Sambalpur is the second largest city in the Indian state of Odisha located 443 feet above sea level. Sambalpur has a literacy rate of 85% and Oriya and Hindi are the most widely spoken languages of the residents staying in this city. Sambalpur coordinates with 21.28’ degree North Latitude and 83.58’ degree East Longitude and Pin Code being 768001.

Sambalpur History & Meaning:

Sambalpur gets its name from goddess Samalei who is considered to be the main deity of this region. Formally called as Sumelpur, Sambalpur was ruled by French during 1605 A.D. to 1689 A.D. Sambalpur was ruled by Chauhan dynasty in 1540 A.D. and was a part of kingdom of Patna. It came under the Bhonsale rule in 1800 and during the Third Anglo Maratha War in 1817, the Bhonsles were defeated by the British and literally became a part of the British rule till the year 1947 when India gained freedom from the British rule.

Tourist attractions in Sambalpur:

Chiplima:

Chiplima is a popular picnic spot situated about 37 kms from Sambalpur. Other main attraction includes a natural waterfall and Ghanteshwari temple.

Hirakud Dam:

Hirakud Dam is one of the longest dams built across river Mahanadi located at a distance of 15 kms from Sambalpur. The dam provides ideal picnic spot during weekends and attracts many tourists from all over the world.

Samaleswari Temple:

Samaleshwari temple is located on the banks of river Mahanadi and is dedicated to goddess Samaleswari who is the main deity of the temple. The temple draws huge gatherings during Navratri festival.

Huma Temple:

Huma temple is another popular tourist attraction in Sambalpur located 23 kms away from Sambalpur built in 1670 by king Balair Singh. The temple is dedicated to lord Shiva and attracts many devotees and tourists especially during Mahashivratri festival.

Ushakothi Wildlife Sanctuary:

The sanctuary also called as Badram wildlife sanctuary is approx 43 kms from Sambalpur located along National Highway 6. The sanctuary was found in the year 1962 and covers a total area of 130 sq kms. The sanctuary is rich in natural vegetation and tourists can spot many wild animals like elephants, tigers, cheetah, bison, wild boar, jackals, wild dogs and reptiles like king cobra, phyton and russel viper.

Ghanteswari Temple:

The temple is dedicated to goddess Ghanteswari sited on the banks of river Mahanadi which is approx 33 kms from Sambalpur. The locals believe that whoever visits the temple will get their wishes fulfilled by the mother goddess. The temple attracts huge devotees during Navratri festival.

Culture & Festivals in Sambalpur:

Sambalpur is rich in culture, tradition and festivals as many events are celebrated in a grand scale by the locals living in Sambalpur. Some of the common festivals celebrated are Sambalpur Lok Mahotsav, Sitalsasthi Carnival, Makarashankarnti, Id-Ul-Zua, Mahashivaratri, Janmasthami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Deepavali and Navratri. Sambalpur wears a festive look and color during festival times.

Connectivity to Sambalpur in Odisha:

Sambalpur is nicely connected by road, rail and air modes of transport. Sambalpur lies very close to National Highway 10 which is a great advantage as far as road connectivity is concerned. Regular bus services are available from Sambalpur to Raipur and Bhubaneshwar at frequent intervals. Sambalpur is also well connected by Indian Railways as many trains pass through Sambalpur Railway Station. Direct train services are available from Sambalpur to Raipur, Bhubaneshwar, Puri, Cuttack, Kolkata and other important cities. The nearest airport is Bhubaneshwar Airport located 325 kms away from Sambalpur. A new airport is being planned at Jharsuguda approx 50 kms from Sambalpur.

Hotels in Sambalpur:

Sambalpur has some fine hotels, resorts and guest houses to accommodate the locals as well as international tourists who visit the place all round the year. Hotels range from 1 star rating to 5 star rating and the tariffs differ from hotel to hotel. Hotels in Sambalpur show good hospitality services to the tourists who ever takes accommodation in hotels. They provide bed, breakfast, lunch, different cuisines, menus, Ayurvedic therapies, massages, saloons and spa, airport pickup and drop, travel help desk, undertake counter ticket booking etc. List of hotels located in and near Sambalpur are:

• Hotel Linja
• Hotel Sujata
• Uphar Hotel
• Hotel Ashok
• Hotel Lakshmi Niwas
• Hotel Orissa Inn
• Hotel Sheela Towers
• Hotel Uphar Palace
• Hotel Harjit Residency
• Hotel Tribeni
• Hotel Saket
• Panthnivas Hotel
• Hotel Apsara
• Hotel Natraj

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Rourkela is the 3^rd largest city in the Indian state of Odisha located in Sundergarh district is well known for its mineral industries and is situated approx 340 kms from Bhubaneshwar. Rourkela is positioned at an elevation of 719 feet above sea level and Oriya is the main language spoken by the residents living in this part of the city. Rourkela coordinates with 22.14’57” degree North Latitude and 84.52’58” degree East Longitude.

Meaning & History of Rourkela:

Rourkela is derived from local tribal language of Sadri which means “Our Village”. Rourkela was inhabited by a community called Raulia who were the foremost inhabitants of this place.

Must see places in and near Rourkela:

Hanuman Vatika:

This is one of the major tourist attraction in Odisha as a 75 feet tall statue of lord Hanuman greets the visitors as they approach the steel city.

Vedavyas:

This is one of the sacred places located 9 kms away from Rourkela located at the confluence of 3 rivers namely Sankha, Koel and Saraswati. The region is a natural beauty and is a Tirtha which has a vedic ashram and a Gurukula school.

Mandira Dam:

The dam is an ideal place for weekend picnics and excursions for entire family and friends. Many local as well as outside tourists visit the dam which provides water supply to steel plant.

Ghogar Temple:

The temple is about 30 kms from Odisha famous for naturally formed linga on a black granite which attracts many tourists all round the year.

