Sambalpur is the fifth-largest city in Odisha and the second-largest in western Odisha after Rourkela. It is the district headquarters of the district bearing the same name. In addition to having a rich history behind it, the district is very rich in its culture, music, and heritage. Sambalpuri handloom saree has earned a name and fame for itself both in the national as well as the international sphere. The city and district of Sambalpur are strategically located with good road, railway, and air connectivity. Jharsuguda, with an airport and a railway junction, is approximately fifty kilometres from Sambalpur, and the airport is connected to major cities of India, including Bhubaneswar, the state capital. The Kolkata-Mumbai national highway passes through the city of Sambalpur. It is also linked to almost all major towns and cities of Odisha by rail and road. There are many tourist places in and around the city of Sambalpur and also in the district. Let us have a look at the following tourist places:
- The City of Sambalpur – The city of Sambalpur is very old and developed mostly in medieval times during the rule of the Chauhan kings. With an array of temples, it can very well be called a temple city or ‘Mandiramalini Sahara,’ in the line of Sonepur, Bhubaneswar, and Varanasi. The temples of Maa Samaleswari, Pataneswari, Budharaja, Brahmapura, Dadhibabana, Hotapada, Batamangala, and the ‘Gopaljee Matha’ are prominent. Recently, the government of Odisha has developed the Samaleswari temple project, which is attracting tourists from far and wide. The specialty of the temples in Sambalpur is their architecture of the Chauhan period and their belonging to the three sects of Shaktism, Saivism, and Vaishnavism. The annual festival of ‘Sital Sashthi,’ commemorating the marriage of Lord Siva and Devi Parvati, has been a major attraction of the city. The availability of a variety of Sambalpuri sarees in the market is another attraction for the tourists.
- The Ghanteswari Peetha – Approximately twenty kilometres from the city of Sambalpur, near Chiplima, stands the temple of Maa Ghanteswari or the Ghanteswari Peetha on one bank of the river Mahanadi. With a route around the Chiplima powerhouse, the Peetha is pitted against a scenic background. It is believed that if a devotee hangs a bell over here, Maa Ghanteswari will fulfill all his wishes.
- The Hirakud Dam – The Hirakud Dam and the town of Hirakud are at a distance of 16 kilometres from Sambalpur. The dam is five kilometres long and is considered to be the largest artificial water body in Asia. It has great irrigation and hydroelectricity potential. Gandhi Minar, Nehru Minar, Jawahar Udyan, Ropeway, and boating attract the tourists. The A.P.J. Abdul Kalam planetarium and science park in Burla at the other end of the dam have turned out to be major attractions for tourists in recent times. Both Hirakud and Burla, being equidistant from Sambalpur, have come under the jurisdiction of Sambalpur Municipal Corporation in recent times.
- Ushakothi – The Badrama wildlife sanctuary is popularly known as Ushakothi or Ushakuthi. It is on the Kolkata-Mumbai national highway and 37 kilometres away from Sambalpur. There are towers in the sanctuary from which visitors can enjoy the beauty of the jungle and wild animals. Badrama village is the entry point to the sanctuary from where visitors can get permission for entering.
- Maneswar – The village of Maneswar, on Sambalpur-Cuttack highway and just ten kilometres away from Sambalpur, is famous for the Mandhata Baba temple dedicated to Lord Siva. It is one of the ‘Ashtashambhus’ found in the districts of Sambalpur and Bargarh. Situated on one bank of the river Malati, the temple has beside it a huge pond full of tortoises. Sivratri is the main festival over here.
- Deer Park – The deer park is inside the city of Sambalpur in the Motijharan area. There are deer over here living in their second home. There are also herbal plants and trees in natural surroundings. A good and quality time could be spent over here for relaxation and with children after a hectic schedule. The entry gate and the boundary protecting the wild animals are attractive.
- Huma – On Sambalpur-Sonepur highway, with a motorable road up to it, Huma is a village boasting of the world-famous leaning temple dedicated to Lord Siva, who is known as Bimaleswar Mahadev. It is one of the early ‘Ashtashambhus’ found in the districts of Sambalpur and Bargarh. Approximately twenty-three kilometres from the city of Sambalpur, Huma village and temple are situated on one bank of the river Mahanadi and pitted against a scenic backdrop. The temple ghat is full of Kudo fish, which accept sweets from the devotees and visitors. On the occasion of Sivratri, a week-long fair is held over here. Tourists can get the facility of riding in private boats on minimum payment in the Mahanadi.
- Khalasuni – Khalasuni wildlife sanctuary is situated at a distance of approximately fifty kilometres from Sambalpur in Rairakhol sub-division. Varieties of flora and fauna, superb natural beauty, cascading waterfalls, and picnic spots are what attract tourists. Rairakhol is also approximately fifty kilometres from here. Despite being extremely beautiful, it is lesser known and gradually coming to notice.
- Gudguda – Gudguda waterfall is at a distance of approximately 115 kilometres from Sambalpur. It is a calm and quiet place with superb natural and scenic beauty attracting tourists round the year. Litchi vegetation around augments the beauty of the place. The taste of litchi can be experienced over here in summer.
- Kandhara – Approximately eighty kilometres from the city of Sambalpur stands the village of Kandhara in Rairakhol sub-division, which is associated with the blind saint-poet Bhimabhoi. There is a well over here into which Bhimabhoi had fallen and was rescued by Mahima Gosain, the propounder of Mahima cult. The well is still in existence and has been a point of attraction for the tourists.
Besides the above-mentioned tourist places, there are picnic spots galore around Sambalpur and in the district. Devjharan, Zero Point, Pitapali, Brubuda Mahavir Dham, Chakdarha, and Ranjanaa are the prominent ones. Numerous restaurants and hotels have come up in Sambalpur in recent times, and the tourists do not face much of a problem for food and accommodation. If they so like, they can have a stopover here and make trips to the neighbouring districts of Subarnapur, Bargarh, Deogarh, and Sundargarh. The district of Sambalpur has an extreme climate with hot summer, cold winter, and heavy rainfall during the monsoons. So, the best time to visit is from October to February when heat and humidity are lowest. The area around the city of Sambalpur was once called Hirakhand, as good quality diamond was available over here. It has a rich and illustrious history with the flowering of Buddhism, Saivism, Shaktism, and Vaishnavism in this glorious land. The city of Sambalpur and the district are worth visiting for the culture, the tourist places of historical importance, and heritage, and also shopping.
(The views expressed are the writer’s own)
Mr. Prafulla Kumar Majhi,
Retired Asst. Director, A. I. R, is an eminent Scholar and freelance writer in English & Odia. His areas of interests are sociocultural, economic, literary, historical and analytical studies and writings.
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