India’s Hidden Forest Paradise Bastar Gets Hospitality Push As Sterling Holiday Resorts Launches New Jagdalpur Retreat

Written By: Ricky Acharjee

Ricky Acharjee

I am travel writer at Travel And Tour World with 3 years of experience covering global tourism, aviation, hospitality, and destination news. Dedicated to accurate reporting and compelling storytelling, Ricky explores the trends, innovations, and developments shaping the international travel industry while delivering engaging insights for travellers and industry professionals.

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August 29, 2026 11:42 AM

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Sterling Holiday Resorts has marked a significant expansion in India’s hospitality landscape with the opening of Sterling Naman Bastar, Jagdalpur, its first resort in Chhattisgarh. The new property represents Sterling’s 80th resort in India and becomes the first nationally recognised hospitality brand-operated resort in Jagdalpur, creating a new gateway for travellers exploring the rich landscapes, heritage and traditions of Bastar.

The launch places one of India’s most unique yet lesser-explored destinations on the tourism map, offering visitors access to a region known for breathtaking waterfalls, ancient caves, dense forests, indigenous crafts, vibrant local markets and distinctive culinary traditions.

Bastar Emerges As A New Destination For Nature, Culture And Experiential Travel

Bastar stands apart as a destination where untouched nature and living traditions exist side by side. The region offers travellers a rare combination of dramatic landscapes, deep-rooted cultural heritage and authentic local experiences.

From the majestic Chitrakote Falls, often described as one of India’s most spectacular waterfalls, to the scenic Tirathgarh Falls, Bastar showcases some of central India’s most impressive natural attractions. The forests and limestone formations of Kanger Valley National Park add another layer of adventure, with caves, biodiversity and unique geological wonders attracting explorers and nature enthusiasts.

Beyond its landscapes, Bastar is also celebrated for its vibrant communities and artistic traditions. Weekly tribal markets, locally known as haats, continue to serve as important cultural spaces where communities gather, exchange goods and preserve traditional lifestyles. The region’s famous Dhokra metal craftsmanship, known for its intricate handmade designs, reflects generations of artistic skill passed down through local artisans.

Bastar’s food culture further strengthens its appeal. Traditional dishes influenced by rice, bamboo shoots and forest-grown ingredients offer visitors a culinary experience deeply connected to the region’s natural environment and heritage.

While several Indian destinations have become established tourism hubs, Bastar continues to retain its authenticity. Its relatively unexplored character provides travellers with an opportunity to experience a destination where culture, nature and traditions remain central to the journey.

The region is increasingly attracting visitors looking for meaningful travel experiences, including wildlife exploration, photography, cultural discovery, craft tourism, local cuisine and offbeat adventures.

Improved Connectivity Opens New Possibilities For Bastar Tourism Growth

Accessibility has been a key factor supporting Bastar’s emergence as a promising tourism destination. Jagdalpur Airport provides direct air connectivity to Hyderabad and Raipur, improving access for travellers from major cities and strengthening links with wider domestic travel networks.

The improved connectivity is expected to encourage more visitors to explore Bastar’s attractions while supporting tourism-related businesses, local communities and hospitality development in the region.

With better transport access and increasing interest in experiential tourism, Bastar is positioned as a destination for travellers seeking destinations beyond traditional holiday circuits.

Sterling Naman Bastar Creates A Comfortable Base For Exploring Jagdalpur

Strategically located on Chitrakote Road, Sterling Naman Bastar has been designed as a convenient base for travellers discovering Jagdalpur and the wider Bastar region.

Spread across approximately 3.21 acres, the resort features 45 rooms across five categories, including garden-facing accommodations, spacious suites and a private pool villa. The property combines modern hospitality facilities with easy access to the region’s natural and cultural attractions.

The resort’s concept focuses on complementing the destination rather than replacing it. Guests can spend their days exploring waterfalls, forests, caves, traditional markets and craft centres before returning to a comfortable resort environment.

The property includes an indoor swimming pool, spa facilities and recreational spaces designed for relaxation after sightseeing. Large open lawns and banquet areas make it suitable for various travel segments, including family vacations, celebrations, destination gatherings and group travel.

Sterling aims to position the resort as a platform that allows visitors to experience Bastar comfortably while encouraging deeper engagement with the destination’s culture and environment.

