Approximately 100 kilometres from Rourkela,
85 kilometres from Sambalpur, and 35 kilometres from Jharsuguda, stands the small but beautiful town of Sundargarh on the Sambalpur-Rourkela highway. Sundargarh is the district headquarters of the district bearing the same name. It was the capital of the princely state of Gangpur till the year 1948, and then it became one of the districts of Odisha state.
It is an industrial district quite rich in iron ore, limestone, and manganese and therefore gets a place of prominence in the state. Besides Sundargarh, there are other towns and cities like Rajgangpur and Rourkela in the district.
Biramitrapur and Bonaigarh are also towns of historical importance with tourist sites and temples. It also abounds in tourist places, thereby easily finding its name on the tourist map of Odisha. Let us have a look at the tourist places in the district:
- Rourkela – Rourkela is the biggest city in the district and the third largest in Odisha state.
It is a smart city under a scheme of the government. The city, with a steel plant, has been planned with roads, gardens, and marketplaces. The Hanuman Vatika, the Indira Gandhi Park, and the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium are some of the major tourist attractions in the city. On the Mumbai-Kolkata line, it is a main railway junction from where one can travel to major cities of the country. It has also got an airport, though not connected to major cities in the country. - Sundargarh – On the Sambalpur-Rourkela highway, Sundargarh is a historical town on one bank of the river Ib. The town, with the royal palace, the collectorate, and an array of temples like the Samlei Temple and the Radhakrishna Temple, attracts tourists. It was the capital of the princely state of Gangpur before independence.
- Vedavyas – Five kilometres from Panposh and fifteen kilometres from Rourkela, it is a
‘Tirtha’ or pilgrimage centre situated at the confluence of the rivers Sankh and Koel forming the river Brahmani. It is believed that Vyasa, the great sage, lived here and wrote the epic Mahabharata. There are two temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and one to Lord Ram. - Ghoghar Dham – Ghoghar Dham is a famous
Saiva Peetha in the district. There is an ‘Ubha Linga’ in the temple, which has originated on its own. From both Rajgangpur and Kansbahal, the site can be reached by road. The nature around is captivatingly beautiful. - Mandira Dam – The Mandira Dam, known for its scenic beauty, is situated near the town of Rajgangpur. The dam is built across the river Sankh. The water of the dam is used for the Rourkela Steel Plant.
- Hanuman Vatika – Inaugurated in the year 1994, the Hanuman Vatika in the city of
Rourkela has a statue of Veer Hanuman which is 75 feet high. It not only attracts devotees but also tourists for the beautiful scenery around. - Vaishnodevi Temple – The Vaishnodevi Temple, situated on top of the Durgapur Hill,
is a famous religious shrine in the city of Rourkela. It is a replica of the original temple of Maa Vaishnodevi on the Trikuta Hills near Jammu. The Bhairavnath Temple has been built near the Vaishnodevi Temple on the hill. - Duduma, Harishankar, Badaghaghara, Miriglotah, Joranda, and Hatipathar – Sundargarh literally means a beautiful fort. The district abounds in natural scenery, jungles, water bodies, and waterfalls. The above-mentioned waterfalls are not only good picnic spots but also attract tourists.
- Indira Gandhi Park – The Indira Gandhi Park,
with a musical fountain, is the best park in the city of Rourkela. A small zoo, boating facility, and a toy train are the major attractions of the park for the tourists. Spread over an area of 42 acres, the park is just three kilometres from the Rourkela bus stand. - Pitamahal – Full of water most of the time round the year, the Pitamahal Dam looks
very attractive. It is built across the river Pitamahal and is 22 kilometres from the city of Rourkela. It is one of the best picnic spots in the district. - Kanakund – At Kanakund, the Ib river forms a beautiful canyon. The depth of water and the rough rock formations present a stunning view over here. It is located at Kaintara village in the district.
- Darjeeng Park – The Darjeeng Park in the district of Sundargarh is one of the best picnic spots in the district. Clean air, lush green surroundings, and the serene river Brahmani captivate the minds of the tourists. It is 46 kilometres from Rourkela.
- Sarafgarh Dam – The Sarafgarh Dam presents a beautiful sight with a park for the children, a nice garden, and a boating facility. This tourist and picnic spot is 38 kilometres from Sundargarh.
- Luxminarayan, Radhakrishna, and Jagannath Temples – The Luxminarayan Temple situated on a hilltop has been nicely built. There is a motorable road up to it with parking space. The temple is near Rourkela city.
The Jagannath Temple in Rourkela presents a panoramic and picturesque sight, thereby attracting pilgrims and tourists. It is 90 meters in height. Rathyatra is celebrated over here every year.
The Radhakrishna Temple is in front of the royal palace in Sundargarh. This old temple stands near the Samlei Temple and the Ib river. - Birsa Munda Stadium – The recently built Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium, along with its beautiful surroundings, presents a stunning view in the city of Rourkela.
- Hockey Chowk – The Hockey Chowk has turned out to be a major attraction in the city of Rourkela with its roads cutting across each other, parks, statues, and images. It is a new landmark in the city.
- Collectorate – The Collectorate in the town of Sundargarh is a massive building and a legacy of the royal kingdom of Gangpur. It houses the office of the DM and Collector and other district-level offices of the state government. The old structure and brick colour of the building make it attractive.
- Khandadhar Waterfall – The Khandadhar Waterfall is 19 kilometres from Bonaigarh and 104 kilometres from Rourkela. Pitted against thick jungles and scenic beauty, it is believed to be the highest waterfall in Odisha with an approximate height of 244 meters.
In addition to the above-mentioned places, there are myriad other places of tourist interest like the Dav Pond, Nehru Traffic Park, Mrig Vihar, Toniland, and Bhawani Bhawan Field, along with numerous temples, waterfalls, and picnic spots with natural and scenic beauty.
The picnic spots in the district, with their natural and scenic beauty, attract picnickers even from nearby districts, mostly in the winter season.
Sundargarh, with its rich mineral resources and approximately 43 percent of its area under forests, is a prominent district in the state of Odisha. Though the town of Sundargarh is not a railway head, Jharsuguda, 35 kilometres away, and Rourkela, 100 kilometres away, are railway junctions from where many places in the district can be reached by road. Sundargarh itself is situated on the Sambalpur-Rourkela highway. Accommodation and food do not pose much of a problem, with towns and cities like Sundargarh and Rourkela. Bus and hired vehicles are the main modes of transport. Though Sundargarh, Rajgangpur, and Birmitrapur are traditional towns, one can experience both tradition and modernity in Rourkela, which is almost a metropolis. Sundargarh has an extreme climate, and the best time to visit the district is from October to March. The district of Sundargarh, with its rich history and culture along with its natural beauty, has all the ingredients to attract tourists.
(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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