Destination Delights Off The Beaten Track

Destination Delights Off The Beaten Track

Do you have a seeker’s spirit that likes to take the path less travelled and unravel secrets? Well, you are in luck! India has a lot of secrets, but its best-kept one lies on the eastern shoreline and it is called Odisha. This ancient land of the Udras is replete with wonders that will take your breath away, captivate your imagination and emancipate your soul.

Secluded beaches, ancient mountains, breathtaking gorges, serene valleys, majestic forests and expansive plateaus; this divine land is a cornucopia of natural wonders. And no, Odisha is not only about Puri, Konark and Chilka. If you go beyond, then this land will unfold its glory and quench your wanderlust with less popular yet bewitching places.

Odisha is replete with history with forts, palaces, ancient temples and monasteries, prehistoric caves and antediluvian ruins dotting the state. Its natural heritage is a rich diversity of flora and fauna, an enviable treasure that must be explored.

Recognizing this untapped potential, the Odisha government has been investing in developing ecotourism destinations in the past few years, giving you the opportunity to stay in the lap of nature and experience the beauty and bounty of mother earth.

These places are managed by local forest-dependent communities, giving them a source of income generation aided by the government.

Anshu Pragyan Das, DCF Ecotourism, said, “Odisha has so many wonders to be explored which are yet untouched by mass tourism. As part of the Ecotour Odisha project, we are trying to introduce people to places that they have never even heard or thought of staying at. They get to enjoy the beauty of nature through responsible tourism which means without hampering the local environment.”

“At the same time, this project provides a livelihood for local communities who have become protectors of their natural environment. There are 41 ecotourism destinations in Odisha that employ over 600 communities. This community-managed nature tourism project has received the best ecotourism initiative award by FICCI for being a unique model in India,” she added.

So here are some of the places that are a must on your travel bucket list to explore and enjoy.

Hukitola Island

Hukitola Bay and Hukitola Island which are situated to the north of the Mahanadi river delta are still virgin sites hardly touched by mass tourism. The island is formed as a result of rich silt deposits carried by the mighty river from upstream.

Not many know that this island has played an important role in the history of Odisha. The British East India Company built a granary here in 1866-67 that was used to store rice imported from Burma and other parts of South-East Asia during the Na’ Anka drought and it still stands to this day. The granary has a plinth area of 7,000 plus square feet and is a testament of colonial architecture. One can still see underground rainwater harvesting pools near the granary. 

Nestled in the lap of nature among lush vegetation and the cacophony of the river and the fauna, Hukitola Island is a traveller’s paradise and is home to two species of horseshoe crabs. 

The Hukitola palace is also located on the island. It was built along with the granary by the British to maintain a hold over the surrounding areas. The uniquely designed sloped roof of the palace is an architect’s delight.

When you climb atop it, you will get a glimpse of Odisha’s first lighthouse, The False Point. There is an added attraction for treasure hunters. According to research by the state forest department, a French cargo ship named ‘Ville de Paris’ sunk near here during a cyclone in 1875. The ship was carrying foodgrain, sugar, liquor and other riches from Paris. 

In recent years, the Odisha government took the onus to renovate the granary and other nearby structures on the island with the help of the State Archeological Department. The renovation and restoration were completed in 2018 after almost three years. Now the plan is to develop it into an ecotourism spot as part of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project.

To reach this island, one has to take a ferry from Jambu Dweep, which is 100 km from Cuttack. From there, it is an hour’s ride through the backwaters.

Once you reach the island, you can stay at the nearby Dangamala Nature Camp with cottages provided by Ecotour Odisha. All modern amenities are available and from here you can do a number of activities like boating, birding, trekking and stargazing as well as explore the nearby areas.

Talasari Beach

The last beach in the north of Odisha, Talasari is located in Balasore district and offers a pristine and peaceful alternative to the commercialized Chandipur beach nearby.

With a large number of palm trees, the place derived its name from the words Tala (palm) and Sari (row).

The setting of this beach is striking enough to take your breath away, with a seemingly endless stretch of palm trees, coconut trees and casuarinas on one side and an ecstatic view of the Bay of Bengal on the other side. It’s the perfect place to rest, rejuvenate and feed your soul.

During high tide, one has to take a boat to reach the sandbar to access the beach. And when the water level recedes, one can just take walk across the silt to reach the sandbar. The walk is an experience in itself with rich marine life in the sand to excite the child in us. One can see red crabs in clusters that look like blooming flowers right in the middle of nowhere. Jellyfish, isopods, star fish, mussels, chitons and a variety of other marine life can also be spotted on the sands here.

If you like seafood, then the Talasari fish market located adjacent to the beach is the perfect destination for you. The market offers a plethora of local varieties of fish and crabs at cheap prices. Just taking a stroll down the market is an experience of its own. 

From here one can venture into the nearby mangroves at Bichitrapur. 

You can reach Talasari by either road or train from Jaleswar, which is 36 km away. You can book a night stay at one of the Ecotour cottages and even book a boat ride through the tidal creeks of the estuarine forest here.

Tikarpada

Tikarpada Nature Camp is located right on the banks of the Mahanadi River in the middle of the Tikarpada Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary is spread across 795 square kilometres of lush green tropical forests, valleys and mountains of the Eastern Ghats. The overwhelming beauty and greenery of this place are bound to entrance the wanderlust in you. The view of Mahanadi flowing through the Satkosia gorge at Tikarpada is a sight to behold especially at dawn or dusk.