Khandadhar:

Khandadhar is famous for its waterfalls is approx 90 kms away from Odisha where river Khandadhar plunges from a height of 244 meters and finally joins the Bay of Bengal. The falls attracts many visitors during the rainy seasons, when the falls will be at its full glory.

Darjin:

Darjin is a well known its picnic spot located on the banks of river Brahmani which is approx 51 kms from Odisha draws many tourists from different parts of the country.

Maa Vaishno Devi Temple:

This temple is located on a small hillock bound by lush greenery and good atmosphere. Beside Vaishno Devi temple, there are also temples dedicated to goddess Kali, Lakshmi and Saraswati. Many tourists and devotees visit the place during Navratri.

Laxmi Narayan Mandir:

Located at quite a few distance from Rourkela this temple is away from the city hustle and bustle and is housed atop a hillock which has a temple dedicated to lord Vishnu and goddess Lakshmi.

Green Park:

Green Park is located in the heart of the city spreading over 910542 sq miles rich in flora and fauna. The park is visited by young, old, local as well as international tourists throughout the year.

Ushakothi:

This is one of the well known wildlife sanctuary surrounded by lush greenery and abundant flora and fauna. The sanctuary is spread over 130 sq kms and tourists can spot wild animals like elephants, tigers, leopards, gaur, chital, bison, wild boar, black bucks and nilgai in their natural habitat.

Indira Gandhi Park:

The Park is spread across 42 acres and has variety of flowers, trees and grass meadows. The park also has a Japanese garden, an aquarium and a mini zoo which is delight to the tourists.

Darjeeng:

Darjeeng is a beautiful picnic spot situated at few kms from Rourkela lying on the banks of river Brahmani attracts many travelers and visitors all round the year.

Joranda Falls:

The falls are located in near vicinity of Ushakothi wildlife sanctuary where the falls drop from a height of 150 meters. It is one of the popular tourist sites near Rourkela.

Mrig Vihar:

This mini park houses numerous deers which also has a musical fountain to the much delight of the tourists. Many visitors and tourists come to Mrig Vihar at all times of the year.

Pitamahal Dam:

The dam was built in the year 1978 across river Pitamahal and is approx 22.3 kms from Rourkela is an ideal picnic spot during weekends.

Other attractions near Rourkela are:

• Barehipani Falls
• Badagraha Falls
• Duduma Falls
• Hatipathar Falls
• Harishankar Falls

Bhubaneshwar:

The capital city of Odisha is about 319 kms from Rourkela famous for temples and gardens.

Puri:

Puri is about 374 kms from Rourkela known for temples, beaches and museums.

Konark:

Konark is approx 377 kms from Rourkela is a well known pilgrimage center and hosts many beaches and temples.

Connectivity to Rourkela in Odisha:

Rourkela is well connected by National Highway 23 and State Highway 10 which lie at close vicinity. Many state and private buses operate between Rourkela and Bhubaneshwar at regular point of time. Rourkela is also linked by Indian Railways where many express trains pass through Rourkela Railway Station that lies on Howrah- Mumbai route. Many flights also operate from Rourkela Airport to Jamshedpur, Cuttack, Bhubaneshwar, Bokaro, Patna and Ranchi.

Hotels in Rourkela:

Rourkela being one of the major tourist destination in Odisha has many good hotels catering to the accommodation facilities of the tourists visiting the place from time to time. The hotels range from 1 star category to 5 star and offer hosts of amenities and services like doctors on call, ambulance on call, arrange for ticket booking, conduct package tours, spa, sauna, set up travel and help desk etc. List of hotels located in Rourkela are:

• The Central Park Hotel
• Hotel Tridev International
• Hotel Brindaban
• The Regency Inn
• Hotel Anurag
• Hotel Shubham
• Hotel Radhika Regency
• Hotel Deepti
• Hotel Sukhsagar
• Hotel Solan
• Hotel Astha
• Hotel Chandralok

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Paradeep also written as Paradip is a popular seaport town situated in Jagatsinghpur District in the Indian State of Odisha. It is placed at an elevation of 1 meters and lies between latitude 20.32° in the north and longitude 86.62° in the east. Paradeep is sited about 105 km east of state capital Bhubaneshwar and about 83 km away from Cuttack City.

Paradip is a popular tourist destination in the state houses numerous famous tourist attractions, wildlife sanctuaries, beach and religious places. Apart from the tourism industry, Paradeep is highly emerging in industrial sector.

Paradeep is home to most numbers of major industries like steel plants, alumina refineries, a petrochemical complex and thermal power plants. Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd. and Essar Steel have established their units in Paradeep.

Connectivity to Paradeep:

Due to the near proximity with Bhubaneshwar and Cuttack City, Paradeep has got good connectivity with main cities of the state and the country as well. There are regular government and private organizations buses are ply between Paradeep and its surrounding towns.

Paradip Port Trust Bus Stand is a major bus station of the town and other than Paradip Port Trust Bus Stand, one can catch buses at local bus junctions.

Paradeep has own railway station Paradip Railway Station placed 6 km from the heart of the town. The distance between Paradeep and the Bhubaneshwar Airport is about 109 kms.

Culture, Food and Shopping in Paradeep:

Paradeep is populated with all the major religions like Hindu, Muslim, Christians and Hindus are higher in majority. Oriya is the official and local language of Paradeep. The natives of Paradeep speak Hindi, Telugu, English and other north Indian languages along with Oriya Language.

The most of the cuisines of the Paradeep are similar to South Indian foods. Puri, Dosa, Idly and Upma are the general food items of Paradeep. Pakhala is a special type of rice item and is very popular dish in summer season. Rasagola sweet item famous not only in Paradeep but also all around the state.

Because of the industrialization and tourism, there are plenty of star hotels, international branded cloth stores, retail outlets, handicraft shops and gadget centres have started their operations all round the Paradeep to fulfill the requirement of corporate peoples and tourists.

