Dongargarh

Dongargarh is one of the most well-known pilgrimage towns of Chhattisgarh, and its history is shaped by its hill-fort landscape, Shakti worship, and later its growth as a rail-linked temple town. The name itself reflects geography: “dongar” (hill/mountain) + “garh” (fort), pointing to an older settlement pattern around rocky hillocks and fortified high ground.

The town’s central historical identity revolves around Bambleshwari Temple, a major Devi shrine set on a hilltop (often called “Badi Bambleshwari”). Sources describe the hill shrine as about 1600 feet high, and note a second temple at ground level (“Chhoti Bambleshwari”) close by, showing how the sacred geography of Dongargarh developed both on the summit and at the base for easy public access.

Over centuries, this temple tradition turned Dongargarh into a regional religious hub. Large gatherings during Navratri are repeatedly highlighted in temple and tourism descriptions, with the practice of lighting Jyoti Kalash during Navratri being a well-known local tradition that draws devotees from across Chhattisgarh and nearby states. The temple’s management body also maintains an official site that documents the shrine’s facilities and history pages, reflecting the long-standing organized temple system around the pilgrimage.

Alongside the Devi tradition, Dongargarh is also associated with Jain heritage in the region (often referenced with Chandragiri Jain sites in common town descriptions), adding another layer to its religious character.

A major modern chapter in Dongargarh’s story is connectivity. The town sits on the Bilaspur–Nagpur section of the Howrah–Nagpur–Mumbai rail corridor, and Dongargarh railway station is widely noted as a key stop for pilgrims visiting the temple. This rail link helped Dongargarh grow from a primarily pilgrimage-centered settlement into a busier service town with steady year-round footfall.

Today, Dongargarh remains strongly defined by its hill shrine and festival rhythms, while its role within Rajnandgaon district and its railway access continue to support tourism, markets, and local livelihoods built around the pilgrimage economy.