) and Madhya Pradesh around the Maikal hills, at the source of the Narmada and Son rivers, with sal and mixed forests supporting tigers and leopards.
Maikal hills at the Narmada-Son sources; spans Chhattisgarh and MP.
Indravati NP
A park in Bijapur district on the Indravati river, home to the rare wild Asian buffalo in dense sal and teak forests, part of a tiger reserve landscape.
Indravati river; refuge of the wild Asian buffalo.
Kanger Valley NP
A park near Jagdalpur in Bastar, famous for the Kailash and Kotumsar limestone caves and the endemic Bastar hill myna. The Kanger river carves a scenic valley through it.
Bastar's limestone caves (Kotumsar, Kailash) and the Bastar hill myna.
Guru Ghasidas NP
A park in Korea and Surajpur districts forming the core of the Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve, India's 56th tiger reserve (2024) and the third largest by area.
Core of Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla, India's 56th tiger reserve (2024).
Achanakmar WLS
A sanctuary in Mungeli district, part of the Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve around the Maikal hills at the source of the Narmada.
Part of the Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve near the Narmada's source.
Barnawapara WLS
A sanctuary in Baloda Bazar district of sal and mixed forest, known for leopards, gaur and rich birdlife.
Sal forest sanctuary; leopard and gaur country.
Udanti-Sitanadi WLS
A sanctuary in Gariaband district, part of a tiger reserve, known for the wild buffalo and dry deciduous forests of the Sitanadi and Udanti rivers.
Wild buffalo habitat between the Udanti and Sitanadi rivers.
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