Places to see in Paradeep:

Paradip Port:

Paradip Port is a prime tourist destination and the major landmark of Paradeep. It has main sea-borne trade centre and its inauguration was done by the former and first prime minster of India Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in the year 1962. The port is well known for cargo berths, iron ore berths, coal handling plants and container handling facilities.

Bhitarkanika National Park:

Bhitarkanika National Park is spread over an area of 625 sq. km. located in Kendrapara District. This park houses spotted deer, sambar, python, king cobra, fishing cat, leopard cat and terrapin. The park is home to reptile species like bar headed geese, pintail, white bellied sea eagle, salt water crocodile and hornbills. Between September and November is the best time to visit Bhitarkanika National Park.

Jhankad:

Jhankad is a region popular for its ancient Sarala Temple situated near Cuttack City. This temple is well known for its Sri Mahabishuba Sankranti, Raja Sankranti and annual car festival. Sarala Temple is dedicated to Goddess Sarala.

Baladeva Temple:

Baladeva Temple also called as Tulasi Kshetra situated in Kendrapara. It is one of the major worship places in the state and this temple is devoted to Lord Baladeva.

Gahirmatha Beach:

Gahirmatha Beach is the best weekend picnic spot has near proximity with Bhitarkanika National Park and Gahirmatha Marine Wildlife Sanctuary.          

Few other top attractions in Paradeep are:

• Cuttack Chandi Temple
• Barabati Fort
• Qadam-I-Rasool
• Shahi Mosque
• Dhavaleswar
• The Stone Revetments of Cuttack
• The Gurdwara Daatan Sahib
• Singanatha Temple
• Dhavaleswar

Best time to visit Paradeep:

The ideal time to visit this park is from January to February, as the weather remains pleasant during these two months.

Accommodation options in Paradeep:

The luxury hotels in Paradeep and Cuttack (83 km away from Paradeep) are as follows:

• Golden Anchor Hotel
• Panthanivas –Paradeep
• Hotel Shree Residency
• Paradeep International Hotel
• Country Inn
• Aristocrat Hotel
• Empire Paradip Hotel
• Hotel Golden Anchor
• Hotel Marina
• Hotel Sea Perl
• Bombay Inn Hotel
• The Triple C
• Akbari Continental Hotel
• Ashoka Hotel
• Dwaraka Hotel
• Shri Jagannath Hotel
• Maitry Hotel

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It is situated about 25 km from Bhawanipatna Town and about 476 km from state capital city Bhubaneshwar.

Junagarh is placed between 19°51′42.35″ N latitude and 82°56′26.32″ E longitude. Junagarh Town covers an area of 20 sq. km. and is positioned at an elevation of 248 meters. The Postal Code of Junagarh is 766014.

Junagarh is widely popular for its lakes, fruit garden, well-built fort and temples. Also the town houses numerous well facilitated schools, colleges and hospitals.

Major Temples in Junagarh are:

• Lankeswari Temple
• Kanak Durga Temple
• Sri Ram Temple
• Gayatri Temple

 History and Culture of Junagarh:

Junagarh had a splendid history and grand civilization in ancient times. Junagarh was ruled by major dynasties of the country like Maurya Empire, Gangas Dynasty, Nala Kings and British.

Maa Lankeshwari Temple is the main temple of the town and there is Khandabasa festival held every year. The natives highly speak Kalahandia language along with Kui, Bhatri, Parji, Bhunjia language.

Junagarh has a strong cultural background and the blend of Aryan and tribal culture makes Junagarh wealthy in its festivals and traditions. Junagarh is famous for its Handloom Sarees and handicraft shops. Ghumura Dance and Banabadi Dance are the popular dance styles in Junagarh.

Cuisine of Junagarh:

The natives of Junagarh have the great taste of both vegetarian and non vegetarian food items. Alu Jhol, badi jhol, Kulersag, Kakharu Sakra are the main vegetarian dishes and Main Mach, Maus tarkari, Besar Mach are the major non vegetarian cuisines of Junagarh.

Connectivity to Junagarh:

Due to the presence of tourist places in near proximity, Junagarh has got good connectivity all over the state. Bhawanipatna City Bus Stand is the major bus stand located about 25 km from Junagarh and also buses of major cities of the state are accessible at other nearby bus stations.

There are daily trains available at Bhawanipatna Railway Station (26 km away from Junagarh) to Cuttack and Bhubaneshwar. Raipur Airport is the closest airport to Junagarh situated at a distance of 248 kms. Also there are plenty of private vehicles available to reach Airport and Railway Stations in Junagarh.

Tourist places in and around Junagarh:

 Ampani Hills:

Ampani Hills is one of the major attractions of Junagarh. Trekking is the most enjoyable activity in Ampani Hills and also it has near proximity with popular tourist attractions like The Haladigundi Valley, Behera Reservoir and Ambapani Sanctuary.

Amathaguda Fort:

Amathaguda Fort is a historical monument located on the right side of Tel River. It is a great viewpoint of ancient bridge. Amathaguda Fort attracts tourists highly in monsoon season for sightseeing purpose.

Asurgarh:

Asurgarh is a one of the villages of Kalahandi district and is famous for Asurgarh Fort. The fort was constructed in rectangular shape with four entrances and this ancient fort was the house of a devil Gosinha Daitya. The fort has four idols, each of the idols placed in each doorway. The idol of Vaishnavi Devi installed in south door, Ganga Devi idol in east, the idol of Buddaraja towards north and Kala Pahad idol in west.

Gudahandi Hills:

Gudahandi Hills is well known for its very old caves of stunning pictures. It has several attractive caves and the main cave colored with black and red paint. Behera River flows near Gudahandi Hills.

Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary

Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the village of Karlapat and was established in the year 1992. It houses the major wild animals like gaur, leopard, nilgai, tiger, sambar and barking deer. Also Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary has rare kind of flora and fauna and has near proximity with Phurlijharan Waterfall, Khanduala Fall and Goddess Manikeswari Temple.

