Bazaars & Markets
Tribal Haats of Bastar
Weekly tribal markets where forest communities converge — selling Dhokra craft, wild honey, bamboo products, forest brews, and more.
Bastar's weekly haat bazaars are among the most authentic tribal markets in India. Vendors arrive from villages up to 20 km away — walking barefoot, carrying forest produce, handcrafts, and traditional beverages. Markets typically run from sunrise to 4 PM. Cultural note: tribal women can be identified by traditional nose jewellery worn on both sides.
Weekly Haat Schedule
Plan your visit around these tribal market days for the best experience.
Jagdalpur Sunday Haat
📍 Jagdalpur City
The largest and most accessible tribal haat in Bastar — held weekly in the district headquarters. Hundreds of tribal vendors from surrounding villages converge with forest produce, handcrafts, vegetables, and traditional fermented beverages.
⏰ Sunrise to 4 PM
Best For
Bastar Haat (Thursday)
📍 Village near Jagdalpur
One of the most popular traditional tribal haats for witnessing authentic customs and purchasing genuine handicrafts. Tribal women walk 15–20 km from surrounding villages to sell here. The cultural atmosphere is unmatched.
⏰ 8 AM to 4 PM
Best For
Lohandiguda Haat
📍 Near Chitrakote Falls road
A vibrant Friday market on the main route to Chitrakote Falls — ideal to combine with a waterfall visit. Forest produce, seasonal vegetables, and tribal craft items.
⏰ Morning to 4 PM
Best For
Tokapal Haat
📍 Tokapal town
Known especially for Rusum — a jaggery-based brown brew unique to this region. Also has excellent bamboo products and tribal produce.
⏰ Morning to 4 PM
Best For
Kondagaon Sunday Haat
📍 Kondagaon Town
Kondagaon is the major hub for Dhokra metal craft and wooden craft artisans — home to 150+ dedicated Dhokra artisans. Sunday's haat is the best place to buy directly from makers at true artisan prices.
⏰ 8 AM to 4 PM
Best For
Nangur Haat
📍 Nangur
A smaller tribal haat in Nangur with traditional forest produce, seasonal fruit, and occasional handcraft vendors.
⏰ Morning to early afternoon
Best For
What You'll Find
Dhokra Craft
Tribal Jewellery
Bamboo Products
Forest Produce
What to Buy at the Haats
🍃 Food & Beverages
Mahua Drink
₹100–₹150 per 650mlFermented flower brew — culturally significant
Landa (Rice Beer)
₹20–₹50 per leaf cupServed in sal leaf cups
Salphi (Palm Beer)
₹30–₹80 per cupFrothy, freshly tapped palm toddy
Rusum (Jaggery Brew)
₹30–₹60 per cupTokapal Haat specialty
Chaprah Chutney
₹50–₹100 per portionRed ant chutney — tribal delicacy
Tamarind (Imli)
Market priceJagdalpur = Asia's largest tamarind market
TIKU (rice confection)
₹20–₹50Rice and sugar sweet
Fresh forest vegetables
SeasonalBamboo shoots, mushrooms, greens
Dried fish
Market priceRiver fish from Indravati
🏺 Crafts & Goods
Dhokra metal crafts
₹200–₹5,000+GI-tagged brass/bell metal figures
Tribal jewellery
₹50–₹500Beads, cowrie, terracotta ornaments
Terracotta figurines
₹50–₹300Clay animals, pots, lamps
Bastar wooden carvings
₹200–₹2,000GI-tagged sal and teak carvings
Bamboo products
₹50–₹500Baskets, mats, containers, fans
Handloom textiles
₹300–₹2,000Kosa silk and hand-woven cotton
🌲 Forest Produce
Tendu leaves
CG produces 20% of India's tendu — used for bidi wrapping
Mahua flowers/seeds
₹40–₹160/kg — economic lifeline for tribal families
Wild honey
Multi-flora forest honey
Medicinal herbs
Harra, Bahera, Amla, Tikhur, Giloy
Sal seeds (for butter)
Exported internationally by chocolate brands
Chironji
Forest nut — seasonal
Bastar's Forest Economy
Tamarind
- •Jagdalpur is Asia's largest tamarind market
- •₹36/kg minimum support price
- •TRIFED's Bastar VDVK converts raw tamarind (₹40/kg) to tamarind bricks (₹160/kg) — 4x value addition
- •350 tribal women in 15 SHGs
Mahua
- •Mahua flowers are the economic lifeline of tribal families
- •85,000 tonnes collected annually across Chhattisgarh
- •28,600 people employed per year
- •₹5,000 average household income per family per season
Tendu Leaves
- •Chhattisgarh produces ~20% of India's total tendu leaves
- •Bastar tendu — prized for green colour and pliability for bidi wrapping
- •16.7 lakh standard bags
Sal Butter
- •Sal seed butter (kokum) from Bastar forests is exported to international chocolate manufacturers
- •Used as a cocoa butter substitute in premium chocolate production
Online Tribal Markets
Can't visit in person? Buy authentic Bastar products from verified online stores.
Tribal Smart
Official tribal products store — authentic crafts, textiles, and food products directly from tribal artisan communities.
GiTAGGED
Specialises exclusively in GI-certified authentic products. All Bastar items are verified original — Dhokra, iron craft, wooden craft.
Bastar Foods (Amazon)
Bastar Foods' official Amazon store — organic tribal food products including Mahua Tea, Wild Honey, Ragi Cookies, Energy Bars, and more. Founded 2018, employs 350 tribal women.
Bastar Arts
Curated online store for authentic Dhokra metal craft and original Gond paintings from Bastar artisans. Pan-India shipping.
Shambhavi Creations
Supports 50+ Bastar artisans. Global exports, 1000+ customers. Use code WELCOME10 for 10% off first order.
The India Craft House
38 products from Bastar tribal art — iron candle holders, curios, Dhokra items. Curated selection at ₹500–₹5,000.
Shop Authentic Bastar Products
Browse our curated collection of GI-tagged Dhokra art, tribal textiles, organic forest foods, and handcrafted products — direct from artisans.