Bhubaneswar: Looking for a short spiritual retreat in midst of nature, head for Debrigarh Sanctuary in Odisha’s Bargarh district.
Debrigarh Ecotourism under Hirakud Wildlife Division has introduced two new packages and high-end vehicles to facilitate trips surrounding Barapahad, which is widely known as the fort of freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai, and the sanctuary. “The objective is to introduce national and international tourists coming to Debrigarh to the biodiversity and rich cultural heritage of Bargarh and Sambalpur districts,” Divisional forest officer (DFO) Anshu Pragyan Das told Odisha Bytes.
The five air-conditioned (AC) safari vehicles – three 4-seater and two 12-seater ones – will run within and outside the sanctuary. These vehicles have special features for photographers and can be used as open Jeeps too. These are in addition to the existing fleet of nine non-AC vehicles operating in the sanctuary. “This will help increase tourist footfall to Debrigarh during monsoon and summer too and allow them to explore places of historical importance in the region through guided tours,” she said, adding that climate will no more be a barrier for tourists wanting to visit here.
The two new tourism packages include visits to Nrusinghnath and Kedarnath temples in Bargarh district, besides handloom markets. “Debrigarh is a part of Barapahada, which spreads from Odisha to Chhattisgarh, and surrounding it are peaceful and spiritual places like Kedarnath temple. Though not in Barapahada, Nrusinghnath temple is a popular destination in western Odisha,” the DFO said.
Das further said the tourists can also use the safari vehicles to visit Samaleswari temple and Sambalpur zoo. “There are many handloom villages and small waterfalls around Barapahad hills, which tourists can travel to in these vehicles,” she added.
The packages are priced between Rs 2,500 and Rs 5,000 and tourists can book both online and offline.
Nrusinghnath Temple: It’s a 15th-century temple of Lord Nrusingha at the foothills of Gandhamardhan hills, which is a hub of Ayurveda study. The scenic waterfall is a major tourist attraction here.
Kedarnath Temple: This Shiva temple of 11th century is on the foothills of Barapahada at Ambabhona in Bargarh district. It is one of the Astasambhu temples of western Odisha and an architectural marvel of Chauhan dynasty. The temple sits in the middle of a lake along the Mahanadi river.
Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary hosts 50 per cent tourists from other states every year. While the majority of the visitors are from Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, at least five per cent are foreigners.