Few other top tourist attractions near Junagarh are:

• Belkhandi
• Junagarh
• Lakshmi Sagar
• Palmajharan
• Dhoben Chanchra
• Dokrichanchara
• Nilakantheswar Temple
• Chamda Bandh
• Kastura Sagar
• Phurli Jharan Waterfall
• Karaka
• Danteswari Temple
• Ghumar

Best time to visit Junagarh:

Ideal time to visit Junagarh is winter season from October to March.

Accommodation options in Junagarh:

Hotels located near Junagarh provide quality hospitality services to both natives and the tourists. Prominent hotels situated near Junagarh are:

• Hotel Centre Park
• Hotel Bhagirathi
• Hotel Amulya
• Hotel Jaganju
• Hotel Ruchi
• Jayanti Hotel
• Hotel Regency
• Jalaram Lodge
• Laxmi Guda
• Sai Krishna Hotel
• Apoorva Hotel
• Indra Bhawan Lodge
• Manorama Lodge
• Lalit Mahal Lodge

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It is one of the famous tourist destinations and the major commercial hub of Odisha State. Jharsuguda is popularly called as ‘the Power House of Odisha’ because of its larger presence of thermal power plants.

Jharsuguda is located between latitude 21.85° in the north and longitude 84.03° in the east. Jharsuguda District is surrounded by Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh in the west, Bargarh district to the south, Sambalpur district towards east and Sundargarh district in the north.

Jharsuguda District covers an area of 2,081 sq. km. and is positioned at an elevation of 218 meters. The Pin Code of Jharsuguda begins from 768201. Jharsuguda is located about 338 kms northwest of state capital city Bhubaneswar.

Jharsuguda is an upcoming industrial hub houses metal industry, cement factories, coal mines and has rich mineral resources. Ib River and Vheden River are the main rivers flowing through western and southern side of the Jharsuguda town respectively.

Culture of Jharsuguda:

Jharsuguda has always seen a very diverse population, especially since modern times. There are a lot of festivals & events hosted in Jharsuguda like Nuakhai, Rath Yatra, Durga Puja, Ganesh Puja and Bhai Jauntia.

Jharsuguda has a very strong art and culture scene, also a centre of renowned colleges, academic institutions, important central government establishments, scientific and research institutes and organizations.

Food and Shopping in Jharsuguda:

Jharsuguda has mixed food culture of both north and south Indian. Rice is used by majority of people also some people use wheat, maize and jowar as part of their routine diet. Buta Dali, Dalma, Mitha Bhata, Poda Pitha are the popular food items and Rasagolla is the famous sweet item of Jharsuguda.

Jharsuguda has plenty of modern shopping centres like malls, mobile showrooms and branded cloth stores. Along with modern shopping centres, Jharsuguda hosts numerous handcrafts shops, archeological item centres and home made things shops. Jharsuguda is jam packed with full of North Indian and South Indian Hotels and Restaurants.

Connectivity to Jharsuguda:

Jharsuguda is well connected by major cites of the state and the country through State Highway 10 and National Highway 200. Auto rickshaws, Savaris, Vans and Buses are the primary modes of transport vehicles operating services in Jharsuguda. Jharsuguda City Bus Stand is the major bus stand at Jharsuguda.

Jharsuguda Railway Station is falls under South Eastern Railway Division on Howrah-Nagpur-Mumbai line and Jharsuguda-Vizianagaram line and there are daily trains available to major cities of the country. The Jharsuguda Airport is under development and presently, nearest Airport to Jharsuguda is Ranchi Airport situated about 310 km away.

Places to see in Jharsuguda:

Gudguda Waterfall:

Gudguda Waterfall is one of the stunning tourist destinations sited in Sambalpur District. It is located about 40 km from the midpoint of the Jharsuguda City. Gudguda waterfall is covered by dense forest attracts tourists from all around the state for its natural beauty. The striking view of the intense forest and the waterfall provides relief to the tourists.

The water from the waterfall is used for irrigation that provides employment to the people of the locality. Tourists crowd to the place during the Christmas holidays and New Year. Especially in winter season from November to February visitors gather here to have some enjoy and eat out.

Kolabira Fort:

Kolabira Fort is a historical fort constructed with both Indian and western style of architecture showcases the quality of work of ancient architectures. It is located about 18 kms from the heart of Jharsuguda City. Kolabira Fort was built during the 18^th century by the Chohan king of Sambalpur.

Shree Pahadeswar Temple:

Shree Pahadeswar Temple is placed east side of Jharsuguda Town at the peak of a small hill. It was built during the beginning of 20^th century by Gujarati Contractor Lt. Bitthal Bhai Saha. It is well surrounded by Garden, Ashram and is one of the best sightseeing spots in Jharsuguda.

Koilighughar  Waterfall:

Koilighughar water fall is a famous holy waterfall and has Shivalingam called as ‘Maheswarnath’. It is located about 54 km away from Jharsuguda Town and here water falls from the height of 200 feet. The Shivalingam is not easily visible and is only visible during the winter and summer under the reflected light of Sun.

Other tourist attractions near Jharsuguda include:

• Ruins of Hill Forts of Ulapgarh
• Ramchandi Shaktipitha
• Padmasini Temple
• Jhadeswar Temple
• Shiva Shrine of Mahadebpali
• Chandi Temple
• Laxmi Temple
• Durga Temple
• Hanuman Temple
• Lalpathar

 Ideal time to visit Jharsuguda:

Best time to visit Jharsuguda is from November to February because of the important festivals and its tourist friendly weather.

