Tourism in Kosal

Western Odisha,^[1][2][3] 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 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:-

• 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 like 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 harboring elephants, tigers, gours, sambars, black panthers, deer, spotted deer, bears and other animals.
• Hirakud Dam is situated 16 km from Sambalpur, and is one of the longest dams in the world, about 16 mi (26 km) in length and the dam extends across a lake, 55 km long.

Fisherman at Hirakud Dam

Left Dyke of Hirakud Dam

• 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 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 city boasts of 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.

Maa Samalei, the reigning deity, after which the city of Sambalpur derives its name.

• 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 headquarters. 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.

• 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.

• Vikramkhol is a site with pictographic inscriptions.

• Koilighugar Waterfall is locateed at Lakhanpur.

• Phurlijharan is a waterfall.

• Bhawanipatna is a centuries-old Manikeswari Temple and royal palace, Chhatar Jatra.

• Mukhiguda-Japiatna is the Indravati Dam.

• Yogimatha is a site with cave paintings.

• 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.

• Khaliapali is a Mahima shrine.

• Rourkela is a modern city with a steel plant.

• Khandadharoffers Miriglotah, a waterfall.

References

1. ^ http://www.wodcorissa.org/
2. ^ Dash, Siba Prasad, “ Sambalpur Itihas ”, 3rd edition, 2002, Odisha Sahitya Academy, Bhubaneswar, P. 1 & 148, ISBN 81-7586-083-9
3. ^ Mishra, Dr. Bhibuti Bhusan, Dakshina Kosala (Paschima Odisha) Sankshipta Itihasa, 2003, Maneka Prakashan, Sambalpur, P.4