Geography of Chhattisgarh

Overview

Chhattisgarh, carved out of Madhya Pradesh on 1 November 2000, is India's 26th state and the 9th largest by area (135,192 sq km). Its geography—dominated by plateaus, river systems and dense forests—directly shapes the lives, occupations and culture of its people. For CG TET Paper I, you must know the major physiographic regions, the course and significance of principal rivers (especially Mahanadi and Indravati), and the extent and types of forest cover.

This topic frequently appears in EVS questions that link physical environment to daily life—water sources for villages, forest produce used by tribal communities, and regional variations across Chhattisgarh's districts. Mastering the plateau-river-forest framework gives you a ready mental map for answering comprehension-based and application questions.

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Key Concepts

• **Three Physiographic Regions**: Chhattisgarh is broadly divided into (1) the central Chhattisgarh Plain (rice bowl), (2) the northern hilly region (Surguja-Koriya plateau), and (3) the southern Bastar Plateau. The plains lie between 250–350 m elevation; the plateaus rise to 600–1000 m.

• **Mahanadi Basin Dominance**: About 56% of the state drains into the Mahanadi. It originates near Sihawa in Dhamtari district and flows eastward into Odisha, supplying irrigation and drinking water to the central plains.

• **Indravati and Godavari System**: The southern Bastar region is drained by the Indravati (a tributary of Godavari). The famous Chitrakote Waterfall on the Indravati is called the "Niagara of India."

• **Son River System**: The northern Surguja area drains into the Son, which ultimately joins the Ganga. This creates a rare tri-basin drainage pattern within one state.

• **Forest Cover**: Chhattisgarh has about 44% forest cover (2021 data), one of the highest in India. Forests are classified as Tropical Moist Deciduous (east/south) and Tropical Dry Deciduous (north/central).

• **Sal and Teak Forests**: Sal (Shorea robusta) dominates the northern and central belts; Teak (Tectona grandis) is prominent in the southern Bastar region. Bamboo and tendu (used for bidi leaves) are important minor forest products.

• **Tribal-Forest Link**: Over 30% of Chhattisgarh's population is tribal. Forest resources—mahua, tamarind, lac, tendu—are integral to their economy and culture.

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Key Facts

| Feature | Details | |---------|---------| | State formation | 1 November 2000 (from MP) | | Area | 135,192 sq km (9th largest state) | | Neighbouring states | MP, Maharashtra, Telangana, Odisha, Jharkhand, UP | | Highest point | Gaurlata (1225 m) in Surguja | | Major plateau regions | Chhattisgarh Plain, Bastar Plateau, Surguja-Jaspur Plateau | | Principal rivers | Mahanadi, Indravati, Sheonath, Hasdeo, Arpa, Son | | Mahanadi origin | Near Sihawa (Dhamtari district) | | Indravati origin | Kalahandi district, Odisha; flows through Bastar | | Chitrakote Falls | On Indravati, Bastar; ~29 m high, widest in India during monsoon | | Forest cover | ~44% of state area | | Dominant tree species | Sal (north/central), Teak (south) | | Important forest products | Tendu leaves, lac, mahua, tamarind, bamboo | | National parks | Indravati NP (Bastar), Kanger Valley NP (Bastar), Guru Ghasidas NP (Surguja) |