 Accommodation options in and around Jharsuguda:

The famous Hotels in Jharsuguda are as follows:

• The Orchard
• Hotel Lalit Heritage
• Hotel Meghdoot
• Hotel Aryan
• Yogendra Hotel
• Hotel City Palace
• Hotel Shankar
• Hotel King Palace
• Hotel Bishnu Palace
• Hotel Ajanta
• Konark Regency
• Utkal Continental

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Jeypore is a well known town situated in Koraput district in the Indian state of Odisha. It is located about 507 km southwest of state capital Bhubaneshwar and about 530 km away from Cuttack City. Jeypore is positioned between 18°51′55″ N latitude and 82°34′23″ E longitude. The Postal Code of Jeypore begins from 764001 and is placed at a height of 597 meters from the mean level of sea.

Jeypore is one of the famous tourist destinations of Odisha State includes dense green forests, waterfalls and best tribal folks. Jeypore is also a major commercial hub of the state houses numerous small and medium scale industries. M S Swaminathan Research Foundation and Rice Research – Kalajeera are the famous research centres placed in Jeypore.

History of Jeypore:

The literal meaning of Jeypore in Oriya Language is “the town of successes”. Jeypore hosts various ancient forts, palaces and temples. Kalinga Empire, Mahameghabahan Dynasty, Satavahana Dynasty, Nala kings and Marathas ruled Jeypore in the earlier times. Vikram Dev was the major king to rule Jeypore during 1936 supported more on establishment of educational institutions and cultural centres.

Culture, Food and Shopping in Jeypore:

Oriya is the widely spoken language in Jeypore and also several natives speak Telugu and Hindi as well. The locals celebrate Ghata Porbo, Durga Puja, Saraswati Puja and Biswakarma Puja festivals with great enthusiasm.  Dombo Baido’ and ‘Singha Baido’ are the famous local musical instruments used in local cultural programs by the natives.

Ala Pakhala, mutton, machha besara are the prominent non vegetarian food items and Idli, Dosa, Puri, Upma, Pesarattu, Uttapam and Vada are the daily dishes of Jeypore people. Also Jeypore houses several North Indian and South Indian Restaurants.

Acquatica is the major residence of Jeypore with top facilities like fitness center, water pool, saloon and recreation hall. Also Jeypore is home to numerous movie centres include Cineplex Laxmi Talkies and Bhaskar Talkies.

Connectivity to Jeypore:

Jeypore is well connected with all the major transport facilities like road, railway and air facilities. OSRTC is serving Jeypore with hi-tech buses and general buses. Jeypore Town Bus Stand is the major bus stand of the town and also city houses several local bus terminals.

Jeypore Railway station is situated 5 km away from the midpoint of Jeypore Town. Vishakapatnam Airport, Andra Pradesh is the nearest Airport to Jeypore located at a distance of 220 kms. There are Taxi and Auto services available to reach airport and railway station.

Tourist places in Jeypore:

Jagganath Sagar:

Jagganath Sagar is one of the main tourist attractions of Jeypore bound by stunning park & play area. There are several mouth-watering food serving hotels and boating club adjoining Jagganath Sagar.

Kolab Reservoir:

Kolab Reservoir is very famous for its natural beauty situated at an altitude of 3000 feet. It includes the green hills, clean water lakes and springs and is the best weekend picnic spot and boating spot.

Sabara Shrikhetra:

Sabara Shrikhetra is located in Koraput and is about 200 km from Jeypore Town. It is positioned at an elevation of 2,900 feet. and has near proximity with beautiful Jagannath Temple and the Tribal Museum.

 Gupteswar Cave:

Gupteswar Cave is a prominent holy place situated about 61 km from Jeypore City. It is widely popular for its cave temple of Lord Shiva and is visited by pilgrims from all parts of the country everyday.

Bagra Falls:

Bagra Falls is the popular picnic spot and here water falls from the height of 30 feet from the Kolab River. Also there are few rest houses situated near this waterfall.

 Other tourist attractions near Jeypore include:

• Sunabeda
• Nandapur
• Duduma
• Hatipathar
• Minna Jhola
• Deomali
• Kolab dam & garden
• Raja Mahal & Surya Mahal
• Shakti Water Fall
• Duduma
• Patnaik house
• Bagara
• Maligura

 Best time to visit Jeypore:

During the winter season, between October and February is the ideal time to visit Jeypore where the weather remains very cool and pleasant.

Accommodation Options in Jeypore:

The list of well facilitated hotels and lodges situated in and around Jeypore is as follows:

• Hello Jeypore Hotel
• Hotel Tripti Gold
• Sai Krishna Hotel
• Manorama Lodge
• Indra Bhavan Lodge
• Apoorva Hotel
• Rajdhani Lodge
• Hotel Sai Krishna
• Hotel Madhumati
• Hotel Sai Raj
• Hotel Apsara
• Hotel Shanti Nivas
• Hotel Woodlands
• Lalit Mahal Lodge
• Oorvasi Lodge

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Dhenkanal is a municipal town as well as the famous tourist place situated in Dhenkanal District in Odisha (Orissa) State. The Pin code of Dhenkanal starts from 759001 and the city lies at 20.67° N latitude 85.6° E longitude.

Dhenkanal district occupies an area of 4452 Sq. Kms. and is situated about 74 kms from the state capital city Bhubaneswar. Dhenkanal is bound by of Keonjhar in the north, Jaipur in the east, Angul in the west and Cuttack in the south. It has generally hot climate.

Dhanbad houses one railway station, police station, a park, several famous educational institutions and specialized hospitals. Dhenkanal district is also home to numerous medium and large scale industries include Shakti Sugar Ltd and BRG Steel Pvt. Ltd.

History and Culture of Dhenkanal

Until the independence of India, Dhenkanal was a princely state and later the princely state of Dhenkanal merged into the Indian Union. Dhenkanal witnessed a religious movement called “Mahima Dharma”.

Dhenkanal houses the higher majority of Hindu people along with minority of Muslim and Christians. Dhenkanal is well known for its Temples like Sri Raghunath Temple, Maa Brahmayani Temple and Naganatheswar Temple. Dhenkanal natives celebrate Maha Shivaratri festival with great enthusiasm.

