RAYAGADA, the headquarters town of the district of same name, is on the way to Koraput from Berhampur. It has the facilities to serve as a base for visiting the nearby places of interest.

Hatipathar, only 3 km from here, is a place of great scenic beauty with two waterfalls on the course of river Nagavali. The boulders here appear like huge elephants.

On the confluence of three rivers, Minajhola is a scenic spot as well as a place of pilgrimage – 134 km.

Padmpur, housing the shrine of Manikeswar Shiva, is identified to be the seat of Dharmakirti, the Buddhist Logician-Philosopher-94 km.

How to get there : Rayagada is connected by regular bus services from Berhampur, Koraput and Bhubaneswar (390 km). It is railhead on the rajpur-Vizianagaram rail line of South Eastern Railway.

Where to stay : Hotel Swagat (Tel. 22208), Hotel Kapilas (Tel. 22280), Hotel Ashok (Tel. 23246) and Hotel Vasudev.

Assistance : Koraput Tourist Office at Koraput Club, Tel . 2318, Gram – ORISSATOUR; or Tourist Counter, Rayagada Railway Station, Tel : 22248; or Tourist Counter, Vizianagaram Railway Station, Tel : 3582.