Daragudishila beckons visitors with its unspoilt charm heightened by Baitarani river meandering along its rocky slopes. Ratan Pradhan takes in the beauty of the place that holds a lot of potential to be developed into a tourist destination
In a land replete with various kinds of tourist destinations, from places of religious interest to historical sites and forests teeming with flora and fauna, is one place in Keonjhar district that lies unspoilt in the lap of nature.
Daragudishila, which lies about 500 feet above sea level near Kolimati in Anandapur block,
offers an exquisite view of the Baitarani river. The Baitarani seems to split the hills to clear its path as it flows down the rocky surface of the mountainous region of the block to meet the Bay of Bengal. The rhythmic chuckling sound of the flowing river as it meanders down the sedimentary rocks catches the eyes of visitors.
There is a narrow check dam that is natural but has partially been developed recently. Standing on this and facing west, a visitor can see the large expanse of the river. The river is generally calm on this side. Huge rocks can clearly be seen raising their heads in the reservoir. On the horizon lies the virtual meeting point of the river and a mountain range.
Facing east, the visitor can witness the bubbling Baitarani flowing down the rocky slopes. The water flowing along the pebbles of different shapes and sizes has been a muse to many a visitor, giving rise to fertile imaginations of the poetically inclined.
There is a lot more to offer for those in love with nature, with the chirping of birds adding to the sylvan surroundings of the place and attracting a lot of people. The place is gradually turning into a favoured destination for people during the months of December and January. “We often see picnickers, mostly college students, visiting the spot in winter and particularly on New Year’s Eve,” says Murali Dhar Naik, a resident of Daragudishila.
This is a beautiful spot and can be developed as a tourist destination, Naik said. “I usually come here to take a bath in the reservoir, which is indeed enjoyable,”
he said.
“Now, a power plant is being constructed by Baitarani Power Project Pvt Ltd on the other side of the river at Daragudishila. The power plant is expected to generate 24 MW of power,” said a source.
However, the place is not without its problems. Visitors to this panoramic spot drive 17 km from Anandapur on National Highway 215 to reach Kolimati. From there they travel north for about 11 km to reach the spot through a serpentine hilly road, of which the last 3 km is not mettaled and thus quite uncomfortable to traverse.
The spot itself is not developed and visitors face difficulty in availing hospitality services. “Many picnickers express their displeasure over absence of a shop and a rest shed at the spot,” says Naik.Despite these problems, visitors continue to go the spot to be at one with nature at lease for a while.
Fast Facts
Airport: Bhubaneswar, 170 km
Railway station: Jajpur-Keonjhar Road, 63 km
Bus terminus: Anandapur, 28 km
When to visit: December & January