Although elephants and humans in India share a primitive yet dynamic relationship, it has not been long since Chhattisgarh saw the arrival of these pachyderms. Unfortunately, the state is riddled with deforestation, habitat degradation and fragmentation, and unsustainable land-use patterns. Consequently, it faces the inevitable challenge of human-elephant conflict (HEC), potentially threatening biodiversity and socioeconomic disasters. This study investigates the perceptions regarding HEC among inhabitants of four villages that experience regular conflict situated within Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve (USTR) and the Dhamtari Forest Division and examines the drivers of these conflicts, patterns in interactions, expected mitigation approaches, and attitudes of people towards environmental conservation. Additionally, it explores the efforts of the state forest department in HEC mitigation, wildlife conservation, and socioeconomic development, and attempts to gather a basic understanding of the aspects of the foraging behaviour of elephants that contribute to the HEC issue in and around USTR. The outcomes indicate recurring themes and patterns in the people's responses, underscoring the complex narratives of those affected by HEC. Several on-field observations regarding biodiversity monitoring, forest management techniques, non-timber forest product harvesting, and elephant tracking were documented. The study emphasises the need for cost-effective strategies that provide tangible benefits to communities affected by HEC, ensuring sustainable elephant populations and enhanced coexistence between humans and elephants.