Sambalpur, Dec. 26: The district administration hopes to increase visitor footfall as it prepares to send the state tourism department a suggestion to give two spots - Khinda and Bhim Mandali - the status of tourist centres.

Khinda, which is located around 40km from here, is the birthplace of freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai. It is historically significant and situated on the banks of the Hirakud dam reservoir. Bhim Mandali is situated inside the Landimal Reserve Forest under the Rairakhol forest division in the district, around 100km from here. The small serpentine Champali river flows along this place, which has a cave - Bhim Dali or Bhim Mandali - named after Bhim of the Pandavs in the Mahabharat.

Though these two places are not yet identified tourist destinations, they attract a large number of the visitors. Now, they are expected to draw more tourists once the administration receive more funds to provide infrastructure at these two places.

District tourist officer Rabindra Kumar Dalei said: "A survey has been conducted to recognise these two places as tourist destinations. The inflow of regional and national-level tourists visiting to these spots, location, road connectivity, activities and the facilities available for tourists at those places have been taken into consideration. A district-level committee will recommend that the state tourism department recognise Khinda and Bhim Mandali as tourist destinations at the next meeting, which will be held shortly."

"The two places will be eligible to get funds from the state tourism budget after they are declared as tourist centres. Several amenities could be developed at the places to draw more tourists after they are declared tourist centres," said Dalei.

There are seven identified tourist centres in Sambalpur district - Sambalpur, Hirakud, Ushakothi, Huma, Chiplima, Gudguda and Kandhara - that draw thousands of tourists every year.

"Khinda and Bhim Mandali will get place in the state's tourism map after they get the status of tourist destination. More people will come to know about these two places," said a travel agent, Ashok Mohapatra.