Cuisine and Shopping in Dhenkanal:-

Dalma, Bara and Saag are the famous dishes and Chhenapoda, Chhenajhilli, Rasabali, Rasagola are the popular sweet items in Dhenkanal. The natives of Dhenkanal highly use rice, dal and vegetables to ready their dishes and also like non vegetarian foods of fish and prawn.

There are plenty of archeological centres and handicrafts shops situated in Dhenkanal and they offer varieties of products for tourists with great discounts. Also the city is well packed with modern shopping centres of cloths, wall clock, mobile centres and retail outlets.

How to reach Dhenkanal?

Dhenkanal is served by Bhubaneswar Airport located 78 kms away from the midpoint of the city. Dhenkanal has its own railway station with daily trains to Bhubaneswar placed 3 kms away from the city and one can board trains of New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore from Cuttack Railway Station (about 50 kms). Buses are easily accessible at Dhenkanal City Bus Stand.

Tourist places in Dhenkanal:-

Naganatheswar Temple:-

Naganatheswar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva placed in Nagena Village and is located about 20 km away from Dhenkanal city centre. It is one of the ancient temples of the district and was constructed during the period of Keshari Dynasty.

Kapilash Temple:-

Kapilash Temple is positioned about 2239 feet from the mean level of sea. It was built by Narasinghdeva-I in 1246 and the temple has the idols of Jagamohana, Sri Ganesh, Kartikeya, Gangadevi. Another famous temple of Dhenkanal Lord Biswanath Temple is located just beside the Kapilash Temple.

Sri Kanakeswar Temple:-

Sri Kanakeswar Temple is one of the Ashta Shambhu Shiva Temples in Dhenkanal near proximity with famous Ramachandi Temple.

Saptasajya:-

Saptasajya is a place of charming beauty situated 12 kms away from Dhenkanal City Bus stop. There are seven hills bordering Saptasajya because of this reason it is called as Saptasajya. The famous Maryada Purusottama Sri Ramachandra Temple is situated about 900 feet at the hilltop of Saptasajya.

Sri Annakoteswar Temple:-

Sri Annakoteswar Temple is highly popular for its Shiva Linga and is one of the major worship places sited near Dhenkanal.

Other tourist attractions near Dhenkanal:-

• Astasambhu Temple
• Kapilas Deer Park
• Sri Raghunath Temple
• Narayan Temple of Kapilas
• Maa Brahmayani Temple
• Jagannath Temple Deogaon
• Astasambhu Temple
• Sarang
• Ladagada
• Ganesh Khola

Best time to visit Dhenkanal:-

During the months of February and March is the best time to visit Dhenkanal.

Accomodation options in and around Dhenkanal:-

The hotels of Dhenkanal serve tourist with varieties of North India, South Indian and Chinese foods and also provide services of air ticket booking, hot water bath, pick up and drop facility to airport, room with attached bath room, vehicle parking, swimming pool, internet connectivity, conference room, doctor on call, 24 hour electricity, landline phone and free Wi Fi service. The best of royal hotels, home stays and resorts present in and around Dhenkanal are listed here below:

• Hotel RK Regency
• Hotel Sagar Sangam
• Sakuntala Hotel
• Surya Hotel
• Sneha Hotel & Resort
• Pramod Convention and Club Resort
• The Triple ‘C’
• Hotel Akbari Continental
• Hotel Bombay Inn
• Mayfair Lagoon

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Deogarh also known as Debagarh is a city and the administrative headquarter of Deogarh District in the Indian state of Odisha. It is located about 255 kms northwest of state capital Bhubaneshwar and about 231 km northwest of Cuttack city. Deogarh District covers an area of 2,781.66 sq. km. and positioned at 21.53° N latitude and 84.73° E longitude.

Deogarh is positioned at an altitude of 192 meters and the Postal Code of Deogarh is 768108. Deogarh District is bound by Sundargarh district in the north, Sambalpur district to the southwest and Anugul district towards southeast.

History of Deogarh:-

Raja Shri Basudeb Sudhal Deb was one of the famous kings ruled Deogarh during the period of 1869–1903. He was more concentrated on the development of literature, education and art. Raja Basu Dev High School is one of the major schools of Deogarh and was established by Raja Shri Basudeb Sudhal Deb.

Raja Sachidananda Tribhuban Dev, a son of Sir Sudhal Dev ruled Deoghar in the beginning of 20^th century and he was introduced hydro-electric system in Kodarkot water fall and was established cloth loom and sugar factory in 1908. Deogarh came into existence as a district on 1 January 1948 divided from Sambalpur District.

Culture, Food and Shopping in Deogarh:-

Pradhanpat Ustav is a famous annual fair celebrated in Deogarh near a stunning waterfall PRADHANPAT and this waterfall provides pure water for drinking purpose to public. Jagannath Sahitya Sansad is the chief cultural academy of Deogarh identifies and supports local art and literature talents.

A sweet item Rasagolla is very much popular in Deogarh and the locals have an equal concern for vegetarian and non vegetarian dishes. Fish and other seafood such as crab and shrimp are mainly used in family functions and also chicken and mutton are widely used non vegetarian staple foods in Deogarh. Mittha Dali, Mitha Bhata, Paratta and Puri are popular food items in Deogarh.

Deogarh proves to is good in shopping sector houses numerous major shopping centres of cloths, sports, electrical and electronic. There are several film theatres are also located in Deogarh.

How to reach Deogarh?

Deogarh people highly rely on private vehicles like Auto, Tempos and Jeeps and Buses. Buses are easily catchable at Deogarh City Bus Stand and other local bus terminals. Sambalpur Railway Station is the nearest railway station to Deogarh located at a distance of 90 kms. The distance between Deogarh and Bhubaneswar Airport is about 280 kms.

