Similipal - Heritage homes at Similipal to boost Tourism in Odisha

To ensure community participation in eco-tourism activities, the Odisha Eco-tourism Board is planning to create heritage homes in villages within the buffer area of Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR).

The board has asked Wildlife Orissa, an organization working in the field of wildlife and nature, to conduct a survey and select some villages, where heritage homes can be set up. The tourists will stay as paying guests at these homes.

STR deputy director Ajit Satapathy said some houses of villagers will be redesigned so as to make them livable for tourists. "The Wild Orissa is working on the designs. Apart from toilets, the houses will have dining space. The villagers, to be involved in hospitality of tourists, will be imparted training in preparing and serving food and maintaining hygiene," he said.

The deputy director said the heritage homes will help the wildlife wing engage another 200 villagers both directly and indirectly in eco-tourism activities. "Since construction of concrete structure is banned in the reserve, we will convert houses in the villages for tourists to stay. The interiors will be made attractive," said Satapathy.

Wildlife Orissa secretary Monalisa Bhujabal said, "We have selected the spots, keeping in mind the routes that tourists follow, where movement of vehicles won't disturb wild animals. Once the final design is ready, we will carry out the modifications," she said. The state government would initially fund the project, she added.

Bhujabal said tourist packages for staying as paying guests at these homes will be decided in consultation with the STR officials. "The project is unique because the villagers will be owners and run the homes on their own. We will only build the necessary infrastructure," she added.

STR sources said 70 villagers are currently reaping direct benefits from eco-tourism and 200 indirectly.

In another development, the STR officials provided 31 walkie-talkies to personnel manning 31 anti-poaching camps in the buffer zone.

Daringibadi, "Kashmir of Odisha" - An Unknown, Virgin and Hidden Attraction

 “Kashmir of Odisha”, an epithet, that characterizes this unknown, hidden and virgin tourist attraction of Odisha called Daringibadi, is more than just a hill station in Odisha state of eastern India. Situated at a height of 915 m in the Kandhmal district of the state, the place is gifted lavishly with natural bounties including pine groves, coffee gardens and beautiful valleys. Daringbadi is set in a beautiful spot surrounded by thick rain forests with wild animals, and is an ideal summer resort. During the winter sometimes it reported that, the temperature, goes below the freezing point and light snows have also been observed on serial occasion.

According to a report by Times of India, on 18^th Dec 2014, the mercury level dropped to minus point 5 degree Celsius at Daringbadi at 5.30 am which is said to be the lowest temperature of the season in the entire state of Odisha. This a virgin attraction, yet to be explored by tourists. While this place is frequented by many foreign tourists throughout the year, the spot is yet to fully known to the Indian tourists.

Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of Odisha holds Winter Festival (Sita Utsav) at Daringbadi every year in the end of December or beginning of January over 3 days to make the place popular for. The festival hosts a series of cultural events, like dance and musical extravaganza, an artists' camp, Kavi sammelan, with special focus on Kandhamal and its tribal cultural elements. Major state-run cultural organizations such as Lalit Kala Akademi, Sangeet Natak Akademi and Sahitya Akademi jointly hosts a series of programmes to make the place prominent on the tourism and cultural map of Odisha.

Attractions of Daringbadi

·         Hill View Point – The spot providing a vantage point to the visitor from where the whole of Darigbadi and its neighbourhood can be gazed. This is a must to be visited place while in Daringbadi.

·         Coffee plantation- There are two Coffee & Black Pepper plantations maintained by soil conservation/forest department of Daringbadi which are an ideal place to explore, experience and just a great picnic hotspot. Do not forget to take approval from the forest departments before venturing out the gardens.

·         Doluri River- Doluri river is full of small natural beauties with falls providing a mesmerizing views and scenic beauties.

·         Belghar - Internationally Declared Eco Village, Belghar holds a promise to satisfy its visitors. The small village located entirely on the hill top is surrounded with dense flora and is a definite place for tranquility. There are also opportunities for future gliding club due to its seven mountains with a decreasing height. Even elephants can also be seen on the way.

Belghar Sanctuary has thick tropical forests. The dense vegetation of the area is a host to a variety of flora and fauna. Wild elephants are found in bound in this area.

You will be taken inside for about 2/3km walk to witness the Bonda man & woman coming down from the forest side. It is being considered that at present Bondas is the most primitive tribe of India or otherwise known as the Nakate tribes of the mountain. 

·         Kotagarh Sanctuary- It is located in the Baliguda subdivision of Kandhamal district is rich in bio-diversity. Major wildlife species are tiger, elephant, gaur, sambar, spotted deer, peafowl, red jungle fowl and a variety of reptiles. The dense lush green forests with sylvan and serene picturesque beauty are the major attraction. A wooden bungalow at Belghar attracts many nature loving visitors. The area is still unexplored and virgin with natural sceneries and 80% tribal populace. The place is with a charming climate in the summer.

