Raipur, October 06, 2026: The Vishnu Deo Sai government has announced the ‘Chendru State Rural Tourism Award’ to encourage individuals and organizations performing outstanding and impactful work in the field of rural tourism within the state.
This move by the State Tourism Department is considered a significant initiative aimed at giving a new identity, on the national and global tourism map, to the rich culture, tribal traditions, natural beauty, and local lifestyles of Chhattisgarh’s villages.
Under this award, a selected individual or organization making a notable contribution to rural tourism will be presented with a cash prize of RS 1 lakh and a citation.
The state government stated that the objective of the award is not merely to honour outstanding work but also to establish rural tourism as an effective medium for local employment, livelihoods, cultural preservation, and sustainable development.
Tourism and Culture Minister Rajesh Agrawal said that Chhattisgarh’s villages are the living heritage of our culture, traditions, and nature. The state government aims to ensure that the benefits of tourism are not limited to major tourist destinations but reach remote rural and tribal areas as well. Through rural tourism, new opportunities for livelihoods and self-employment can be created for local youth, women, self-help groups, artisans, and rural entrepreneurs.
Minister Agrawal stated that the ‘Chendru State Rural Tourism Award’ seeks to recognize individuals and organizations that are transforming the face of their villages and regions through tourism at the grassroots level. By promoting homestays, local cuisine, handicrafts, folk art, folk culture, natural and cultural heritage, and community-based tourism, Chhattisgarh can emerge as a distinctive model for rural tourism in the country.
He stated that under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, the state government is continuously working to link tourism with employment and the local economy. Rural tourism holds the potential for tourists not merely to view a location but to experience its culture, traditions, cuisine, and lifestyle firsthand. This enables tourism-generated income to reach the local community directly.
Giving a National Platform to Chhattisgarh’s Unique Identity through the Name ‘Chendru’
The name ‘Chendru’ highlights the unique identity of Chhattisgarh that once brought national and international recognition to Bastar and its authentic, natural way of life. Now, the State Rural Tourism Award, established under this name, will honour and recognize the grassroots heroes and organizations doing remarkable work in the field of rural tourism across Chhattisgarh’s villages.
At the village Gadhbengal in Narayanpur district in Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, the Tiger Boy Chendru, who was famous internationally for his friendship with a Tiger called Tembu was borned.
When Chendru was a small boy, his father and other relatives, who were hunters, had gifted him a tiger cub while returning from a hunt and instantly both became friends.
The friendship between Chendru and the tiger Tembu spread like a wild fire and people from various walks of life visited their native Gadhbengal to see the duo.
When the story reached overseas, a Sweden film maker Arne Sucksdorff reached Bastar and stayed there for a year in his village Gadhbengal and made a film “The Jungle Saga” in 1957 based on the life of Chendru and his tiger Tembu.
In this Hollywood movie Chendru played the role of hero with his tiger Tembu. This was not only a hit movie but also got Oscar.
When Arne Sucksdorff was returning back to Sweden he took back Chendru with him for a year. After a year when the Tiger Boy returned back to India he met the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru also.
In Sweden Arne Sucksdorff’s wife Astrid Bergman Sucksdorff, who herself a famous photographer, while shooting for the movie at Bastar had taken several photographs of Chendru and wrote a book titled “Chendru The Boy And The Tiger” which was also sold like a hot cake.
However, after he returned to his village, Chendru’s tiger friend Tembu passed away.
In the year 1973 Chendru passed away at the age of 78. But even today he is the real hero among the people.
Recognition with a Cash Prize of Rs One Lakh and a Citation
Under this award, the selected individual or organization will receive an annual cash prize of Rs one lakh along with a citation. According to the rules, an individual can receive this honour only once in their lifetime. The objective is to showcase highly innovative and impactful initiatives, thereby creating new, inspiring stories of rural tourism within the state.
A Six-Member Jury to Evaluate Outstanding Work
A six-member jury has been constituted to evaluate the entries received for the award. The jury will be chaired by the Managing Director of the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board and will include experts and officials from the tourism sector. The evaluation process will prioritize aspects such as the work undertaken in rural tourism, its impact, local community participation, employment generation, and the preservation of culture and natural heritage.
Entries to be Invited via Newspapers
The Chhattisgarh Tourism Board will invite entries for the ‘Chendru State Rural Tourism Award’ by publishing advertisements in leading newspapers. Applicants will be required to submit their profiles, photographs, proof of local residency in Chhattisgarh, Aadhaar cards, and evidence regarding their work and achievements in the field of rural tourism.
Recognition at State Festival; Success Stories to be Showcased Nationally
The selected winners, or representatives of the chosen organizations, will be honoured during the State Festival. An illustrated souvenir highlighting the winners’ work, innovations, and achievements will also be released on this occasion. This initiative will bring widespread recognition to the remarkable efforts being made in the field of rural tourism and inspire other villages and communities to pursue tourism-led development.
New Expansion for Homestays and Community-Based Tourism
The potential for rural tourism in Chhattisgarh is deeply rooted in the state’s diverse geographical and cultural characteristics. From the tribal cultures of Bastar and Sarguja to the traditional cuisine, folk arts, handicrafts, fairs, festivals, natural landscapes, and local lifestyles of rural areas, the state offers tourists a unique experience. In this context, homestay and community-based tourism models can serve as effective means to strengthen the local economy while introducing tourists to Chhattisgarh’s authentic cultural identity.
The expansion of rural tourism will lead to the decentralization of tourism activities, ensuring that economic benefits reach the villages. This will not only boost local employment and self-employment opportunities but also encourage the preservation of traditional arts, crafts, cuisine, folk culture, and natural heritage.
Through the ‘Chendru State Rural Tourism Award,’ the Chhattisgarh government aims to establish rural tourism not merely as a tourism activity, but as an effective vehicle for the socio-economic empowerment of local communities, cultural preservation, and sustainable development.
