Bhubaneswar, Dec. 1: Winter is round the corner and the state tourism and private tour operators are eagerly awaiting a good number of tourists to visit the state.

This tourist season provides Odisha Tourism to turn the spotlight on lesser-known places such as Karlapat, Mahendragiri, Barabara and Ramchandi beachfront. Though these sites have good tourism potential, the infrastructure needs to be improved to attract tourists.

The environment and forests department in collaboration with Odisha Tourism offers eco-tourism packages with night stay options at Satkosia, Bhitarkanika and Similipal, but places such as Barbara forests in Khurda district and Mandasaru in Kandhamal are yet to get prominence. On the other hand, places such as Karlapat, Mahendragiri, Daringbadi and sea beaches such as Ramachandi and Ganjam coast have immense possibilities but are unable to attract many tourists for the lack of minimum facilities for budget tourists. The Telegraph throws light on some of the sites that can turn into major tourist attraction with a little help from the state government.

BARBARA

Barbara forest in Khurda district is known for its teak forests with their origin dating back to 1910. The teak plantation by the British administration was actually done in the valleys and foothills. Even, the slopes in the hills still hold the old natural forest where sal is the major species. The teak trees of Barbara are unique as some are more than 80-feet high and 10-feet or more in circumference.

Among its many attractions is a teak wood panelled forest rest house made in 1912 by the British.

KARLAPAT

Ecologically diverse Karlapat wildlife sanctuary in Kalahandi district in west Odisha is a biodiversity treasure-trove. Named after presence of leopards (Kalara pataria bagha in Odia), the bauxite rich hilly forest region of the Eastern Ghats with an area of 175.50sqkm comprises five reserve forests — Karlapat, Nehela, Jugsahipatna, Jerka and Sagad. A tourist can enter Karlapat by road from Bhawanipatna, the district headquarters town of Kalahandi, or can take a car or taxi from Kesinga railway station on the Vizianagaram-Raipur route. Scenic spots also surround the only forest rest house at Jakum, but there is a chance that you might encounter elephant herds and should be on the alert.

MAHENDRAGIRI

A unique place to see the rich flora of India, archaeological monuments having historical links with characters in the Mahabharat and a vulnerable tribal population. Mahendragiri in Gajapati district is also famous for Shiv ratri celebrations on the hill. This makes it a place of pilgrimage with people from neighbouring states making a beeline to the event. Many say that the place was once a major centre of Shivite culture. One can see the Bay of Bengal from the peak of its famous hills such as Singaraj (1,516 metres), Mahendragiri (1,501 metres) and Devagiri (1,392 metres). Mahendragiri peak is a place of great scenic beauty. The place is surrounded on three sides by hills and thick growth of wild trees. The surrounding forests are home to peacocks, flying squirrels, giant squirrels, elephants, spotted deer, leopards and wild boars.

DEOMALI

With an elevation of about 1,672 metres from the mean sea level, the Deomali peak in Koraput district could be the highest mountain in the entire state. However, the beauty of the entire hill range is the picturesque 5km-long flat surface atop the mountain from where the ‘m’ shaped peak starts to form the highest peak. During winter, from 5am to 8am, the chilling weather condition brings an experience similar to a snowfall with the dewdrops almost frozen. Staying in Koraput is not a problem. In fact, a tourist intending to visit Deomali hills should ideally stay in the city, also known as Sabara Srikhetra of Odisha. The Jagannath temple in the town is one of the best in the region and legends says the tribal people named Sabaras could be the traditional worshippers of Lord Jagannath in ancient times.

DARINGBADI

Nestled at a height of 3,000ft in the highland area of the Daringbadi block of Kandhamal district, this palce is also known as the Kashmir of Odisha. The place provides ample opportunity for tourists, naturalists and researchers to explore the lesser-known and unknown facts associated with nature. Daringbadi’s beauty lies in the tropical forests of the Eastern Ghats, which houses many exclusively local flora and fauna. A six-hour journey by road from Bhubaneswar will take you to the valley amidst blue undulating mountains, lush green mustard flowerbeds, rivers, streams and exotic waterfalls.

RAMACHANDI

An international surfing event has put the beach on the tourism map of the region, but the destination needs more serious promotion to attract tourists, especially foreigners. This beach on the Puri-Konark Marine Drive can ensure good footfall if equipped with basic infrastructure for tourists on the beachfront.

TIME FOR ACTION

WHAT: Odisha Tourism needs to develop infrastructure and promote lesser-known, but beautiful tourist sites

IN THE PIPELINE: Infrastucture blueprint already in place, but needs faster implementation

BASICS: Focus must be on parking facilities, places for night stay, toilet, cafeteria, landscaping, beautification and illumination

THE TARGET: These places can attract more budget tourists from neighbouring states if there is improvement of basic infrastructure

‘Odisha Tourism is not serious enough about infrastructure development. But a few small steps can attract a lot of footfall in the wildlife zones and beaches’
Debashish Mohapatra, tour operator

‘An infrastructure development blueprint by Odisha Tourism has identified 329 destinations in 30 districts. This will include development of parking, toilet, cafeteria, landscaping, beautification and illumination of these places’
Manoranjan Patnaik, tourism director