Odisha, located on the Indian subcontinent’s eastern coast, is home to a diverse range of excellent tourism stuffs. Historically known as a cultural hotspot, it has recently emerged as one of the most beautiful states in the country, with rapid progress on all fronts, including the travel and tourism sector. If you ask any travel enthusiast about sites to visit in Odisha, they would undoubtedly recommend Jagannath Temple, Konark Temple, Sambalpur, and Gopalpur. Odisha is well-known as the home of one of the Char Dhams, Puri, although little of the state has been explored. There are up to 800 spiritual structures in the city of Bhubaneswar alone. The Kalinga architecture is unique to the region, and it has characteristic curvilinear designs and ornate exquisite stone carvings.
Many parts of Odisha remain undiscovered and unexplored, thus we offer you this list of the best offbeat places in Odisha to make your trip more meaningful.
Debrigarh Sanctuary
Situated in the Bargarh district of Odisha, the Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary overlooks the turquoise backwaters of the Hirakud Dam. It is renowned for having easy access to animals and stunning landscape. With a land area of 743 square kilometres, Debrigarh is home to a wide variety of plants and animals. Debrigarh is home to around 40 species of mammals, 234 species of birds, 41 species of reptiles, 85 species of butterflies, and 38 species of spiders in addition to the 42 species of fish. This area is home to more than 250 distinct plant species.
The borders of the Hirakud reservoir border the sanctuary’s eastern and northern boundaries, making it an environmentally vulnerable area. Debrigarh is essentially a sanctuary where one may spot leopard, bison, sambar, elephants, wild boar, chital, chousingha, wild dog, porcupine, nilgai, peacock, and many more exotic animals. It’s a lovely location for birdwatching.
Rushikulya Beach
A lesser-known beach in Odisha, Rushikulya Beach is well-known for being the home of the “Olive Ridley Turtle.” This stunning and secluded beach is located in the Ganjam region. This beach is well-known for the “hatching of the Olive Ridley Turtle” eggs, which occurs primarily early in the morning, in addition to being stunning and unspoiled. As an endangered species, the “olive ridley turtle” has been the focus of intense conservation efforts in recent years. Not only that, but not many hotels, motels, shacks, or other structures are evident at or around this undeveloped beach.
In early 2018, this beach was the site of the first two large nesting sites of Olive Ridley Turtles. They first occurred in February and then again in April, 49 days later. The forest agency said that during April’s breeding season, about 3600 turtles hatched. Whether this peculiar nesting behaviour will persist in the future is something that only time can tell. By NH16, it is almost 327 km away from Gahirmatha Beach.
Barehipani Waterfall
The tallest waterfall in Orissa and the second-tallest in all of India is Barehipani. At 1309 feet high, the waterfall is just 55 metres lower than Kunchikal Falls, the tallest waterfall in India. The waterfall originates from the Budhabalanga River, which traverses the mountain. It is a two-tiered waterfall because it falls in two sections.
These stunning falls, which are 1200 feet (399 metres) high, are the result of the river Budhabalanga’s tumble down from the Simlipal highlands. The Barehipani waterfalls are close to the Joranda falls. Despite being smaller than the Barehipani, this waterfall is renowned for its beauty. Both of these waterfalls are consistently full with water throughout the year. The lifeblood of the forest’s inhabitants is the water that cascades down from the falls that run in small streams throughout the forest. The forest is contained within the boundaries of the Simlipal national park, which is home to both the rare white tiger species in Orissa and the magnificent Bengal tiger. Thousands of people visit the Waterfall Barehipani, a well-liked tourist attraction, in awe of its unmatched beauty.
Mangalajodi Bird Sanctuary
A glimpse into Mother Nature may be had at Mangalajodi Ecotourism, which is 40 km from the district office. About 3,00,000 birds visit “The Bird’s Paradise,” an ecotourism destination on Chilika Lake’s northern banks in Odisha, particularly during the winter months. One sustainable style of life exemplifies the preservation of this unique habitat.
In contrast to short-term profit-seeking ecosystem exploitation, Mangalajodi Ecotourism seeks to educate, empower, and inspire people to employ responsibly managed low-impact tourism to transform ecosystems into a sustainable source of income. The survival of the wetland ecosystem and its birdlife is essential to the initiative as a whole.
Chandipur Beach
Chandipur Beach, also known as the ‘hide-and-seek’ beach, is a long expanse of golden sand surrounded by Casuarina trees, clear seas, and rich coastal flora. Every day, though, a peculiar natural phenomenon happens here. During low tide, the seawater recedes up to 5 kilometres (3 miles) twice a day, leaving just the shells behind. During high tide, the water returns.
The biodiversity of sea creatures in the area has been greatly enhanced as a result of this extreme natural phenomenon. When the seawater returns, it brings horseshoe crabs and red crabs with it, which would otherwise live further away from the beach.
This is thought to be a one-of-a-kind phenomenon at this beach. The tide retreats at different times depending on the moon cycle, but it happens every day. The low and high tides are well-known among the locals. Whether the tide is in or out, the sunrises and sunsets are exceptionally beautiful at this beach.
There are several museums and other cultural sites in Odisha that might stimulate your curiosity in the past. Tasty dishes will quench your need for excellent dining. Beautiful temples will satisfy your desire for spiritual fulfilment. Hills, lakes, and animals are just a few of the many children of nature that can satisfy your appetite for adventure. Your curiosity in the unknown will be satiated by a multitude of intriguing tribes. Travellers visiting Odisha will find themselves richly rewarded!
