Top Tourist Attractions in Sambalpur
In the Indian state of Odisha, Sambalpur is the fifth biggest city. Sambalpur is one of India’s oldest cities, having settlements dating back to the prehistoric period. The region is recognised for its internationally acclaimed textile weaving designs and textiles, which are referred as locally as Baandha. Sambalpur is well-renowned for its hand-woven textiles, also known as Sambalpuri Textile. It is well-known across the world for its distinctive pattern, style, and texture.
Best Places to Visit in Sambalpur
- Hirakud Dam
- Ghanteswari Temple
- Gudguda Waterfall
- Samaleswari Temple
- Huma, the Leaning Temple of Lord Shiva
Hirakud Dam
Only 15 kilometres north of Sambalpur, the world’s longest earthen dam stands alone in its grandeur over the huge river Mahanadi, which drains an area of 1,33,090 square kilometres, more than twice the size of Shrilanka. The majority of the Hirakud dam has enough dirt, concrete, and masonry components to build and pave a road 8 metres wide from Kanyakumari to Kashmir and Amritsar to Dibrugarh in Assam. With an area of 746 square kilometres and a beach line of nearly 640 kilometres, the reservoir constitutes Asia’s largest manmade lake from horizon to horizon. A twenty-one-kilometer journey along the dike provides a one-of-a-kind experience of quiet tranquillity and natural magnificence. From the top of the spinning minarate known as Gandhi Minar, one can see the huge Hirakud dam and the spectacular expanse of water.
Ghanteswari Temple
Maa Ghanteswari Temple is one of Sambalpur’s holiest and most beautiful places. There are bells (Ghanti) everywhere, as the name implies. People present a bell to Maa once their desires are granted. Every day, a great number of pilgrims from all around the state visit this site. This is known as Chipilima’s Heart (a beautiful picnic spot). The unique feature of this temple location is the hundreds of bells that dangle all around it; it is the only spot of its like in Orissa. Maa Ghanteswari Temple is located on the banks of the Mahanadi River, 33 kilometres south-west of Sambalpur. In the past, it was very useful for navigating. It was referred to be a lighthouse without a light. The location was named after the goddess Ghanteswari.
Previously, there were some large bells on this location, and with the assistance of the wind, they produced a tremendous sound that made the navigators aware of this trechorous spot, and they never ventured close to it. Because this place is the confluence of three streams of water from the Mahanadi River, the water circulation here is particularly trechorous, generating a whirlpool. As a result, numerous boats were lost as they approached this location. The wind is fairly strong here, and the bells were making noise as a result of that. This location is now safer because to the construction of the Hirakud dam.
Gudguda Waterfall
Gudguda is one of the most lovely picnic spots in the area. Though Gudguda is located in the Sambalpur District, many visitors come from nearby places such as Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, and even Rourkela. It takes only 1.5 hours to get there from Jharsuguda. After passing through Kolabira Village, the roads are superb. The journey to this location is really nice. There aren’t many automobiles after Kolabira Village. This area is completely covered with deep forest. As you approach the area, you will notice several Mango and Lichi orchards on both sides of the roadways. You may also hear birds chirping and the flowing sound of a waterfall. You would like spending your day here because it is a great tranquil area to spend your day away from your stressful and busy life.
Let us tell you that before you go to the precise location, you must over a little waterfall, which is easily crossed if you have a four wheeler. In Moonson time, the Maruti 800 and Maruti Van will have minimal issue crossing this. This location boasts three step-by-step waterfalls that have been artfully sculpted into the rocks. This location is also ideal for mountain trekking. Remember to bring Trekking shoes with you if you intend to visit this location. Let us also remark that the water flowing in this falls is incredibly cold, one of the primary reasons being that the waters are seldom exposed to sunlight because it is covered on all sides. Rest certain, you will learn a lot more about the location after viewing the photographs shot there.
Samaleswari Temple
Shree ShreeSamaleswari, the presiding god of Sambalpur, is a powerful religious force in western Orissa and Chhattisgarh, India. From ancient times, the mother goddess Samaleswari has been worshipped on the banks of the river Mahanadi as Jagatjanani, Adishakti, Mahalaxmi, and Mahasaraswati. The temple’s surrounding area has a significant cultural legacy. Since ancient times, the Sambalpur area has been referred to as Hirakhanda. Ptolemy referred to the area as Sambalak. According to Tavernir, a French explorer, and Edward Gibbon, an English historian, diamonds were sold from Sambalpur to Rome.
Huma, the Leaning Temple of Lord Shiva
A hamlet in the Sambalpur Subdivision, located 23 kilometres south of Sambalpur on the left side of the Mahanadi. The hamlet is home to the Leaning Temple of Lord Siva, which was constructed during the time of Baliar Singh, the fifth Raja of Sambalpur. The worship of Siva is claimed to have begun with a milkman (Gauda) who crossed the Mahanadi on a regular basis to a spot on the bank where the underlying rock cropped out. Here he daily presented his share of milk, which was immediately consumed by the rock, and this remarkable occurrence prompted inquiries, which resulted in the construction of the current shrine. Huma is a pilgrimage destination, but it is also frequented by curious visitors who want to observe the various types of fish in the river. Every year in March, on the occasion of Sivratri, a large fair is held at the foothill.
Bimaleswar Siva is the presiding diety. Kudo fish are a kind of fish that can only be found in this area. They’re reported to be so kind that they’ll accept sweets and other goodies off the hands of individuals who wash near the shrine. On auspicious days, they are addressed by name and given God’s prasad. Nobody attempts to catch them since they are seen to be God’s possessions. Now, on to the major feature, the temple’s tilting structure. Nobody was able to provide a satisfactory response based on our team’s research and interviews. Surprisingly, the major temple leaned in one direction while the smaller little temples tilted in another. And within the temple complex, i.e. within the temple’s confines, everything was discovered to be slanted, even the boundaries.
According to the people and priests, the angle of inclination has not changed in the previous 40/50 years. However, the structure may be inclined owing to geological reasons, or the earth crust may be uneven in structure. Concerning the inclination, it is impossible to determine if the angle is growing or decreasing. For that, some form of measurement tool should be provided to accurately analyse it, as is done with the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Best Time to Visit Sambalpur
The months of September to March are thought to be the finest for visiting Sambalpur.
How to Reach Sambalpur
By Air:
Swami Vivekananda International Airport in Raipur (265 km) and Biju Pattnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar are the closest airports (300 K.M). A new airport is being built at Jharsuguda’s industrial development (50 km) and the nearest air strip is in Jamadarpali (10 K.M)
By Rail:
East Coast Railways has a divisional headquarters at Sambalpur. Sambalpur is served by four railway stations: Sambalpur (Khetrajpur), Sambalpur Road (Fatak), Hirakud, and Sambalpur City. There are direct train connections to all of India’s metros and major cities.
By Road:
National Highway 6, which connects Mumbai and Kolkata, goes through Sambalpur, while National Highway 42 connects Sambalpur to Bhubaneswar. There are two bus stops (government and private). The government bus stop is located near Laxmi Talkies Chhaka, while the private bus stop is located at Ainthapali, about 3 km away from the government bus stop. The private stand provides more frequent service to the area’s major cities. Taxis and auto rickshaws are available for excursions and visiting points of interest.