Tourist places in and around Deogarh:-

Pradhanpat Hill:-

Pradhanpat Hill with beautiful waterfalls located just near Deogarh Town and gives a great feel to tourists. It lies near National Highway 6 and located about 95 kms away from Sambalpur Town.

Khandadhar Waterfall:-

Khandadhar Waterfall is referred as India’s 12^th highest waterfall situated in Keonjhar, Odisha. The water falls from the height of 500 feet like horse tail here attracts tourists from all around the state.

Deogaon Kushaleswar:-

Deogaon Kushaleswar is the major Buddhist pilgrims centre located on the banks of Kusei River. It has near proximity with another popular tourist destination stone embankment.

Jhadeshwar Temple:-

Jhadeshwar Temple is a famous worship place dedicated to Lord Shiva situated on the banks of River Baitarani. An annually Baruni Festival celebrated in Jhadeshwar Temple in month of March.

The Handibhanga Waterfall:-

Handibhanga Waterfall is situated in Bahalda village of Keonjhar and here water falls from the height of 98 feet. Between the months of October and March is the great time to visit Handibhanga Waterfall to watch and enjoy the beauty of waterfalls.

Few other tourist destinations in Deogarh and Keonjhar are as follows:-

• Rajanagar
• Gonasika
• Badaghagara
• Sitabinji
• Chakratirtha
• District Library Keonjhar
• Murgamahadev
• District Museum Keonjhar
• Sanaghagara Waterfall
• Gundichaghai Waterfall

Best time to visit Deogarh:-

The months of Monsoon and Winter Season are the great time to reach Deogarh, when the waterfalls flows with full of water.

Accomodation Options near Deogarh:-

Deogarh houses few hotels presently and the major luxurious hotels are situated in Keonjhar (about 100 km from Deogarh). The list of hotels in and around Deogarh:

• Mayur Hotel
• Plaza Hotel
• The Sans,
• Pooja Lodge, Keonjhar
• Ajanta Hotel
• Baral Hotel
• Valley Hotel
• Baidyanath Hotel
• Shreekshetra International Hotel
• Raghunath Hotel
• Panthanivas Keonjhar
• Shankar Palace Hotel
• Ankita Hotel

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Brahmapur was earlier known as Berhampur is a coastline city in Ganjam district in the Indian state of Odisha located 160 kms away from Bhubaneshwar. Brahmapur is also called as “The Silk City” because the place is famous for silk sarees, temples and rich culture. Brahmapur has a literacy rate of 90% and its elevation level is 85 feet above sea level. Brahmapur coordinates with 19.32’ degree North Latitude and 84.78’ degree East Longitude and its Pin Code is 7600xx.

Meaning:

It is believed that Brahmapur was named after creator of the Universe lord Brahma, and hence it came to be known as Brahmapur.

Tourist attractions in and around Brahmapur:

Thakurani Yatra:

The Bi-Annual Thakurani Festival is one of the major festival celebrated in a grand scale by the locals living in Brahmapur. Many locals and travelers participate in huge numbers in this Yatra.

Gopalpur Beach:

The beach is located about 16 kms away from Brahmapur which is famous for its clear water and sun bath. Many tourists visit the beach to have a magnificent view of sunset towards Bay of Bengal in the evening.

Taratarini Temple:

This temple is dedicated to mother goddess Taratarini and is one of the ancient pilgrimage spots near Brahmapur. It is among the 4 Shakthi Peethas of India which attracts many pilgrims and devotees from all parts of the country.

Ballipadar:

Ballipadar is known for black bucks which the travelers can site during their visit to this place. It is a popular tourist spot near Brahmapur.

Siddhi Vinayak Peetha:

The temple is centrally located in the heart of the city dedicated to lord Ganesha and is known to be one of the biggest Ganesh temple in Odisha. The temple draws huge visitors during the times of Ganesh Chaturthi.

Mahurikalua:

Mahurikalua is about 30 kms from Brahmapur which has a temple dedicated to goddess Maa Shakthi Thakurani. The area is covered with thick forests and during the time of Sankranthi, devotees in large number throng to worship the goddess.

Dhabaleshwar Beach:

Dhabaleshwar is known for its beaches, temples and other water activities like surfing, sailing and sun bathing. It is one of the famous tourist spots near Brahmapur.

Siddha Bhairavi Temple:

The temple is dedicated to goddess Maa Bhairavi who is worshipped with true devotion and faith. It is one of the Shakthi Peethas in Odisha visited by large number of tourists all round the year.

Taptapani:

As the name suggests that it is hot water spring located 1800 feet above sea level and is 56 kms from Brahmapur. Another attraction near Taptapani is deer park which is maintained by the state forest department.

Bala Kumari Temple:

The temple is dedicated to goddess Durga who is worshipped as a virgin and the visitors have to climb 1240 steps to reach the temple.

Chilka Lake:

The lake is one of the biggest inland waterlake spreading across 1100 sq kms covering Puri, Khurda and Ganjam and finally merging with Bay of Bengal. The lake is rich in flora and fauna and the tourists can spot many rare species of migratory birds coming from Siberia.

Biranchi Narayan Sun Temple:

This temple is dedicated to lord Biranchi Narayan who is the main deity of this temple. The temple was built by Srikara Bhanja and is known for its well sketched wood carvings and paintings. It is a tourist spot near Brahmapur.

Kulada:

Kulada has a temple dedicated to goddess Bagh Devi located towards Northwest of Ganjam with river Mahanadi flowing in the east and covered by thick jungles in west. The devotees have to climb 210 steps to reach the temple which is atop a hillock.

Narayani:

Narayani is situated about 80 kms from Brahmapur atop Bhalleri hills which has a temple dedicated to goddess Durga. The temple is surrounded by natural scenic beauty and the travelers can have a good nice view of Chilka lake from top of the hill.

Potagarh:

Potagarh is known for historical fort which was built by the British during 18^th century located near river Rusikulya. It is one of the best picnic spots for travelers as Potagarh is located at confluence of river Rusikulya and Bay of Bengal.

