Tourism in Western Odisha

Western Odisha, also referred as Kosal is a territory in western part of Odisha, India, extending from the Kalahandi district in the south to the Sundargarh district in the northwest. Western Odisha includes the districts of Balangir, Bargarh, Boudh, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Sambalpur, Sonepur and Sundargarh.

Tourist attractions of Kosal/Western Odisha

Places of natural beauty are abundant in Kosal. Less frequented by tourists, these places still hold their natural charm. Abundant with jungles, flora and fauna they remain unexplored by visitors to the State. Local culture mixed with natural heritage present a beautiful picture for those who want to escape the mundane life busy and full of stress and want to be nurtured by nature.

Some of the tourist attractions are listed here:-

• Debrigarh is a peak in the Barapahar hills where Veer Surendra Sai, the great Kosli freedom fighter, was captured in 1864 by British soldiers. Debrigarh also has a wildlife sanctuary.

• Nrusinghanath is a place in Paikmal, with a beautiful waterfall and it is one of the most popular tourist places of the Kosal region. A 500 year old temple dedicated to the Hindu god Narasimha is also situated there. One more interesting fact is that the God is worshiped here in the form of a cat as compared to the general Lion-man idol of the god. The God Narsimha is known here as "Marzara Kesari" in the Kosli language.

• Balangir is the modern capital of the ex-Patna State and its current district head quarters. It is famous for numerous Sambalpuri Saree shops, Samaleswari Temple, Patneswari Temple, Nrusinghanath Temple, Santoshi mata Temple, Gopal jee Temple, Sailashree Palace, Rajendra Park.

• Patnagarh is the ancient capital of the kingdom of Patna, and is famous for its 12th century Someswar Siva Temple and Patneswari Temple.

• Ranipur-Jharial is famous for the Hypaethral Temple of sixty-four yoginis and for being a place of confluence of religious faiths, including Saivism, Buddhism, Vaisnavism and Tantrism.

• Kusangei Temple in Kusang is an 11th century temple of Maa Kusangei and it is a fine example of the Kosali architecture.

• Turekela is attractive for wildlife observation, including birds, tigers, deer, bears, monkeys and others.

• Dharpagarh is a site of religious importance, with a big tank called "Dashamati Sagar" guarded with the shrines of Chandi, Duarsuni,Samaleswari, Patneswari, Siva and Vishnu.

• Harishankar is the most popular tourist place of Kosal. It is famous for its 15th century Vishnu, Shiva and Bhairavi Temple. It stands on the scenic southern slope of the Gandhamardan Hills, which are complemented by a perennial stream. It is also known for its natural sliding rock where one can waterslide while having a bath under the waterfall.

• Three remarkable Buddhist statues are situated in Boudh town. At Shyamsundarpur village and Pragalapur village are the 9th century.Rameswar Temple; Jogindra Villa Palace; Hanuman Temple, Chandra Chuda & Matengeswar Temple; Gandharadi Temple,Padmatola Sanctuary, and Nayakpada Cave.

• Pradhanpat is a waterfall on the Pradhanpat hill.

• Gujapahar, Kuilighugar, Pikalghugar are scenic spots.

• Vikramkhol is a site with pictographic inscriptions

• Kolabira Fort

• Shiva shrine Mahadevpali (Samasingha, Laida, and Sudhamal)

• Koilighugar Waterfall is locateed at Lakhanpur

• Ranidarah (Samasingha)

• Dharmagarh has an historical site, Paradeswar Temple, and Bhim Khoj.
• Talguda is a fort.
• Mardiguda, Thuamul-Rampur, and Jakam are scenic spots.
• Kusurla and Sapagaranda is a religious centre.
• Phurlijharan is a waterfall.
• Bhawanipatna is a centuries-old Manikeswari Temple and royal palace, Chhatar Jatra.
• Junagrh has the Lankeswari Temple and Khanda Basa Festival.
• Ampani
• Mukhiguda-Japiatna is the Indravati Dam
• Dokrichanchra
• Asurgarh

• Budhikomna and Patalaganga is a religious centre
• Patora, Sindursil and Thipakhol are scenic spots.
• Yogimatha is a site with cave paintings.

• Samaleswari Temple (Samlei Gudi) is a 17th century shrine dedicated to the goddess Maa Samaleswari, the tutelary goddess of the Kosal region. Samalei Gudi is the second most visited temple in the present Odisha state after Puri Jagannath Temple.
• Huma is famous for the Leaning Temple of Lord Shiva, which is relatively older and leans more than the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Catching fish is not allowed and tradition holds that if one kills any fish from the river which flows behind Huma Temple, one will become a stone statue.
• Ushakothi is a wildlife sanctuary harbouring elephants, tigers, gours, sambars, black panthers, deer, spotted deer, bears, and other animals.
• Hirakud Dam is situated 16 km away from Sambalpur, and is one of the longest dams in the world, about {{rnd/cTemplate:Rnd/b|16|0|0}} mi ({{rnd/cTemplate:Rnd/b|26|(0+(3−3.206648885−0−0.1989700043)round0)|0}} km) in length and the dam extends across a lake, 55 km long.
• Kandhara is the birthplace of poet Bhima Bhoi, the great propounder of Mahima Dharma, and a pilgrimage-cum-sight seeing spot.
• Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary is like an emerald nestled in the serene blue waters of Hirakud Reservoir. Made a sanctuary in 1985, it comprises Lohara Reserve Forest,Lohara and Debrigarh Reserve Forests of Barapahad Hills. Debrigarh means “The abode of the Goddess”. It is located 40 km from Sambalpur. Dhodrokusum, the main entry gate, is 12 km from Hirakud Reservoir, at the end of the right dyke of Hirakud Dam. At Debrigarh, there are vehicle safaris and boat rides available to view more than 50,000 migratory birds from Siberia and other cold regions. It is a natural habitat for jaguars, sambars, black panthers, deer, spotted deer and wild bears.
• Sambalpur Town boasts several temples of Liakhai, Madanmohan, Satyabadi, Bariha, Brahampura, Dadhibamana, Timini, Gopalji, Budharaja Shiva Temple, Maneswar Shiva Temple, Gupteswar,Balunkeswar, [[Loknath, the Goddess Samaleswari, Pataneswari, Batmangala, Budhimaa, Mahamayi, and others, as well as Sambalpuri handlooms.
• Other tourist places: Chipilima has the Ghanteswari Temple, a natural waterfall, the state livestock breeding and agricultural farm, and Hatibari. In Naktideul block, near Tikira jora is the Kunjamura Temple. Gudguda is a scenic spot 35 km from Kuchinda.

Sonepur

• Binika offers Papakshya Ghat, a religious centre.
• Chandalipat Puja Dunguri is also a religious centre.
• Sonepur town is known as the ‘Second Varanasi of India’ abode. There are several temples and gardens, including Suvarnameru, which is on the left bank of the river Tel, towards the southwest of its confluence with the river Mahanadi, Gopinatha, Dadhivamana Deva, Sri Vrindavan Vihari,Gundicha, Sureswari, Stamvesvari (or Khamvesvari), Bhagavati, Samalesvari, Budhi Samalei, Manikesvari, Narayani,Sitalei, Lankesvari, and Sasisena.
• Charada is an historical site.
• Khaliapali is a Mahima shrine.

Sundergarh

• Rourkela offers a steel plant and the Hanuman Temple.
• In Vedvyas, Ghogar is a religious centre.
• Khandadharoffers Miriglotah, a waterfall.
• At Junagada is a fort.
• Scenic spots are at Chhatri Hill, Darjeeng Deodaraha, and Mandira.