ROURKELA

FAMOUS for the Steel Plant, Rourkela has the beautiful Indira Gandhi Park and with a zoo. The Hanuman Batika in the centre of the city is also added attraction. It is the most convenient base for visiting other interesting places in Sundargarh district.

Do not fail to visit Vedavyas, a picnic spot on the confluence of two rivers. It is also a place of pilgrimage, 9 km from Rourkela. There is a dam at Mandira, which offers boating facilities. It is 28 km from Rourkela and one may stay in the Mandira Guest House. Contact the Manager Water Supply Plant, SAIL, Rourkela.

Darjeeng is a picnic spot on the river Brahmani. Nearby is Deodarh. A gorge on the river. It is 51 km from Rourkela on National Highway No. 23. About 180 km from Rourkela, Junagarh has a fort of historical and archaeological importance with ancient caves. Another haunt of the tourists is the Mirig Khog Waterfall, a picnic spot, 111 km from Rourkela. The 244 mtrs. High Khandadhar is the loveliest waterliest waterfall in Orissa. 114 km from Rourkela via Bonaigarh, it offers a delightful refreshing sight.

How to get there : Rourkela has direct trains from New Delhi, Calcutta, Bombay, Chennai, Bokaro, Tata, Ahmedabad, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur and Puri. It is 470 km from Bhubaneswar and 192 km from Sambalpur by road.

Where to Stay : OTDC’s Panthanivas, Sector 5, double rooms. Hotels : (Telephone numbers in brackets): Hotel Ajanta (522836), Hotel Deluxe (510351), Hotel Apasara (510286), Hotel Chandralok (510822), Hotel Solan (510404), Bharat Rest House (510286), Hotel Shyam (510337), Hotel Anurag (510130), Hotel Mayfair (5022013), Hotel Dipti (500243), Hotel Nidhi (500796)

Assistance : Tourist Office, Tel : 5073337, Gram : ORISSATOUR; Tourist Counter, Rourkela Railway Station, Tel : 522076.