Sundargarh

Day Trips

Start your day with a refreshing walk around the bustling local market, soaking in the aromas of fresh produce and street snacks. Meet a friendly guide who will introduce you to Sundargarh’s history, pointing out colonial-era buildings and temples. Capture the lively spirit of the town while sipping locally brewed tea from a roadside stall.

Explore the Sundargarh Fort ruins perched on a rocky hill, marveling at centuries-old stone walls and panoramic views of the town below. Learn about the area’s tribal heritage at the District Museum, where traditional textiles and weapons are on display. Enjoy a hearty thali lunch at a family-run eatery, sampling steamed rice cakes and spiced lentils.

Stroll along the serene lakeside promenade as the sun dips behind the hills, casting golden reflections on the water. Visit a lakeside cafe to savor fresh pakoras and masala chai while local musicians play folk tunes. Retire to your comfortable guesthouse and plan the adventures ahead with your guide.

Head out early to Mandira Dam, where shimmering waters spill over the concrete spillway against a backdrop of lush hills. Walk along the dam crest to feel the cool mist on your face and watch fishermen cast lines in the reservoir. Capture sunrise hues dancing across the water before breakfast.

Set off for the nearby rocky trails leading to a hidden waterfall, plunging into a natural pool surrounded by ferns. Enjoy a picnic lunch on a smooth boulder as you listen to water tumbling over mossy rocks. Take a refreshing dip in the cool, clear pool and let the current wash away any travel fatigue.

Return to town via a scenic backroad, stopping at a roadside stall for warm sweet pakhal, a rice dish. Visit a local handicraft center to observe artisans weaving palm leaf baskets and carving wooden figurines. Sample a local dessert made from jaggery and coconut before retiring early.

Depart for the majestic Pitamahal Waterfalls nestled deep in the forested hills, arriving to the roar of cascading water. Trek along a shaded jungle path guided by a tribal tracker who points out medicinal plants and birdlife. Pause at viewpoints to photograph the multi-tiered falls against emerald greenery.

Share a traditional tribal meal in a nearby village longhouse, with rice, forest greens, and smoked fish cooked over an open fire. Participate in a tribal dance demonstration, learning simple steps and rhythms from village elders. Explore mud-thatched huts and learn about daily life, agriculture, and folk tales of the locals.

Enjoy a quiet riverside bonfire under a canopy of stars, roasting corn and nuts. Listen to elders recount legends of forest spirits and ancient heroes around the crackling flames. Return to your forest lodge, lulled to sleep by the distant sound of water.

Rise at dawn to the calls of jungle birds and start a guided trek through Khairkela Wildlife Sanctuary’s dense sal and bamboo forests. Keep an eye out for deer, wild boar, and langurs moving through the undergrowth. Pause at a clearing for breakfast and savor buttery parathas with spicy pickle.

Deepen your exploration with a visit to a hidden grassland that attracts bharal and peafowl at midday. Your guide will share insights on local flora used in tribal remedies and crafts. Enjoy a packed lunch of smoked chicken wraps while watching the play of light and shadow across the forest floor.

As dusk falls, gather at a lookout point to spot grazing animals silhouetted against the fading sky. Head back to your eco-lodge, stopping to watch fireflies flicker along the trail. Over dinner of smoky tandoori fish and seasonal vegetables, exchange stories with fellow travelers.

Embark on a moderately challenging hike up Lingardagh Hills, winding through terraces of wildflowers and aromatic grasses. Reach ancient petroglyph sites carved into weathered rock walls, depicting hunters and wildlife scenes from millennia past. Enjoy a packed breakfast of local fruit and nuts as you sketch the carvings in your travel journal.

Descend into a shady ravine to discover hidden caves and natural pools where you can cool off. Enjoy a field-prepared lunch cooked over coals, featuring spicy vegetable stew and flatbreads. Learn about the geological history of the region from your guide as you explore fossil-strewn outcrops.

Return to Sundargarh town for a relaxing stroll through evening bazaars alive with colorful textiles and hand-loomed fabrics. Sip on freshly pressed sugarcane juice and sample layered sweets made from rice flour and jaggery. Retire to a boutique heritage hotel, admiring its carved wooden balconies.

