On the Kolkata-Mumbai highway, Bargarh is a town approximately 45 kilometres away from Sambalpur. It is the district headquarters of the district bearing the same name. Once a sub-division of Sambalpur, it became a full-fledged district in the year 1993. It is also on the Jharsuguda-Titilagarh railway line, with a railway station just four kilometres from the town. The town and the district are quite prominent in the western part of Odisha. The district is called the rice bowl of Odisha as it leads in rice production, with much of its land remaining under irrigation by the Hirakud Dam. With mountains, forests, historical and religious sites, rivers, and green fields, the district is a storehouse of attractions for tourists. Let us have a look at the following places of interest:
1) Bargarh
The town of Bargarh is the hubbub of the district. It is an old town with the ruins of a mediaeval fort on one bank of the river Jeera. It is called the city of handloom, with a good market for the purchase of local handloom sarees. On the Kolkata-Mumbai highway, it is a fast-growing city. With good hotels and restaurants, the town offers tourists a base for visiting the tourist places in the district.
The town of Bargarh is also known for the yearly Dhanu Jatra, which is world-famous as the largest open-air theatre in the world.
2) Padampur
Approximately 80 kilometres from Bargarh, Padampur is a sub-divisional town of the district. There is a royal palace from the royal times in the town. Paikmal, Gandhamardan Hills, and the Nrushinghanath temple are not far from it.
3) Barpali
Barpali is a small town, approximately 23 kilometres from Bargarh. It is the birthplace of Gangadhar Meher, the famous Odia poet. The town is also known for local handloom sarees and pottery.
4) Bijepur
Bijepur is a small but important town of the area, approximately 17 kilometres from Barpali. The town is known for its local handloom sarees.
5) Ganiapali
Ganiapali is 63 kilometres from Bargarh. History has it that it was a famous Buddhist site when Buddhism spread in this part of Odisha between the 6th and 2nd century BC. There is a rare statue of Buddha sitting in the Lotus position with a snake over his head, spreading its hood. It is a prominent Buddha Vihar in the state.
6) Nrushinghanath
The Nrushinghanath temple is situated at the foot of the Gandhamardan hills. It is 110 kilometres from the town of Bargarh. Nrushingha Chaturthi and Navanna or Nuakhai are the main festivals celebrated here.
7) Debrigarh
Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary is 60 kilometres from Bargarh and 40 kilometres from Sambalpur. A large number of migratory birds come here in the winter months. Besides, the sanctuary boasts varieties of flora and fauna. A peak in the Barapahad hills measures 2,267 feet high. The scenic beauty and pleasant environment of the place attract tourists from far and wide.
8) Ashtashambhu Peethas
The Ashtashambhu Peethas, or temples where there are Lingas originating on their own or ‘Ubhalingas,’ are prominent in the western part of Odisha. The temples were built during the rule of the Chauhan kings of Sambalpur. Out of eight, two are in Sambalpur, and the remaining six are in the district of Bargarh. The six places are Saranda, Sorna, Gaisama, Deogaon, Nilji, and Ambabhona, where Lord Siva is worshipped under different names and held in high esteem by the local people. Tourists can visit all six temples by making Bargarh their base. The two Peethas in Sambalpur are at Huma and Maneswar.
9) Barapahad
Barapahad is situated approximately 35 kilometres from Bargarh. The hills bear testimony to the struggle waged by Veer Surendra Sai against the British. Hills with dense jungles and caves helped him hide himself and his arms. The natural and scenic beauty of the hills is an attraction for tourists.
10) Barabakhra
The Barabakhra waterfall near Ambabhona in the Barapahad Hill range is 47 kilometres from Bargarh. In the Barabakhra caves, Veer Surendra Sai, the freedom fighter, hid himself during his rebellion against the British. Dense forests and hills add to the beauty of the waterfall, which flows and falls through two waterfalls.
11) Papanga Mountain
The Papanga Mountain is near the village of Papanga, which is 33 kilometers from Bargarh. There is a temple at the foot of the mountain dedicated to Budharaja. Historians opine that the deity dates back to the 17th-18th century. The mountain is 600 feet high and surrounded by dense forests, a Shriram temple, a Yogashram, and a triangle-shaped pond. Veer Surendra Sai fought against the British, making the mountain his base. It is one of the best picnic spots in the district.
12) Aapkhol
The Aapkhol waterfall inside the Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary is 15 kilometers from Bhatli and 39 kilometers from Bargarh. The waterfall can be reached after a hilly trek of approximately four kilometers. The scenic beauty of the place, with hills and greenery, attracts tourists and picnickers from far and wide.
13) Baba Shyam Temple
The Shyam Baba temple is in Bhatli, 20 kilometers from the town of Bargarh. The deity is also called Khatu Shyam and is believed to be an incarnation of Barbarika, a character in the Mahabharata closely associated with Lord Krishna. Situated in a calm and quiet place, the temple has traditional architecture, intricate carvings, and fine interior glasswork.
14) Shyama Kali Temple
The Shyama Kali temple is a major attraction in the town of Bargarh. Maa Shyama Kali, who fulfills the wishes of her devotees, is worshipped in the temple. There are other gods and goddesses inside the temple premises. The temple architecture is quite attractive. There is Gandhi Park nearby, where one can spend quality time with family and friends.
15) Nalichuan
Nalichuan waterfall is 10 kilometers from Bhatli and 28 kilometers from Bargarh. The scenic beauty of the place attracts tourists. The 200-foot-high waterfall is set against hills and dense forests. There is the Girigovardhan temple on the Nalichuan hill.
16) Debadarha
Debadarha waterfall is just 18 kilometers from Padampur. The waterfall and its water flowing through rocks and dense forests, along with the serene atmosphere and scope for trekking, make it a hot favorite for tourists and picnickers in the district.
The above-mentioned places do not end the list of tourist attractions in the district. There are Panipahacha Waterfall, Rani Chuan, Tamdei Picnic Spot, Talkhol Picnic Spot, Kuthikhol Waterfall, Manbhang Dam, Ambasadha Point, Veer Zamidar Kila, Samardhara Picnic Spot, Maa Vaishno Devi, Karali Hill View Point, Posco Pahad, Penporti Waterfall, Bagh Jharan, and Ghagara Waterfall, which have all the ingredients to attract tourists and picnickers.
Gandhamardan Hills, Patharasini Temple of Arjunda, Baseikela, Girigovardhan of Dekulba, Bindhyavasini of Sankirda, Junani Jharan, and Aqua Island Waterpark are the other major tourist attractions in the district.
With a population of approximately sixteen lakh people, Bargarh is the 13th most populated district in Odisha, covering an area of six thousand square kilometers. It has an extreme climate, with hot summers and cold winters. The best time to visit is from October to March. Train, bus, and hired vehicles are the main modes of transport in the district. With towns like Bargarh, Barpali, and Padampur, and the availability of hotels, lodges, restaurants, and guest houses, tourists will not have much difficulty finding food and accommodation. The numerous tourist spots will, in no way, disappoint visitors.
(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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