(Durg)

4
(Durg) (Raipur) ( Mumbai to Howrah
) .

23
20 22
.

Appeal from the Convenor of NAPE Gr C Tamilnadu Circle to all Branch & Divisional
Secretaries of Tamilnadu Circle.
Dear Friends,

Vanakkam, The 21st All India Conference of NAPE, Group C will be held
at Bhilai, Chattisgarh Circle from 20 to 22nd January 2015. We request all the
Branch and Divisional Secretaries to start Preparations and Book the Train tickets for
Bhilai early. The Train Tickets can book from today onwards and Please avoid the
eleventh hour rush and mental agony.
About Bhilai

The Bhilai is just 32 Kilometer from the the capital city (Raipur) of
Chattisgarh State. Bhilai is well connected to all major Indian Places by train.
The nearest major railway station is the Durg Railway station, about half an hour from the city as
it has almost all major train stoppages.

Bhilai, known as Mini India owing to its multiculturalism and diversity is the second
largest city located in the state of Chhattisgarh. It has won accolades for being one
of the fastest developing cities of the world. It is known for its lush green and clean
environment and serene atmosphere. Besides housing the famous Bhilai Steel Plant,
it also boasts of a number of tourist attractions including religious places as well as
historical relics and picnic spots. This place being an important educational,
industrial and commercial hub is well connected to all major cities by means of rail,
road and air. Tourists from all over the country, flock here to catch a glimpse of this
simple, yet beautiful city.
Tourist Attraction in and around Bhilai :
Bhilai Steel Plant: It is one of the main attractions in Bhilai. The plant is known for
producing beams, rails, angles, crossings, sleepers, plates, channels, wide rods etc.

Maitri Bagh: It is a combination of a landscaped garden and a zoo, and was

established by Bhilai Steel Plant. Also known as the Friendship Garden, it stands as
a symbol of India-USSR friendship.
Uwasaggharam Parshwa Teerth: It is a Jain Temple in Nagpura. Dedicated to Shri
Parshwanath it houses several beautiful temples, guesthouses and gardens and is
worth visiting.
Dhamdha: The Dhamdha Shrine about 35 kilometres from Bhilai and is one of the
most prominent tourist spot for Hindus.
Tandula Dam: About 60 kilometres from Bhilai, it is a famous tourist spot and attracts
hundreds of tourists, especially during the winter. Various restaurants and
accommodation options are available here.
Deobalod: At about 3 kilometres from Bhilai, it is home to an ancient Shiv Mandir.
Civic Center: Known to be the shopping hub of Bhilai, it offers a variety of options for
social activities, entertainment and shopping.
Ganga Maiya Temple: About 60 kilometres from Bhilai, this temple located at
Jhalmala has its own importance among the locals as well as tourists.
Hajra Falls: Situated at about 100 kilometres from Bhilai, amongst dense forests,
hills and tunnels, this place is a popular picnic spot and a visual delight for the
tourists.
Siyadevi: Located amidst a forest, this place is known for the famous temple
dedicated to Sita Maiya and a natural waterfall between July and February.
Kali Bari: This temple dedicated to Goddess Kali is located in sector 6 of Bhilai.
Kharkhara: A dam built across the Kharkhara river and its surroundings in Durg is a
favourite among the nature lovers.
Ganga Maiya Temple

About 61 kilometres from Bhilai, it takes about an hour to reach the temple by road.
You could take a train from Bhilai to Balod and then reach Jhalmala by road. A more
convenient option would be to travel via private vehicles or taxis offered by travel
agencies.

Maa Bamleshwari Temple

Located in Dongargarh, this is a famous temple located on the peak of a mountain,

about 1600 feet high, dedicated to Bagulamukhi Devi, a powerful manifestation of
Goddess Durga. While some believe this temple was built by king Vikramaditya,
others believe that it was constructed by Raja Veersen. Devotees have to ascend

about 1100 stairs to reach the shrine of Badi Bamleshwari. Aerial Ropeway or cable
car facilities are also available as a substitute. It is a major tourist attraction, as it is
the only ropeway constructed in the state of Chhattisgarh. Another temple called
Chhoti Bamleshwari Temple is located at ground level near the main temple, for the
devotees who find it difficult to climb the 1100 stairs to the main temple. One can
have a picturesque view of the surroundings from the top of the mountain. An
enormous golden Buddha Statue can also be viewed on the opposite mountain.
Pilgrims from all over the country flock here during the Navaratri festival, to
participate in the celebrations.
Maa Bamleshwari Temple

Dongargarh is situated around 80 km from bhilai and the travel time by road is
approximately one and a half hours depending on the traffic conditions. There are a
number of trains from Bhilai Power House to Dongargarh. One can hire a private
vehicle from the station to the temple.
Shree Uwassaggaharam Parshwa Tirth
Established in the year 1995, located on the banks of river Sheonath in Nagpura, this
Jain shrine is famous as a religious as well as pilgrim centre. This place houses
numerous temples, gardens, guesthouses, yoga centre and more. This place is
known for its scenic splendour and marvellous architecture. The main temple
contains a pedestal, on which the footprints of the Lord can be seen. The temple of
Shri Manibhadra Veer is on the right side of the main temple, while the temple of
Padmavati is to its left. Numerous visitors throng here to get a glimpse of the
charming and beautiful statue of Shri Parshwanath, supported by four pillars and the
30 feet high entrance gate of the temple.
Meru Mountain with the Jinalaya of all the 24 Tirthankers, Tirthankar Udyan or the
garden of renunciation, Aarogya Dham- a 30 bedded hospital of Naturopathy are
other major highlights of this holy place. The holy nectar or the Amiya oozes out of
the statue here, leaving the visitors wonderstruck. This nectar is belived to have
curative properties. This place attracts thousands of pilgrims from nook and corners
of the country on the full moon night, who come here to experience spiritual ecstacy.
Uwassaggaharam Parshwa Tirth
It takes about 15 minutes by road to reach Durg from Bhilai. There are a number of
trains from Bhilai Power House to Durg. You can reach this shrine in about 20
minutes from Durg station by road, in private buses or taxis.
Shiva Temple in Deobalod
It is home to one of the oldest temples in Chhattisgarh dedicated to Lord Shiva,
dating back to about 5th century. The ancient linga is present in the garbhagriha,
below the ground level, even though the shikhara of the temple had been destroyed
over time. The main mandapa is supported by exquisitely sculpted two rows of five
pillars each. There is a pond next to the temple, which is believed to have an
underground link to the town of Arang in Chhattisgarh. Apart from the main Shiva
Linga, there are sculptures of Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesh, and carvings of dancing
men, demi-gods and warriors. The Nandi statue is another special feature of this
temple. The peaceful atmosphere and the enchanting sculptures attract visitors in
large numbers.
Shiva Temple
It is located at a distance of about 3 kilometres from Bhilai in Charoda. One can take
autos or private vehicles to reach this place.

Apart from these famous temples and pilgrim centres, there are a number of
places of worship in different areas within as well as around the city of Bhilai. They
include Balaji Temple, Hanuman Mandir, Kali Bari Temple, Sai Baba Temple, Ganesh
Temple, Siyadevi Temple, Bhoramdeo Temple etc. The tranquillity, sanctity and the
palpable energy radiated from these temples will help you satisfy your spiritual
quests and fill you with immense joy and pure bliss, indescribable by mere words.
Last but not least :

Never forget to Collect Donations and Souvenir Advertisements which will

help the Reception Committee to conduct the Conference in a Memorable manner.
Thankyou.
P. Thirugnana Sampantham,

Convenor,
Tamilnadu Circle.