sambalpur
Location: Near the border of Madhya Pradesh, Orissa
Famous As: Kat Weaving District
Main Attraction: Hirakud Dam
Places of Interest: Ushakothi Wildlife Sanctuary, Huma, Nrusimhanath, and Pradhanpat & Sonapur
In the west, near the border with Madhya Pradesh, is the large town of Sambalpur. An ancient center of diamond trade, Sambalpur is famous for its tie and dye textiles; folk dance and music; and also for the Hirakud Dam, one of the longest mainstream dams in the world.
Sambal is the heart of a Kat Weaving District and one can buy fabric in the main bazaar and in government co-operative shops. This area is located on an off-beaten path and becomes something of a local attraction for the tourists.

Ushakothi Wildlife Sanctuary: This 304 sq.-km forest has wild elephant’s leopards, bison’s, black panthers and many more species of animals and birds. There is waterpower for visitors for viewing the animals. The sanctuary is 48-km east of Sambalpur on National Highway No.6.

Huma: Huma's Leaning temple is 32-km from Sambalpur. It is a Shiva temple on the bank of Mahanadi.

Nrusimhanath: Famous for its 15th century temple, Nrusimhanath is 164-km from Sambalpur via Bargarh. The place is also known for its waterfalls. There is a Panthasala for accommodation too.

Pradhanpat: The Pradhanpat hill with its picturesque waterfall offers a rare scenic beauty. These falls are close to Deogarh; a district headquarters town- 96 km from Sambalpur.

Sonapur: Sonapur, 80-km south, is another textile center and there are tantric temples situated over here.

HOW TO GET THERE

Rail: The railway station is about 3-km away from the town center, where one can reach by hiring an auto-rickshaw. There are direct trains to Bilaspur, Jhansi, Calcutta, Bhubaneswar, Delhi and Chennai. Most of these trains also stop at the Sambalpur Road railway station, which is a little closer to the center.

Road: The bus stand is situated at the center of the town and there are three buses daily for Puri. A better option is to catch the morning bus for Cuttack and another form there to Puri.

Nearby Cities

Ushakothi Wildlife Sanctuary: 48-km
Huma: 32-km
Nrusimhanath: 164-km
Pradhanpat: 96-km