Best Places to Visiting in Kalahandi – Temples, Waterfalls & Wildlife Sanctuaries

1.Dokarichanchara

Dokarichanchara functions as a picnic site situated in Kokasara village thus marking the border between Kalahandi and Nabarangpur districts in India. The destination stands apart from all other popular tourist destinations in Kalahandi district. The popular attraction of Dokarichanchara lies in its pair of renowned waterfalls namely Dokaridara along with Bhanyaraghumara (or Bhairav dhar). The Gudahandi cave in history gives the area additional significance because it is located next to it. The Gudahandi cave obtained its name from its jaggery (guda) pot (handi) resemblance. The walls of this location contain pre-historical writing as well as pictographic engravings which were made on stone surfaces. Ram temple holds significant fame because of its ancient status. Every year on Sri Ram Navami a nine-day long festive occurs. Dokaridhara Falls descends from 200 feet high into surrounding stone hills. Numerous people have been worshiping Maa Dokari Devi at this site throughout the ages. The stream takes walkers to Bhanyaraghumara waterfalls through a 2km path and these waterfalls drop from a peak of 150 feet. People visiting Yogi Pahad and Rani Pahad hill stations will find them near the location. The nearest railway station is located in Junagarh.

2.Phurlijharan

About fifteen kilometers distance from Bhawanipatna rests the tranquil Phurlijharan Waterfall which is surrounded by dense vegetation in Odisha’s landscape. The perennial waterfall drops approximately 30 feet into a spectacular scenery which attracts audiences all year round.

The magic of Phurlijharan emerges through the nighttime phenomenon where sunlight creates a rainbow using the vaporized mist from its falling water. The natural lighting display creates a magical atmosphere which makes this site both exciting to photographers and wonderful for nature enthusiasts.

The surrounding evergreen forests provide an ideal location for group picnics as well as day outings in the area near the waterfall. Visitors find Phurlijharan an ideal rest spot because the combination of tranquil surroundings and the flowing water and lush vegetation creates an enchanting atmosphere.

3.GUDAHANDI

The Gudahandi hills lie as an extension of Khaligarh village which locates near Koraput District boundaries at 17.6 K.Ms North-East from Ampani. The road leading to Nawarangpur encompasses the journey of 77 K.Ms until it reaches Ampani. Some ancient caves with remote antiquity pictographic paintings can be found in the Gudahandi hills at Khaligarh which remains an inaccessible area since many parts of the 17.6 K.Ms cart track pass through dense forest.
A group of three curved-shaped hills within this region forms the collective formation known as the Gudahandi hills. The East side of the Gudahandi hills connects the North and South hills which create an open courtyard that faces the West. A large stone extends from the valley floor towards the eastern direction. One can find rows of caves at the hill base which faces the valley. The one North-facing cave stands apart from the rest of the small set of chambers which were seemingly created by natural slates of red stone. Red and Black pictographic paintings decorate some of the caves located within the southern row. Academics have yet to provide substantial research on these writings although most experts indicate a possible connection between them and the Indus Valley Civilisation pictographs. Pre-historic man lived in Orissa based on two facts: first the pictographic writing at Gudahandi in Kalahandi District and secondly the writings at Bikramkhol and Ulapgarh in Sambalpur District and Naraj in Cuttack District.

This third hill stretches between the north and south directions toward the west of the valley region. This solitary hill stands apart from the other two so the valley can be entered through a restricted pass found both north and south of the site. The complete arrangement of three hills resembles a sealed pot structure. History associates the town name Gudahandi to molasses due to its distinctive shape that resembles the object.
The village passes alongside the Behera rivulet that runs through its land. The local residents of the area attribute the ancient structure of a dam across this revulet to Bhima who was the second Pandava.

4.AMPANI

The scenic attraction Ampani rests 77 kilometers from Bhawanipatna providing nature lovers with an ancient experience. The Odisha destination of Ampani provides a distinctive combination of stunning landscapes and mystical natural occurrences together with ancient artworks which appeal deeply to nature enthusiasts along with researchers of history and thrill-seeking explorers.

The Ampani Hills reveal a captivating picturesque view of hillside forests and winding elevation contours when getting closer. Within the Ampani Hills range exists Haladigundi Valley which features a special light phenomenon. The sun’s positioned rays create a golden-yellow coloring across valley objects at both sunrise and sunset which makes this phenomenon remarkable for camera enthusiasts and nature admirers.

• Best Time to Visit:
• Visitors should schedule their trip during the months of October to March to experience nice temperatures and higher chances of observing wildlife in the area.

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