Best time and means to Travel

The best time to visit the place is summer (May - Sep), although it’s not at all a bad idea to experience the freezing temperature of the area during winter in the midst of deep green vegetation and local tribal cultures.

Rail

There are no rail lines in Daringbadi. The nearest railway station is Berhampur. It is 125 km from Berhampur and very well connected with all major towns of Orissa.

Taxi

The easiest way is to book a taxi /from Berhampur or other locations, we can assist you with transportation booking, just let us know by phone or better by e-mail. 

Bus

If you want to use public transport, local buses run daily between Berhampur and Daringbadi.

Distance to Daringbadi from Important Places

Bhubaneswar - 250 km, (takes 5.30 – 6.00 hours)

Berhampur - 125 km (takes 3.00 – 3.30 hours)

Gopalpur on sea - 140 km (takes 3.30 – 4.00 hours)

Taptapani - 110 km (takes 2.30 – 3.00 hours) 

Accommodations

There are not much accommodations available at this place, for being still an undeveloped and virgin attractions. Although the best and cheapest options are government provided facilities, but few private accommodations are also available.

1.      OTDC Hotel, Daringbadi

2.      PWD Bungalow, Executive Engineer (R&B) (Ph. 06846 – 243242)

3.      DEERS Eco Home

4.      Hotel Utopia, Daringbadi

Visit to Angul District of Odisha - Basic Facts to Know

Angul is clothed with lush green forests, the district is rich in varieties of wildlife. The River Mahanadi passes through this district forming a 22-km long narrow gorge, one of the mightiest gorges in India. Popularly known as 'Satkosia', it is an ideal habitat for varieties of crocodiles. The phenomenon of boulders in Talcher area is unique in India and has puzzled the geologists for centuries.Recently, it has come to limelight with the establishment of National Aluminium Company Ltd. (NALCO), the largest in Asia. As an important road junction, Angul serves the ideal base for visiting the places of interest in its neighborhood.At present the location advantage and abundant stock of manpower and raw materials play an important role in the industrial development of the district.

 

Location

Angul is located in central Odisha (Formerly Orissa), eartern province of India. It is 136 KM by road from Bhubaneswar, the capitol city of Odisha (Formerly Orissa). Other neighbouring towns of Angul are Dhenkanal in the south-east, Keonjhar in the north, Sambalpur in the west and Phulbani in the south-west.

How To Get There

Air: The nearest airport is at Bhubaneswar (160-km), which is connected with New Delhi, Calcutta, Chennai, Mumbai, Vishakhapatnam, Hyderabad and Nagpur by Boeing flights.

Rail: Angul is well connected from Bhubaneswar and Sambalpur through railway lines and there are several trains goes to Angul throughout the day. Train is the most comfortable and cheapest means of travel to Angul.

Road: Situated on NH 42 at a distance of 160-km from Bhubaneswar, the place is an important road junction of the State connected by regular bus services from Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Talcher, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Rourkela, Raipur, Durgapur and other important places of the State and sister States.

Best time to visit

October to March

 

Shopping

Cottage industry plays an important role in the rural economy of Angul district. Besides handloom, the other important cottage industries are carpentry, brass and bell metal works, shoe making, etc.

Transport: Taxis and Auto rickshaws are available on hire at Angul for visiting the places of attraction and excursion.

 

Tourist Attractions

Satkosia Tiger Reserve

Satkosia spreads along the magnificent gorge over the mighty river Mahanadi in Orissa. Established in 1976 as a wildlife sanctuary, Satkosia is a paradise of immense scenic charm. It is one of the best ecosystems in the country, representing a diverse floral and faunal extravaganza.The name Satkosia originates from two words; sat meaning seven and kosk meaning two miles, indicating the length of the gorge as 14 miles or 22 km. 

The area was declared as Satkosia Tiger Reserve in 2007, comprising two adjoining wildlife sanctuaries; the Satkosia Gorge sanctuary and Baisipalli sanctuary. The reserve is spread over 4 districts; Angul, Cuttack, Nayagarh and Boudh.  The reserve has an area of 964 sq km with 524 sq km as core area. The area is also a part of the Mahanadi elephant reserve. Satkosia is the meeting point of two bio-geographic regions of India; the Deccan Peninsula and the Eastern Ghats, contributing immense biodiversity.

Bhimakand:

It is a small village about 30-km north of Talcher town and 50-km from Angul on the Right Bank of the river Brahmani. There on huge sand rock one could find a massive image of Vishnu in sleeping posture. In spite of hugeness, the image contains a natural softness in execution. The period of its execution is believed to be 8th - 9th Century AD This sleeping image of Vishnu at Bhimakand is second only to Gomateswar (Karnatak) in size, but it has the honour of being the largest sleeping image in India.

