Bhubaneswar July 8: While the biggest industrial hub of the state in Angul is all set to give development process a big leap, tourism potential in the forest-rich district still needs to be explored and marketed.

In fact, baring the Satkosia Tiger Reserve and the Satkosia gorge on river Mahanadi, Angul’s eco-tourism hubs are yet to get the right kind of attention.

Tour operators are happy that Satkosia has attracted many tourists. Wildlife and nature lovers also find it worth spending nights in the forest rest houses inside the deep jungle or the tents on the bank of Mahanadi. But many lesser-known tourism spots — Athmallik, Deulajhari, Korab and Benkei — should get more prominence.

With large-scale industrialisation, people now have the money to spend on a nearest possible tourism destination and several the lesser-known places have already experienced sightseeing activities by visitors.

However, because of the dearth of infrastructure facilities no one can stay there for the lack of quality accommodation. For example, in Athmallik except for a government-run inspection bungalow, no private accommodation facility is available.

“With development, a tourism hub like Angul can have a huge potential. Athmallik being on the western side of the Satkosia Tiger Reserve and close to Deulajhari, is a unique place with a series of 84 hot springs. According to a study, it is the only place in Asia to have such a large number of hot springs. With the help of the Rural Tourism Project of the tourism ministry, 24 hot springs were renovated in the past, but others need to be renovated soon,’’ said Jayant Ch. Mardaraj Harichandan, a tourism enthusiast and member, State Wildlife Board.

There is also a panthika run by the Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) and it should be renovated urgently. Even it could be run in public private partnership mode. Deulajhari is also famous for its local deity Sri Sidhheswar Mahadev.

“The erstwhile rulers of Athmallik had the Kishore Bhavan Palace that can be converted into an alternative place for tourist accommodation. The palace can also be transformed into a health and heritage resort,’’ said Manoj Manjari Devi, the present owner of the palace.

Korab has a beautiful forest rest house amidst a pleasant setting and the place can be developed into a forest-based eco-tourism complex on the western side of the Satkosia Tiger Reserve. Similarly, though Benkei is famous for its deity, the sight near the beginning of the Satkosia gorge makes it a wonderful site for development of water sports and adventure sports using the Mahanadi. It can be a suitable riverside eco-tourism destination with health resort facilities.

Chief operating officer of K7 Travels of Bhubaneswar Debasish Mohapatra says: “With the important railway link such as Boinda near Athmallik town and the Bhubaneswar-Sambalpur route and link services to New Delhi, Mumbai and Raipur routes, tourists can also come from other places if adequate infrastructure and facilities are available.

The Old Fort (Purunagarh) on the way to Satkosia Tiger Reserve from Angul, Hingula temple in Talcher and Budhi Thakurani temple on Sunasagad hills in Angul town are also sites that could be linked with the package to develop the tourism potential of the region.

“The Old Fort (Purunagarh) has an important historical link as it was part of the erstwhile Garjat (princely state) rulers, who fought against the British in the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. Four princely states — Khurda, Banki, Angul and Sambalpur — have fought against the British,’’ said Harichandan. He added that the nearest Boudh district, which is famous for its Buddhist sites, could also be explored though the Angul route.