BY BIBHUTI BARIK
Ganjam district, especially the
tourist circuit in and around Berhampur city consisting of Gopalpur,
Chhatrapur, Tara Tarini , Chilika and Jaugada, can be a wonderful experience
for a weekend trip in limited time and budget.
If you reach Berhampur city by
train and stay at a hotel or guest house in Berhampur or in Gopalpur, you get
enough time to spend the evenings on the beach front, which is a beautiful
sight with the historic lighthouse at the backdrop.
During the daytime, you have to
plan your trip according to the budget, as the vehicles are available at a
reasonable price.
However, if you start the day
early, you may visit the Chilika lake near Rambha, Tampara lake, Potagada
(buried fort) and the cemetery in one day.
On the second day, you can divide
tour time between the famous Jaugada with the Ashokan edict and Tara Tarini
temple on a hilltop near the Rushikuyla riverbank.
Bhubaneswar-based tour planner
Debashish Mohapatra thinks the potential of tourism in Ganjam is not yet
explored and it should also get prominence in tourism literature and promotion.
“One can get the sea front, a
beautiful brackish water lake such as Chilika, sweet water lake Tampara,
historic fort at Potagada near Chhatrapur and the cemetery established by the
European settlers near Potagada. The Tara Tarini temple and Jaugada are there
to attract tourists as well,” he said.
“More focus is always given to
the golden triangle consisting of Bhubaneswar, Puri and Konark, but there are
several places, which can attract tourists with equal potential. However, there
should be efforts to develop minimal infrastructure and introduce
tourist-friendly transport providers in the private sector,” said Mrutyunjay
Tripathy, a government employee who travels to various places in the state with
family.
Second-time MP from Berhampur
Sidhant Mohapatra, after his victory, said tourism promotion would be on his
priority area.
“We want to see that tourists
seek to come to Gopalpur, Chhatrapur and Jaugada just like they always want to
explore places in Puri and Konark,” he added.
Subir Maity, a junior engineer
from Baripada, who came to visit Berhampur last week, said: “I was doing a
post-diploma course in Berhamur during my student days and was visiting places
with friends. Recently, I travelled to many places with my family and realised
that things have changed a lot and there is a huge potential to attract
tourists from neighbouring states such as Andhra Pradesh and Bengal.”
“Local people with their
enterprising qualities to produce nearly 100 varieties of pickles and papads
could also be linked, so that the tourists can take away the food items after
their trip,” he said, adding that the silk saris are also famous and there is a
need to promote them.
Gopalpur-on-sea
About 16km from Berhampur railway
station, the popular destination is dotted with coconut, palm and casuarina
plants. Historically known as Paloura from where sailors of ancient Kalinga
would venture into islands such as Java, Bali and Sumatra for trade in silk and
pearl, the port is also has a beautiful lighthouse which was commissioned by
the British rulers in the past.
Chhatrapur
The district headquarters town of
Ganjam is near the Potagada (buried fort). The European settlers had
constructed the monument from where rice used to be exported, as Ganjam,
traditionally was a major rice-producing region in the state. The settlers also
used to keep arms and ammunition inside the fort.
Tourists can also visit a
cemetery near the fort. The Odisha State Archaeology is now restoring the fort
with assistance from Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan. The sweet-water
lake Tampara is also within a kilometre distance from the town. Nesting of
Olive Ridley sea turtles can also be seen near the sea beach of Chhatrapur.
Chilika (Rambha)
The biggest brackish water lake
of Asia, Chilika, has one of its most beautiful gateways near Rambha from where
one can avail mechanised boat service maintained by the Odisha Tourism
Development Corporation. There is also accommodation available at Rambha with
the OTDC for the tourists who want to have an overview of the lake from their
windows.
Jaugada & Maa Tara Tarini
Jaugada, the second place in
Odisha where the Asokan rock edict is found and preserved by the Archaeological
Survey of India, is a beautiful monument. On the way to the site from Berhampur
or Chhatrapur, one can also see the Tara Tarini hill temple, which is believed
to be the breast Shrine and one of the famous shrines of Shakti.
On the way from the NH-5 to
Jaugada, one can also witness the distinct rural sociology and the beautiful
villages dotted with coconut and date palm trees. Source: The Telegraph
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