Summer Sojourn in Odisha: Lakes, Hills and Forests – 5 of The Most Tranquil Places to Visit Around Odisha

Odisha is a brilliant summer destination boasting of the white-sand beaches of Puri and Gopalpur to the dense forest of Simlipal and you must head over there to avoid soaring temperatures.

Simlipal National Park

Simlipal National Park is the largest wildlife sanctuary in India and is Asia’s second largest biosphere. Located in Mayurbhanj district, this place is filled with natural beauty and is a perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city life. It was once a hunting ground & now a wildlife sanctuary. The rich flora and fauna of the place attract the majority of tourists and if lucky, you can spot very rare melanistic Royal Bengal tigers. The good news is that the Similipal Tiger Reserve has witnessed an increase from 16 tigers captured through Camera Traps in 2021-2022 to the present number of 27.

Simlipal Park has dense forests, splendid meadows, incredible waterfalls, and mesmerizing rivers for travelers to get enthralled by the bio-diversity & capture 1000 varieties of plants & 96 species of orchids and is an ideal summer getaway.

Chilika Lake

Odisha is certainly at no deficit when it comes to natural beauty. Odisha’s weather can be unpredictable, but let’s try to visit another serene place in the state – Chilika Lake. One of Odisha’s most-visited lakes, Chilika Lake boasts of a lovely shoreline walk and an enchanting ecosystem of migratory birds, blue waters and sea life.

Puri Beach

This charming seaside town is a picture-perfect getaway in Odisha. It has a stunning scenery and ocean views, but beyond that, it is culturally rich and is a vibe. The Golden Beach has calm and gentle waves and is therefore a perfect beach getaway for everyone at any time of the day. The beach was awarded the prestigious ‘Blue Flag’ tag on October 11, 2020 by the Foundation for Environment Education (FEE), Denmark and also hosts the prestigious ‘Sand Art Festival’ every year. The place is buzzed with several hawkers on the beach selling various types of items including toys, conch shells, shell accessories, sweets, fritters, and local handicrafts. You can indulge in some mouthwatering delicacies like the grilled and fried saltwater fish, crabs, and various other fishes.

Koraput

Koraput is in true sense, love at first sight. It has many treasures crammed into its compact territory – big skies, majestic hills, spectacular wildlife, superb organic food and hospitable, down-to-earth people. It is for those who have adventure in their hearts.

According to Mr. R.C.S.Bell who was the first collector of Koraput district, the town gets its name from ‘Kora-Putti’ or “the hamlet of the nux-vomica” and it is derived presumably from a tree or trees that must at one time have been prominent near the site. However, currently one can’t spot any nux-vomica which means that Mr. Bell’s theory is up for debate.

Nestled between the Eastern Ghats and some breathtaking scenery, Koraput has some of the major rivers of Odisha pass through it namely Machhakunda, Vamsadhara and Kolab.

The district is primarily dominated by the indigenous or Tribal communities. There are all kinds of magical spots for travelers to sit on one of the many stone benches in the charming and intimate walled Kolab garden, stroll through the flower-filled valley, or lose yourself on the Kolab reservoir.

Gopalpur

One of India’s finest beach destination Gopalpur-on-Sea is not just serene, blue and breathtaking but it will give you very European destination like feels. 15 kms from the city of Behrampur, Gopalpur was once an important East India Company port. The British put the suffix ‘on sea’, similar to the names of little English fishing villages like Middleton-on-sea, Frankton-on-sea, Southend-on-sea among others.

The waters here are perfect for swimming and you’ll find undeniable beauty on the Gopalpur beach. While the town here is charming, it’s the towering British-time lighthouse which is the major attraction here.