Travelling across the sanctuary, one can spot tigers, leopards, gaurs, simbal, spotted deer, four-horned antelopes locally known as chausinghas, sloths and gharials roaming around freely without any human disturbance. Once here, make it a point to visit the gharial breeding facility next to the Tikarpada Nature Camp. 

The early morning and late evening views are bound to stir the poet and romantic in you. Right across the camping site, one can see the majestic mountains of the mighty Eastern Ghats. The scenery here will remind you of Kipling and Corbett. 

The Ecotour camp is managed by forest dependent local communities, which used to hunt wildlife and forage from the forests earlier. If you are curious enough then you can sit down for an interesting conversation with the locals in the evenings over cups of steaming tea and pakoras. 

Far away from civilization and its maddening rush, this beautiful sanctuary is a perfect blend of primitive joy and the simplicity of life. Take a trekking excursion or a boat ride through the gorge and satiate your soul while spotting the savage beauty of the gharials basking in the glory of the sun on the banks of the river.

The Tikarpada sanctuary is untouched by thronging crowds and there are no bustling shops and bazaars. All you can find here is yourself and nature. Stargaze your nights away here to find your place in the cosmos.

Koraput

There is something enchanting about this land of ancient tribes and breathtaking landscapes. This beautiful district of Odisha calls for at least a week’s visit. A day or two is simply not enough. It has a striking setting with a seemingly endless stretch of mountains, rich tribal culture and beautiful art and crafts.

The landscape is overflowing with natural wonders and beauty, making Koraput a sacred natural treasure and nature’s gift to Odisha. This district also is the proud home to the highest waterfall in the state. 

The glorious Jeypore palace, Gupteswar cave and Shiva linga, magnificent Duduma waterfall, enchanting Deomali hills, beautiful Jagannath temple at Sabara Srikhetra, Kotpad textile village, numerous tribal villages across the district, Kolab dam, tribal museum are some other attractions on offer. If you are a motor-head, then grab a bike and get going along the beautiful roads around the hills and get lost in the wild. 

Koraput is a natural retreat with a languid pace of life. It’s like time stops here for you to take a deep breath and relax. Explore the bustling and lively tribal markets and try to learn a few words or phrases in the many local tongues. The Deomali mountain peak, which is part of the Chandragiri-Pottangi subrange, is surrounded by lush green forests and is dotted with brooks and valleys. 

Visit the legendary Onkadeli market and get enriched by a unique experience. Meet the Bondas, an ancient tribe that has inhabited this land for thousands of years. They call themselves Remos which means brave men. In this land where time has frozen the Singi Arko (the Sun and the Moon), serenade with the mist-covered trees and the dancing streams to create magic. 

Similipal-Barehipani

This iconic tiger reserve is located in the northern Odisha district of Mayurbhanj. The biggest reserve forest block in India spread across 2750 square kilometres, Similipal is home to tigers, leopards, elephants, chitals, sambars and 304 species of birds.

The unique fact about this place is that it is a tiger reserve, a wildlife sanctuary, a national park and biosphere reserve all at the same time with different demarcated areas. 

Similipal derives its name from the abundance of Semul or Red Silk Cotton trees that bloom vividly in its forest. The vast stretches of the forest of Similipal is a unique composition of deciduous, semi-ever green, high-level Sal, grass land & savannahs.

Lose yourself while counting the number of orchids that you come across. It houses 94 species of them many of which are endemic and endangered and 72 are Himalayan species. 

It is the only Tiger Reserve in the country to boast of Melanistic Tigers. Book your stay here at the Barehipani Nature Camp. Listen to the cacophony of the sounds of the jungle. Book a safari, go on a trek, go cycling or just sit on the porch of your cottage and listen to music or read a book while sipping a cup of coffee or tea. The beauty of Similipal is hard to forget. 

Mandasaru – Silent Valley

This beauty of Mother Nature is surrounded by dense tropical moist deciduous forests. The Mandasaru gorge ecosystem is located in the eastern part of Kandhamal district and it is one of the last kept secret wildernesses of India. Called the Silent Valley, the frequent weather changes, mesmerizing beauty and rich biodiversity in Mandasaru are food for the soul.

This 15-km stretch is guarded by 22 hills with the Saashimaha Manda Hill being the highest peak at 3280 feet above sea level. The Mandasaru Gorge is locally known as Gadang Kutti and houses six waterfalls of which two are perennial and the rest are non-perennial. Water from the four falls – Beingumaha, Kaadigdapa, Prisibrunda and Keragaadu forms the Naputimaha perennial stream which flows down the gorge and the forest to finally meet one of the tributaries of Rusikulya.

The accommodation at Mandasaru Valley Nature Camp is located at a hilltop with a panoramic view of the Mandasaru Gorge. There are two watchtowers, a children’s’ park, a plantation, a dining hall, four cottages, a watch tower room and a grotto within the resort area. These log houses here alleviate the stay up a notch with their attention to every detail. One can go on trekking or hiking and just lose themselves and be one with nature. 

(Pictures Courtesy: Internet & Original Owners)