Koraput: Odisha Tourism’s flagship glamping event, Eco Retreat, will be opened for tourists at Putsil, Daringbadi, Hirakud and Satkosia from November 1.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will virtually inaugurate these facilities, which come with luxury, adventure, local culture, mouth-watering Odia cuisine, aesthetic folk music and dance.
At least 28 luxury tents, equipped with all necessary amenities, have been erected at Putsil, nestled at the base of Deomali, the highest peak in the state. The event will allow the visitors to savour the mesmerising Deomali and have a close encounter with the tribal villages situated at its foothills with chill in the air and temperature dropping to 12 degree Celsius in Koraput district.
Perfect for those looking to luxuriate in tranquil environs, the itinerary of Eco Retreat at Daringbadi, also called the Kashmir of Odisha, includes visits to Midubandha waterfall, and Daringbadi coffee garden. There are 25 luxury tents at this site, which allow visitors to glamp 3000 metres above sea level under a starlit sky. The night temperature here has dropped to 13 degree Celsius.
A blend of nature, culture and wildlife awaits visitors on the banks of Hirakud Reservoir, where 25 luxury tents have been erected. Hirakud Dam, Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctury and Maa Samaleswari temple are some of the attractions here.
The Eco Retreat at Satkosia with 25 luxury tents allows nature lovers and solitude seekers to glamp along the magnificent gorge of majestic Mahanadi. Satkosia Tiger Reserve and Gorge Sanctuary and Ratnaganda waterfall are some attractions here.
The Eco Retreats at Bhitarkanika and Sonapur beach (Ganjam) will be inaugurated in the second phase on December 1, while the one at Konark will be opened on December 15.
While all the facilities at the seven destinations have shacks within the properties, an additional beach shack-cum-restaurant will be opened at Konark for day visitors. Odisha Travel Bazaar will be held at Konark Eco Retreat in February with focus on B2B meetings between tourism fraternity, domestic and foreign tour operators.
While Eco Retreats usually start on December 1, the Tourism department decided to pre-pone it by a month this year owing to the festive season, conducive weather and tourist inflow. The camping event will run for 90 days and tourists will have a lot of activities to choose from, including trekking, and they can also engage in various cultural programmes.
The department is hoping to get more international tourists this year following the launch of direct flights between Bhubaneswar and Dubai, Singapore and Bangkok. It had received inquiries from tour and travel operators from Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam after its recent roadshows in the countries.
Travellers can make their bookings online on Odisha Tourism website.
