India, Oct. 9 -- Besieged by Naxal menace for the last three decades, Bastar has now changed tack after the elimination of ultra-Left terror, as it pulls tourists who are venturing into the region's forests, waterfalls and tribal culture. Bastar's tourism numbers are now telling a story the region has not been able to witness for a long time.

Post-monsoon, Bastar is at its most dramatic: the forests thicken, the waterfalls swell, and the usual trickle of visitors turns into something closer to a rush. Hotel and homestay operators near the region's main attractions say they have already started preparing for the crowds expected around Bastar Dussehra, Navratri and Diwali.

Dussehra itself runs for 75 days this year, and it is being treate...