The eastern Indian state of Odisha is known to have a major port, a large brackish water lagoon, one of the longest coastlines, and some great cultural hotspots in the country. However, not many know that the state has few great hill stations also. The most scenic hill station in Odisha is Daringbadi that is situated at 3000ft above the sea level in Kandhamal district, just 250 km from the capital city, Bhubaneswar and 150 km from Brahmapur Railway Station. It is known as the ‘Kashmir of Odisha’ for its lush green pine forests, occasional snowfall and beautiful valleys. The hill station has numerous scenic places such as Putudi waterfalls and Doluri River. The turmeric gardens, black pepper orchards and Belghar Sanctuary provide the best nature sightseeing. The hill station has Samaleswari temple and nearly 200 churches. The most unexplored hill station in Odisha is Chandragiri that is situated at 3000ft above the sea level in Gajapati district, about 260 km from Bhubaneswar and 80 km from Brahmapur. It is known as ‘Mini-Tibet’ as it became home to many Tibetans who arrived from Tibet in May 1963 fleeing Chinese invasion. Today it displays the grandeur of Tibetan culture and architecture with its monasteries. Your hill station tour would be incomplete without visiting the hilltops, mountain slopes, gushing rivers, and lush forests. The cultural activities and plantation activities of the Tibetans add beauty to the place. Dhenkanal is the third popular hill station and is situated 2296ft above the sea level in Dhenkanal district about 107 km from Bhubaneswar and has a railway station of its own making it a perfect weekend getaway for people staying in the capital city.
The place has several Hindu temples, including Sanischar temple, Daudeswar temple, Jaleswar Astasambhu Temple, Sidheswar Temple,Swapneswar Temple, Paschimeshwar Temple, Mahakaleshwar Temple, Naganath Temple, Ramachandi Temple, and Ashtasambhu Temple. However, the most notable one is the Kapilash temple that has 1352 stairs and is frequented by thousands of pilgrims from all over the state. Some of the nearby tourist destinations include Mamu Bhanaja Cave, Saptasajya, Kapilasa Wildlife Sanctuary, Science Centre and Park. The next magnificient hill station is Taptapani, situated 1,800ft above the sea level in Ganjam district about 260kms from the state capital and 56kms from Brahmapur railway station. The hill station is noted for its hot water springs that is high in sulphur content and is believed to cure skin diseases. The place derived its name from ‘tapta’ and ‘pani’, which means hot water. Other than the springs, some places to visit are Kandimata Temple, deer park, Tampara lake, among others. Travelers can also visit villages of tribal communities such as Bonda, Dingara Kondh, Kutia Kondh, and Mali tribes. Though the hill station has an even temperature round the year, it is best visited during October to March. The fifth popular hill station is Mahendragiri that is perched atop a height of 4,925ft above sea level in the Gajapati district, about 245kms from Bhubaneswar and 75kms from Brahmapur. It is the second highest peak in Odisha. Lush forests surround the place and it boasts of rich flora and fauna such as spotted deer, elephants, flying squirrels, peacocks, mynahs and leopards.
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