Travel to Koilighughar Falls, arriving at the lookout just as first light illuminates the cascading water curtain. Stroll down to the base of the falls via a shaded trail, feeling the spray cool your skin. Gather by the turquoise plunge pool for a light breakfast of fresh fruit and crispy vadas.

Spread a picnic mat on a smooth riverside rock for a leisurely lunch of spiced rice, dal, and vegetable curries. Lounge in the sun, read a book, or join your guide in sketching the waterfall’s dramatic silhouette. Take a gentle swim in the shallow pool, then relax with a short nap under a banyan tree.

Return along scenic forest roads, pausing at a hilltop shrine to watch the sunset paint the sky in pink and orange hues. Stop at a roadside tea stall to try smoky chai brewed over wood fire. Head back to your lodge for a rustic dinner, then enjoy local folk songs performed by traveling musicians.

Drive up to the panoramic Rankapahadi Viewpoint, where rolling hills and winding rivers stretch to the horizon. Sip tea from a makeshift stall while watching shepherds guide flocks across the grassy slopes. Capture the sweeping landscape in photographs or watercolor sketches.

Visit a nearby tribal craft center where you’ll learn to weave bamboo baskets and carve wooden utensils under a master artisan’s guidance. Enjoy a simple lunch served in a thatch-roofed workshop, featuring steamed rice, greens, and lentil soup. Purchase a handcrafted souvenir to take home, made by local women’s cooperatives.

Return to town and join a hands-on cooking class to learn tribal recipes like bamboo shoot curry and wild mushroom stir-fry. Feast on your creations with new friends around a long wooden table. Cap off the evening with a short storytelling session where you share travel highlights and hear local legends.

Journey to Koida village to visit the centuries-old Jagannath Temple, its intricately carved stone pillars and sanctum glowing in the morning light. Participate in the temple’s daily rituals, offering flowers and receiving blessings from the pujari. Explore the temple courtyard where vibrant murals depict scenes from Hindu epics.

Time your visit to coincide with a local festival, watching processions of decorated bulls and folk dancers in colorful attire. Enjoy festival foods like sweet rice laddus and savory patties filled with spiced potatoes. Mingle with villagers to learn about festival customs and the significance of offerings.

As evening prayers conclude, join in devotional singing under the temple’s floodlit courtyard. Savor a communal meal of kheer and chapatis served on banana leaves with temple priests and worshippers. Return to your homestay nearby, warmed by the glow of community spirit.

Head to Rathdhara village for an immersive homestay experience with a tribal family living in a mud-and-thatch house. Help your hosts gather fresh eggs and milk from the backyard poultry and cattle. Share a hearty breakfast of millet porridge sweetened with jaggery.

Spend the afternoon learning traditional pottery techniques, shaping pots on a foot-powered wheel under the guidance of a village potter. Break for a rustic lunch of smoked fish, rice, and forest greens cooked in banana leaf parcels. Walk through nearby paddy fields with your host, learning about local rice varieties and farming methods.

As dusk falls, participate in an intimate cultural exchange around a crackling fire, listening to tribal folk songs accompanied by simple percussion. Sample homemade rice wine sipped from bamboo cups and taste roasted maize. Retire to your cozy guest room as the night sounds of the village lull you to sleep.

Enjoy a final village-style breakfast of fresh fruits, rice, and chutneys prepared by your homestay hosts. Take a leisurely walk through dew-kissed fields, collecting wild herbs and saying fond farewells to neighbors. Pose for photos on a rustic wooden cart loaded with firewood and flowers.

Return to Sundargarh town for last-minute shopping at the local handicraft emporium, picking up batik scarves, wooden masks, and tribal jewellery. Relish a farewell meal of flavorful biryani and spicy chicken curry at your favorite eatery. Pack your bags with souvenirs and memories of your immersive journey.

Head to the bus or train station, relishing a final cup of steaming chai as twilight settles over the hills. Exchange heartfelt goodbyes with your guide, thanking them for their insights and companionship. Depart Sundargarh with a heart full of vivid experiences and a yearning to return.