Chakradhar Samaroh

• History
• Places to visit
• How to reach

This festival is celebrated at the hub of music and dance, Raigarh. This city of Chhattisgarh has made its own identity due to the birth of a few known musicians and artists on its land. When it comes to Chakradhar Samaroh, Maharaja Chakradhar is the reason why this festival is celebrated, annually.

He was an unforgettable musician and a skilled dancer as well as the former King of Raigarh. The festival is organized by the culture department of Madhya Pradesh government and is one of the most awaited events of the year for musicians and dancers, alike, from across the country. 

Chakradhar festival is a melting pot of multiple Indian art forms, including music and dance. Participants can expect sitarists, tabla players, vocalists, classical singers, folk singers; Kathak, Odissi, as well as Bharatnatyam dancers, and poets; all under one roof.

This mega event is a feast for art lovers, a vibrant tribute to gifted artists and is an opportunity to revive the lost charm of all Indian art forms, especially music.

History of Chakradhar Samaroh

Raja Chakradhar ruled from 1924 to 1947 and was of the greatest rulers of the early 20th century. In addition, he was also an excellent Tabla player and singer.

His love for these art forms could also be seen during the Great Ganesh Chaturthi Mahotsav. He used to sing and play the Tabla during the festival and everyone used to enjoy his music.

Slowly, the musical festival got popular and the legend decided to take it to the next level. With the efforts of Ustad Allauddin Khan Sangeet Academy and the Chakradhar Lalit Kala Kendra, the festival got its official recognition with the name of Chakradhar Samaroh.

Every year local and national artists from music industry participate in the programme and do their bit to sustain the Indian Music Heritage.   

Major Attractions of Chakradhar Samaroh

1. Musical Extravaganza. The festival of Chakradhar is commemorated in the memory of the patron and is a great platform for people from all across the country to showcase their talent. The music festival happens at the time of Ganesh Chaturthi every year which falls roughly around September or October. This year, the festival is scheduled from September 2 to 12. So mark the dates and be a part of this music and dance feast.  

2. Performance of Popular Artists. Musicians who perform on different instruments and are from diverse genres are expected to grace the festival with their presence. Santoor maestro Pandit Bhajan Sopori, popular Qawwali Warsi Brothers, Sufi Singers Akhtar Brothers, classical vocalists, and sitarists have been a part of this festival in the past. All of these and more artists of this stature are expected to take part in the festival this year too. 

How to Reach

With a population of more than one lakh, Raigarh has become an urban city in the state of Chhattisgarh. It is also considered as one of the industrial cities of Chhatisgarh. Right from the title of Cultural Capital of Chhattisgarh to being the home to one of the oldest jute mills of India namely Mohan Jute Mill, the city has several destinations to attract tourists. People here mainly speak two languages Hindi and Odiya. The city is 1,269.2 km via NH19, 1,385 km via NH53, 701.0 km via NH49, 1,626.5 km via NH53 & NH 44 away from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bangaluru respectively.

By Air: The nearest airport is the Swami Vivekananda Airport aka Raipur Airport which is just 203 kilometres away from Raigarh. Located in Mana, It is the major airport in Chhattisgarh. The airport is served by several renowned airline services included Air India, Alliance Air, Vistara, IndiGo, etc. covering major cities of India such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bangalore. Once you reach the airport, you can easily get local transport options like bus, taxi or cab to reach Raigarh. If you want to stay near the airport, then there are several options for resorts and hotels as well. 

By Road: The city has well-established roadways that are connected with other internal and external regions of the city. It is served with frequent government and private bus services. So, it can be a great option to take a road trip from nearby cities like - Bhilai, Durg, etc. The roads in Raigarh are in perfect shape, so your journey would be smooth too.

By Train: The nearest railway station is Raigarh Railway Station. It is situated on the Mumbai-Howrah route. The second nearest option is Bilaspur Railway Station which is just 140 kilometres away from the Raigarh. Both railway stations are well-connected with other major metropolitan cities of India.

You can plan your trip and create your own route to the city with Adotrip’s technically driven circuit planner. Click here

PLEASE NOTE : Dates can vary due to cancellation or last-minute changes.