16th Finance Commission team visits Jagdalpur, explores Bastar’s natural beauty

Ajay Narayan Jha praised Bastar’s natural environment and warm hospitality of tribal villagers

Raipur(Team Newsbuddy): The delegation of the 16th Finance Commission, led by Chairman Dr. Arvind Panagariya, arrived in Jagdalpur . The delegation, including members Ajay Narayan Jha, Annie George Mathew, Dr. Manoj Panda, and Dr. Soumya Kanti Ghosh, was warmly welcomed at Maa Danteshwari Airport by officials. From the airport, the team reached the Circuit House in Bastar (Jagdalpur), where they were greeted by Divisional Commissioner Shyam Dhawade and IG Bastar P. Sundarraj.

During their visit, the Commission members explored the famous Chitrakote Waterfall, admiring its natural beauty from the watchtower at Tiratha. Ajay Narayan Jha inquired about the river’s origin and confluence points, praising Bastar’s natural environment and the warm hospitality of the local tribal villagers. The delegation captured Chitrakote’s beauty with their cameras.

Following this, the Finance Commission team visited the Narayanpal Temple in Lohandiguda Block, Bastar district. Dr. Panagariya was impressed by the temple’s architecture and inquired about its history. Local guide Dhanurjay Baghel explained that the temple, built in the 11th century by the Chindak Nag dynasty rulers of Chakrakot, is currently under the Archaeological Survey of India. The members offered prayers and took group photos at the temple.

The stone temple, originally dedicated to Lord Shiva but later dedicated to the Lord Vishnu idol, features an octagonal mandapa, antarala, and garbhagriha. It has two inscriptions, one from 1110 AD mentioning land donations by Gund Mahadevi, mother of Chindak Nag ruler Someshwar. The temple, an excellent example of 11th-century architecture, also has Sanskrit inscriptions on various parts.