Jharsuguda, approximately fifty kilometres from the city of Sambalpur, has become a full-fledged district after a reorganisation of districts in Odisha, with the town being the district headquarters. With a railway junction on the Kolkata-Mumbai line with routes to Chennai and Hyderabad via Sambalpur and to Delhi via Bilaspur and Katni, and a national airport that has come up in recent times, the town of Jharsuguda has always been important for western Odisha. After it was promoted from a sub-division to a district, new office buildings, educational institutions, marketplaces, and residential buildings have come up, thereby also adding to the population of the town. The district, with ample mineral resources, has led to a growth of industries in recent times. With a rich culture, the district also boasts many tourist places. Let us have a look at the prominent tourist places of the district:
- Chandi Mandir – The Ram Chandi temple is four kilometres from Brajarajnagar and approximately thirty kilometres from Jharsuguda. Devi is worshipped inside a cave on one bank of the river Ib. The beautiful natural surroundings attract tourists in winter. It is one of the oldest temples in the district, and Devi is held in high esteem by the people. It is believed that the temple has been standing since the time of Ram. Ram and Luxman passed through this place while searching for Sita, and Luxman rested over here.
- Pahadi Mandir – The temple dedicated to Lord Siva is five kilometres away from the town of Jharsuguda. It is situated on a hill from where a view of the town of Jharsuguda can be had. The Pahadi Mandir attracts devotees on the occasion of Maha Sivratri every year and is a fine tourist spot.
- Jhadeswar Mandir – Lord Siva is worshipped as Jhadeswar in the temple, which is one kilometre away from the town of Jharsuguda. It is an ancient shrine having an ‘Ubhalinga’ or Linga that originated on its own. During the time of the Zamindars of Jharsuguda, the temple existed in the form of a hut made of leaves. Later, in the year 1916, a Gujrati contractor erected a small temple for the Lord. The Zamindars of Jharsuguda made arrangements for ‘sevayats’ and day-to-day worship for the temple by donating landed property.
- Koilighughar Waterfall – Situated at a distance of fifty-five kilometres from the town of Jharsuguda, Koilighughar Waterfall is one of the best tourist spots in the district. The waterfall is near the village of Kushmelbahal in the Lakhanpur block. A Siva Linga is inside the water, and in winter, it is difficult to see it. But in summer, it is visible when the sun’s rays reflect on it. There is a Siva temple on the waterfall, and on the occasion of Shivratri, a fair is held here every year. The sound of the waterfall and the captivating natural scenery attract tourists.
- Surya Bhattarika Mandir – Approximately forty kilometres from the town of Jharsuguda stands the temple of Maa Suryabhattarika on a hilltop in Kumbharbandh. Situated in a calm and quiet place, it is an attractive shrine with the capacity to appease tourists. The place is also forty kilometres from Sambalpur via the Rampela bridge on the river Ib.
- Bikramkhol – Bikramkhol is a place with cave inscriptions and paintings just 12 kilometres from Belpahar and approximately 35 kilometres from Jharsuguda. In dense forests, caves have been found with inscriptions and paintings on their walls. Research has it that during 4000 BC, an ancient civilization had developed over here with people having a script and living on fruits, animal meat, and other forest products. The historical site attracts tourists, scholars, and researchers from far and wide.
- Ulapgarh – Ulapgarh hill station is near the town of Belpahar. It is believed that the hillock over here was used as a residential fort by certain kings, which has been subject to research by scholars. During the freedom struggle, the revolutionaries took shelter in the Ulapgarh hill forts. The places carved from the rocks for holding torches by them can be seen even to this day. It is approximately twenty kilometres from the town of Jharsuguda.
- Pikolghughar – Five kilometres from Lakhanpur and forty-five kilometres from Jharsuguda, Pikolghughar stream is a fine tourist spot. A forty-foot dam checks water coming from the perennial stream. People of the nearby Pikol village use its water for day-to-day use as well as cultivation. The natural scenery around is astounding. There are dense forests and hilltops around.
- Guja Pahad – Guja Pahad or Parvat is forty kilometres from Belpahar and sixty kilometres from Jharsuguda. It is in Tillia Gram Panchayat of the district. The hill area is surrounded by water except in summer since it is at the backside of the Hirakud Dam Reservoir. There is a tunnel from top to bottom of the hill. The natural scenery and the water around attract tourists. It is also a good picnic spot.
- Rampaluga – Forty-seven kilometres away from the town of Jharsuguda, Rampaluga is a popular picnic spot in the district. It is on the opposite side of the Hirakud Dam, and there are small islands in the Dam reservoir. Tourists get the facility of boating over here. A new park has been created in recent times to attract tourists.
- Lal Pathar – Lal Pathar, literally meaning red rock, is a waterfall surrounded by dense forests. It is 7 kilometres from Belpahar and 29 kilometres from Jharsuguda. It is called Lal Pathar because the side of the river is covered with red rocks. It is a popular tourist spot in the district.
- Bhalu Dumri – Bhalu Dumri is a small island in the Hirakud Dam reservoir towards Lakhanpur. It is 52 kilometres from the town of Jharsuguda. There are two islands in the river Mahanadi, which attract picnic parties coming by boat. The temple of Maheswari is at Mura, which is yet another attraction for visitors and devotees.
- Hatianala – Hatianala Dam is a minor irrigation project in the district of Jharsuguda. It is 42 kilometres away from the town of Jharsuguda. The Dam is surrounded by small mountains and natural scenery which attract tourists.
- Babadera – Babadera cave is 45 kilometres from Jharsuguda. It is believed that a saint used to meditate in the cave. Since it is surrounded by hills and jungles, the saint is believed to have been killed by wild animals. It has been named Babadera later, as saints perform spiritual ceremonies in the cave and local people come over here to attend the same. It is a nice picnic spot in the district.
With many other places like the Barjha Dam, Kolabira Fort, Mukteswar temple, Kali temple, and Kanaka Durga temple to boast of, the district of Jharsuguda can be a good choice for tourists. There are also many parks for children in and around the town of Jharsuguda. Accommodation and food do not pose a problem as a number of hotels, guest houses, lodges, and restaurants have come up in recent times. The district has an extreme climate of heat and cold. Still, the best time to visit is from October to March. .Diwali, Dussehra and Rathyatra are the major festivals in the district.The early name of it was ‘Jharguda’.It has a vibrant tribal culture. Rich in mineral resources,thermal power and with industries,market places for shopping, historical,religious and heritage sites and natural picnic spots ,the district has many things in store for the 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.
Mobile.9861007190