Deulajhari: 

Situated amidst a bowl of green near Athamallik, Deulajhari is famous for the presence of a hot spring. The hot spring seems to flow from the bottom (pedestal) of a 'Shiva Lingam'. The water is naturally channelised to 36 ponds on the outskirts of the Shiva Temple. Believed to contain medicinal properties, a bath in the spring has religious importance too.

90-km from Angul, regular bus services are available from Angul, Dhenkanal, Talcher, Cuttack and Bhubaneswar to Athamallik and the rest 3-km is negotiable on foot or jeep.

Rengali:

River Brahmani shelters a dam and reservoir with a Hydroelectric Project at Rengali amidst picturesque environs. Situated 85-km from Angul, it is a nice place for group picnic.

Samal: 

40-km from Angul and 20-km from Talchar, Samal has carved out a niche for itself in the grand hall of Odisha (Formerly Orissa) tourism for the establishment of a Hydroelectric Project. The panoramic view with deep solitude is a panacea to the group picnickers.

Khuludi:

The Malayagiri range of Pallahara subdivision in Angul district houses a glittering waterfall near the village Khuludi. The fall making a spectacular jump from the hilltop pays homage to Lord Shiva on the foothill. An ideal site for group picnic, it is 120-km from Angul and 20-km from Pallahara.

Population control measure (sterilization camps) in Odisha

Recently, Times of India carried a news piece where bicycle pumps were used on 56 women who undergone sterilization surgeries as a government measure to control population at a camp in Odisha's Angul district on November 28 and soon after that the state government on Tuesday (2nd Dec 2014) issued a blanket ban on sterilization camps after an administrative probe confirmed that the pumps had been used during the procedures at Angul. 

Odisha health secretary said in a statement that "The government has decided that henceforth no such camp will be organized for sterilization to ensure quality care. Only established healthcare centres with proper operation theatres can conduct the surgeries adhering to universal infection prevention practices only on Mondays between 9 am and 4 pm. Stringent action will taken against those found not following standard operation procedures." 

But is such a blanket order justified? While we acknowledge that providing basic minimum level of health care facilities is of extremely important, at the same time we also feel that India and Indians need such sterilization camps not just to control India's population, but to make household economically and socially sound and independent. Instead of arranging better heath care facilities during such govt. organized camps which are quite popular among people, the government of Odisha instead declared a blanket ban, which will now deprive many people from various strata of the society to avail this cheap facility. The government must organize more such camps after providing quality infrastructures.

Wildlife Sanctuaries in Odisha - Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary

Odisha is paradise for wildlife lovers. Apart from the usual attractions of Chilika Lake for the migratory bird lovers and Similipal Tiger Reserve for tiger lovers, there are many more wildlife sanctuaries throughout the state that are still virgin and unexplored. In a series of few simple informative articles we will cover them one by one in this blog. The first one is Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary, which is situated in the district of Balasore.      The forests of the region cover the Nato hills and Sukhupata hills going as far as till the Similipal National Park. One of the major Orissa wildlife sanctuaries, this Sanctuary is home to rare species of animals and plants. The Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary spreads across an area of 272.75 square kms covered with thick wooded forests and home to wild animals like tiger, elephant, leopards, sambar, bison, gaur and giant squirrels. The forest also houses a variety of birds like hornbills, hill myna and peafowl. The perennial streams that water the forests are home to a variety of reptiles. The government of the state of Orissa maintains the wildlife sanctuary which preserves the rare and endangered species of animals and plants.

As one reaches the perfect clearing in the jungle, leopards can be seen licking themselves clean on extended branches of trees, while elephants and deers forage the ground. Jungle Fowl and monkeys are common sight there.     Even in the moonlight, one can catch sharp shadows of the pachyderms from a distance of 20 metres. It is a truly enjoyable sight to see the elephants shovelling the earth with their feet and trunks to get at the salt balls below.

Yet it boasts of a healthy population of elephants along with deer, bison, bear and leopard. And if the forest guard is to be believed, the herbivores are regular visitors at the saltlick.      Though the lack of tourists has worked well for the forest, it has also resulted in the lack of preparedness among department officials to receive them.  One can feel the wildlife of elephants, bison, sambar, giant squirrel, leopard, varieties of birds like hill myna, peacock, hornbills and varieties of reptiles here.This sanctuary is located in the district of Balasore and is blessed with a charming forest and a variety of wildlife such as tiger, leopard, elephant, gaur, sambar, giant collector, a numeral of bird species like hill myna, peafowl, hornbills and various reptiles.     A trek from Nilgiri amidst Kuldiha forests is worth enjoying. Two rest houses at Kuldiha and Jorachua and the perennial streams are treat for the visitors. Summer season is the best time to visit jungles to feel the wild nature of it. Summer season is the best time to visit jungles to feel the wild nature of it.