Bhubaneswar, Aug. 23: The state government has set up a tribal museum in an attempt to boost tourism at the hill town of Daringbadi in Kandhamal that will add to its list of tourist destinations.
The museum, built over 1,100sqft, will be thrown open for the public at the end of this month.
Daringbadi, located at a height of more than 3,000 feet above sea level, is considered an ideal summer resort and is also proudly called the "Kashmir of Odisha". The place is gifted with natural bounties such as pine jungles, coffee gardens and beautiful valleys.
"It is the only place in Odisha that experiences snowfall during winter. A number of people visit this place throughout the year. But, it is yet to attract tourists from other parts of the country or from abroad. That is why we are trying to include few other sites to attract more tourists," said Ramesh Chandra Behera, project administrator of the Integrated Tribal Development Agency at Baliguda.
The museum will depict the lifestyle of five primitive tribal groups. Artefacts related to household chores, agricultural methodologies and cultural activities of the Kandha and Kutia Kandha community residing in the areas will de displayed in the museum. An amount of Rs30 lakh has been spent on the project. A team of researchers were formed by the government for the purpose, who went around the tribal villages to collect the items and gather information.
The state forest department has also developed a nature park at the site at a cost of Rs 55 lakh. Apart from a butterfly square, the park also has a garden of medicinal plants and a nature walk trail. Developed over four hectares of land, the park has a separate area earmarked for a pine tree garden.
Tourist inflow to Daringbadi became stagnant after the 2008 communal riots following the murder of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati. However, things have started improved lately with the government taking several initiatives to ensure safety of the people.
The Kandhamal District Council of Culture, in co-ordination with the state tourism department, organised the first winter festival here last year to promote tourism in this remote region.