Local Flavours Bring Bastar’s Culinary Heritage To The Resort Experience

The Bastar experience continues inside the resort through its food offerings. Sterling Naman Bastar introduces guests to regional flavours through its multi-cuisine vegetarian restaurant Amravan and the casual café Little Bites.

The dining experience highlights local ingredients and traditional influences connected to Bastar’s food heritage. Dishes inspired by rice, bamboo shoots and forest produce allow visitors to explore the region through authentic flavours.

Guests can experience local specialties such as Baasta, Angakar Roti, Chaur Bhaja, Farra and Tikhur, offering a taste of Bastar’s distinctive culinary identity.

By integrating regional cuisine, local culture and nature-based experiences, Sterling Naman Bastar aims to create a complete destination stay rather than just accommodation.

The opening of Sterling Naman Bastar represents a major step in bringing greater visibility to Chhattisgarh’s tourism potential. As travellers increasingly seek authentic destinations, cultural experiences and unexplored landscapes, Bastar is emerging as a compelling choice for those looking beyond conventional holiday destinations.

With its combination of natural beauty, indigenous heritage and improved accessibility, Bastar now has a new hospitality gateway designed to welcome visitors from across India and beyond.

Speaking on the launch, Mr. Vikram Lalvani, Managing Director & CEO, Sterling Holiday Resorts, said:

“Some destinations are already on everyone’s travel list. Others are waiting to be discovered. We believe Bastar belongs firmly in the second category. The combination here is extraordinary—waterfalls, forests, caves, craft, cuisine and a rich living culture. Yet Bastar remains relatively under-discovered by the mainstream Indian traveller. Our role as a Destination Architect is not simply to put a hotel in such a location, but to help travellers understand why they should come here and then make the destination easier and richer to experience.

With Jagdalpur providing the gateway and Sterling Naman Bastar providing a comfortable hospitality base, we have an opportunity to introduce many more travellers to this remarkable region. Our 80th resort is therefore more than a milestone for Sterling—it is an opportunity to help put another compelling Indian destination on the traveller’s map.”

Come for the Landscapes. Stay for the Untold Stories of Bastar

A journey through Bastar unfolds like a storybook of nature, culture and tradition. Travellers can begin their exploration with the breathtaking beauty of Chitrakote Falls and Tirathgarh Falls, venture deep into the ancient forests and mysterious caves of Kanger Valley National Park, and continue through vibrant local markets showcasing the region’s unique crafts and heritage.

Beyond its scenic wonders, Bastar reveals a deeper connection through its traditional cuisine, indigenous stories, artistic expressions and welcoming communities. These experiences together create a destination that reflects the region’s distinctive character and cultural richness.

Speaking about the partnership, Jayesh Sangani and Rachit Sangani, owners of Sterling Naman Bastar Jagdalpur, a property of Dishi Resort Pvt. Ltd., highlighted the destination’s immense tourism potential.

They said that Bastar offers a rare combination of extraordinary natural beauty and a deeply rooted cultural legacy. The collaboration with Sterling brings together their local knowledge of the region with the brand’s hospitality expertise, wider market presence and distribution network. Through this partnership, Sterling Naman Bastar aims to become a key hospitality gateway for travellers discovering Jagdalpur and the wider Bastar region.

Bastar invites travellers to witness its landscapes, experience its traditions, taste its flavours and connect with the stories that have shaped its identity.

Bringing Emerging Destinations Closer to Travellers

The launch of Sterling Naman Bastar reflects a significant step in Sterling’s wider destination-focused expansion strategy.

While strengthening its presence in established tourism markets by creating connected regional travel experiences, Sterling is also focusing on emerging destinations where authentic experiences and unexplored attractions can inspire new journeys.

Destinations like Bastar represent an opportunity to build a strong hospitality foundation at an early stage while introducing travellers to places known for their natural beauty, cultural heritage and unique experiences.

With its expanding network, Sterling’s vision extends beyond increasing the number of properties across locations. The focus is on discovering, supporting and showcasing destinations that deserve greater recognition among travellers.

By creating quality stays in lesser-explored regions, Sterling aims to help more destinations gain visibility and become part of the traveller’s journey map.