Damau dhara
Damau Dhara, also called Damau Dahra, is a religious site and popular picnic spot in the Sakti district of Chhattisgarh, near Gunji village (often referred to as Gunji-Barpali). To the north across a hill is Rainkhol. The place lies on the road between Sakti and Korba, about 14 miles from Sakti on National Highway 200.
Damau Dahra means “ravine of Damau” because a waterfall from the Gupt Godavari river has carved a deep gorge. The river comes from the Satpura Range, and Damau Dhara sits at the southern edge of these hills. A small temple on the hilltop offers a long view of Sakti and the surrounding area.
Every January a large mela (fair) is held. Sadhus from many places gather to bathe in the local kund after solar eclipses; monkeys are known to jump into the canyon just after the eclipse ends.
Near the waterfall is an ancient inscription on a wall, written in several languages. Folklore says it contains a message in all the languages known at that time. Archaeologists date it to around the 1st century CE and note the language is Pali. The Archaeological Survey of India discusses two parts of the inscription, mentioning names and reigns that have sparked debates about its age.
Local legends say deciphering all the languages could bring wealth, with gold stored in large bronze vessels buried at Damau Dhara. A king of Sakti once sent scholars from Kashi to read it, but they could not, and in anger fired a gun at the inscription, damaging part of it. Today a tin shed protects the writing.
A traditional story about Mama and Bhanja explains how a field gifted by an uncle to his nephew can become very fertile and fruitful.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 11:54 (CET).