Ujaleshwar:

Ujaleshwar is about 45 kms from Brahmapur that has a shrine of lord Ujalwshwar. It is believed that the temple existed from a cave which is situated on a hill. The tourists before reaching the temple has to cross the Ghodahaba Dam which is a popular tourist site near Brahmapur.

Aryapalli Beach:

Aryapalli beach is located 32 kms away from Brahmapur and is known for its white sandy beaches. The tourists can undertake water sports like swimming, surfing and boating in the waters of Aryapalli beach.

Mahendragiri:

Mahendragiri is about 5000 feet above sea level and has a temple dedicated to lord Shiva which attracts lots of visitors during Shivaratri.

Bankeswari:

Bankeswari is bound by Kerandimala hill ranges along the Eastern Ghats which is about 10 kms away from Brahmapur-Digapahandi highway famous for its beautiful scenic spots. The tourists can have an exotic view of the valleys, plains and streams from top of the hill.

Connectivity to Brahmapur in Odisha:

Brahmapur is well connected by all modes of transport like road, rail, air and sea. National Highway 5 and National Highway 217 lie at close proximity from Brahmapur. Bhubaneshwar is about 160 kms from Brahmapur which is connected by plenty of state owned buses running between Brahmapur and Bhubaneshwar. Brahmapur is also well linked by railways as many express trains are directly connected to Ahmedabad, Bhubaneshwar, Chennai, Cuttack, Balasore, Bhadrak and Puri. The nearest airport is Biju Patnaik Airport which is approx 160 kms from Brahmapur.

Hotels in Brahmapur:

Due to constant visit by the travelers, the Department of Tourism have come across with many standard budgeted hotels in and near Brahmapur with good amenities. The hotels range from Rs. 500 onwards and goes up to Rs. 4000 for luxury ones. List of hotels located in and near Brahmapur are:

• Hotel Moonlite
• Raviraj Lodge
• Hotel Kamas Inn
• Hotel Nandan International
• Hotel Moti
• City Palace Hotel
• Hotel Kameshwari
• Hotel Geethanjali
• Royal Castle Hotel
• Hotel Nandan Plaza
• Hotel Satya Sai
• Hotel Siddarth
• New Bhabhani Hotel

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Bhitarkanika National Park is situated in Kendrapara district in Odisha spreading over 672 sq kms bound by swampy mangroves, river delta and beach. The Bhitarkanika National Park was opened in the year 1975 and is maintained by Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Govt. of India.

Bhitarkanika National Park is rich in flora and fauna and the tourists can spot many wild animals and reptiles within the park. The national park is home to salt water crocodile, white crocodile, Indian alligator, Indian Python, wild pigs, chitals, monkeys, king cobra, water lizards and Indian bison. One can also spot many rare species of migrating birds including birds coming from Central Asia and Europe.

Other tourist attractions near Bhitarkanika National Park:

Puri:

Puri is famous for world famous Jaganath temple, beaches and resorts. It attracts lot of tourists from all over the world known for its crystal clear water, rich marine life and ideal for swimming and sun bath.

Bhubaneshwar:

The capital city of Odisha is known for historic monuments, rivers, temples and rich culture and tradition.

Konark:

The Sun temple at Konark is one of the ancient temples of India built in 12^th century A.D. dedicated to powerful Sun god. The temple is a crowd puller all round the year.

Baripada:

Baripada is known for its scenic beauty and natural vegetation which is a popular tourist destination in Odisha.

Berhampur:

Berhampur is famous for ancient historical monuments and structures which attracts lots of visitors all round the year.

Chandipur:

Chandipur is known for its beaches and wide coast lines ideal for swimming and sun bath which attracts large no of local as well as international tourists.

Chilka Lake:

Chilka Lake is one of the largest lakes in Odisha famous for migratory birds and boating that pulls many visitors to this lake.

Hirakud Dam:

Hirakud Dam is one of the biggest dams located in Odisha which supplies water used for agriculture and irrigation. The dam also generates hydro electricity and is a well known picnic spot in Odisha.

Sambalpur:

Sambalpur is famous for temples, wildlife and natural vegetation that attract lots of tourists from different parts of the country.

Nandan Kanan National Park:

Nandan Kanan National Park is known for its endangered species of animals like bison, deer, Sambar, Indian Black Buck, Gaur, wild boar and Chitals. Many tourists visit the National Park to have a close glimpse of the wild animals in their own territory.

Best season to visit Bhitarkanika National Park:

Bhitarkanika National Park can be visited from October to April as the climate remains friendly and pleasant. The park is closed during monsoons as the region receives excess rainfall.

Connectivity to Bhitarkanika National Park:

Many private and Govt. tourist buses and vehicles are available from Kendrapara to reach Bhitarkanika National Park. One can also take a taxi, cab or a jeep to reach the National Park. The nearest airport and railway station is Cuttack which is about 54 kms from Bhitarkanika National Park. One can also take the National Highway 5 via Kendrapara to access Bhitarkanika National Park.

Accommodations near Bhitarkanika National Park:

The Department of Tourism have built many good hotels, guest houses and resorts near Bhitarkanika National Park to accommodate tourists and visitors visiting the park. The hotels provide all amenities like breakfast, lunch and dinner, conduct package tours, undertake travel booking, airport pickup and drop options, set up enquiry systems, help desks etc. List of hotels located near Bhitarkanika National Park are:

• Grand Residency
• Hotel Seetal
• Hotel Ashoka
• Bombay Inn Hotel
• The Triple C Hotel
• Hotel Blue Lagoon
• Bishal Hotel
• Hotel Roxy
• Manorama Plaza Hotel
• Sri Jaganath Hotel
• Hotel New Jasmine
• Hotel Basanti
• Hotel Silver City
• Hotel Guide
• Hotel Ambika
• Hotel Akbari Continental
• Hotel Neeladri

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