Tourist places near Berhampur city: Next weekend you can be at ... Ghodahada

By:Samir Chakraborty and Bolon Chakraborty 

On my way to Berhampur from Taptapani in Orissa, my car whizzed past a signpost —“Better late than never” — warning drivers of the consequences of reckless manoeuvring on hilly terrain. It suddenly dawned on me that I was hooked on to speed even on a leisure trip. The habit of being in the rat race just refused to go.

Put up by the state irrigation department, the sign had a picture of a large water body painted on it. Guided by sixth sense, I turned right, leaving the main road.

What lay ahead was more beautiful than I had expected. A winding narrow road through a canopy of trees took me to Ghodahada. It was a discovery of delight!

Nestled among the hills and forests of the Ramgarh range, Ghodahada gets its name from the river on which the irrigation department has built a dam . Gushing out of the hills at a height of 3,000 metres, the river suddenly becomes wide before flowing downhill. It is at this spot that the dam was built.

The waves lapping on the banks, the quiet murmur of the current and the occasional gurgling streams through the dam gates accentuate the serene and tranquil atmosphere.

The happy togetherness of flora and fauna, hills and the woods makes Ghodahada a nature lover’s favourite. The cosy accommodation in the bungalow on top of the hill puts the final touches to this idyllic retreat.

The primary activity here is to chill out in the lap of nature. If you are of the adventurous kind, you could even go for a jungle safari. Birdwatchers can spend the day along the riverside or walk into the woods. You can visit an old Shiva temple in the area, locally popular as the Ujjaleswar temple. Villagers from Jayanarda, Gobarbaraha, Seripur, Gurubadha and Khamari Gaon in Orissa’s Ganjam district come here to worship.

Gopalpur-on-sea, Rambha and the ancient hill temple Tara Tarini are some of the popular tourist spots nearby.

Godhahada has a charm that makes you want to come back. It helps you connect with yourself, something we hardly get a chance to do in our hectic lives in the cities. By the end of my stay, I was happy that I slowed down and took the right turn.

Going

Take a train from Howrah to Berhampur city in Orissa. You could also take NH-5 to Berhampur and proceed from there. Air connectivity to Berhampur is also available from Bhubaneswar. Air service between Kolkata and Berhampur will commence soon.

Staying

There are many hotels in Berhampur and Gopalpur-on-Sea. You can book the irrigation bungalow by writing to the sub-divisional engineer, Godhahada, Digapahandi.

Source : The Telegraph