Believed to be the birthplace of Saint Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya, the founder of Vallabh sect, Champaran is a quaint village, about 60 km from Raipur. Formerly known as Champajhar, it is home to two temples constructed in honour of the saint: Prakatya Baithakji Mandir and Mool Prakatya also known as Chhatti Baithak. A small stream of River Mahanadi flowing nearby is worshipped in the form of River Yamuna. 

Champaran is known for being the birthplace of the first Satyagraha movement by Mahatma Gandhi, in 1917. When Gandhi returned from South Africa in 1916, he saw farmers being oppressed by indigo planters. He used the same methodology he had once put to use in South Africa to organise mass protests against this injustice, where Britishers grew indigo forcibly to extract opium for their trade with China. At village Barharwa Lakhansen, Gandhi started the first ever basic school in November 1917. 

Other Attractions in Raipur