Gourela-Pendra-Marwahi District Making Its Mark in Global Tourism

Enthusiastic participation in a two-day Nature Healing Camp by participants from Malaysia and various Indian states

The language of love and cooperation paved the way for foreign tourists, who immersed themselves in local culture

Raipur, Aug 2025 : Under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai, Chhattisgarh is being actively promoted as a tourism destination. In this effort, the Gourela-Pendra-Marwahi district has been steadily gaining a new identity in the tourism sector through the dedication of the local administration and tourism committees.

The Banmanai Eco Foundation, in collaboration with the district administration, organized a two-day Nature Healing Camp that saw enthusiastic participation from attendees hailing from Malaysia and several Indian states. Four guests from Malaysia joined the program, along with Bihar-based filmmaker Aryan Chandraprakash, senior journalist Vibhash Jha, Dr. Arvind Gupta from Bangalore, A.K. Singh (retired manager, Coal India), research scholars from Indira Gandhi University and Amlai, and 20 other participants.

Environmental expert Sanjay Payasi guided treks to two of the district’s major waterfalls—Lakshmandhara and Jhojha. The Malaysian guests were warmly welcomed at Pendraroad Railway Station, where locals gathered eagerly, took photographs, and created an atmosphere of joy. The visitors were deeply touched and impressed by this warmth. Unique experiences awaited them—fresh local vegetables, shepherds’ bamboo hats, and off-road rides to Lakshmandhara waterfall.

They relished pakoras and lemon-ginger tea served by the Lakshmandhara Tourism Committee. Even in such a remote area, the tourism committee’s excellent management amazed the guests. The Lakshmandhara waterfall, in full flow over the Arpa River, created rainbows as sunlight passed through its mist—a true tourist delight where people from diverse languages, nations, and cultures meet in harmony.

In the evening, tourists arrived at Lamna Homestay, where rural women welcomed them with tilak in the traditional style. The love and respect of the villagers brought to life the “Atithi Devo Bhava” tradition. That night, the local folk dance of Gaura-Gauri had everyone tapping their feet. This display of folk dance and music, the traditional entertainment of the villagers, created a magical scene that transcended local boundaries and reached global resonance. Such cultural exchange makes Lamna village’s community-based tourism an ideal model—empowering villagers economically while enriching them culturally and intellectually.

On the second day of the camp, Malaysian tourist Alice helped prepare breakfast alongside local women, working together despite not sharing a common language—proving that love and cooperation need no translation. The villagers, without leaving their homes, got a glimpse of another country’s culture and cuisine. Later, tourists trekked to the Jhojha waterfall, a stunning and challenging 350-foot natural fall. The district administration has built stairs to make access easier, showcasing the government’s commitment to making the area’s tourism more accessible.