Tourism in Kandhamal : Breaking the Inertia
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Orissa Review * September - 2004 Tourism in Kandhamal : Breaking the Inertia Anuja Mohan Pradhan The natural domain of Kandhamal district has divinity to the fearless fishes of Katramala but its riches hidden from the public eye. The it may not be rewarding for the people coming natural forest cover, the rivers and streams, from distant places after a painstaking journey. variety of animal life is exotic and exhilarating. The Putudi waterfall is a picturesque spot but The information, statistics and perspective of the road communication needs improvement. tourism in Kandhamal district have always The place also requires some plastic treatment been amusing and stimulating. It is not a point in approach paths. Descending stairs, if of doubt that this district has a good number of constructed, Mondasoru kuti (gorge) itself will spots and sites that potentially attract a good will induce a new comer to run through. array of tourists. However, the long discussed Photographs of such redesigned places will potential is like gold in the mine, a long way give a new food for thought to a touring mind. still to go to extract it and mint a gold coin. A historical site is always a place of While talking of tourism focus should be tourist attraction. The district of Kandhamal on the expected tourists, better if it can be has richly contributed to the history of the state. quantified. To all the religious places like It served as a hide out for the Bhanja kings of Chakapad, Balaskumpa, Dungi etc., the visitors the erstwhile state of Ghumsar, a centre of tribal are mainly the local devotees swelling during uprising during the British Raj and the people the important festivals of the deity. The people fought during Khemundi invasion with the army of the adjoining districts of Ganjam and Boudh of the king of Boudh. The martyr, Bhangu are but occasional callers. Lack of public Mallick of Kurmingia was hanged to death by transportation to such places keeps many the British. These are, but few historical facts visitors away. The duration of the visitors and which have great significance to testify. The the spirit of enjoyment are insufficient for heroes of the land live in the hearts of the sustaining the district tourism as an industry. people only. The footprints of those brave sons Among the domestic toursts the Bengalees top of the soil can be traced at places like Kalinga the list. Has this district ever attracted or has ghat interiors, Dodasoru and Bandhagarh. The something of interest to such people ? How present Saiva shrine of Dungi has been many chartered tourists buses ply to this the identified as a Buddhist site after an accidental district ? The people of this district may add digging. Archaeology Department is yet to 1 Orissa Review * September - 2004 begin the excavation work though a long time will create a potential market and the day is has passed. Beneath the mounds lies the not very far when it will be marketed like historical treasure of this district. In the 'Kandhamal Haldi'. The botanical garden at meantime a new temple has come up at the site. Kalinga, the oldest one of the state is the most A temple may help few priests for their living, suitable place for such a project. but when the site is widely excavated it will The wild life of the district is reducing bring the truth into light and will create a due to rapid loss of forest cover. In recent past perennial source of tourist inflow to the the drivers of vehicles plying at night used to district. see tiger, leopard and other animals crossing The organising of Melas and festivals is the road at many places in the district. Now-a- very much helpful to promote tourism. Melas days such experiences are very rare. A child can be of religious, commercial or cultural cannot see a tiger or a civet unless taken to nature. The tourism of Rajasthan has given a Nandankanan. The point is, how it would be new impetus to market the Melas and attract to have a Zoological Park in the district ! tourists from far and near. Kandhamal Species like wild fowl, peacock, red squirrel, Mahotsav has been a fair for cultural revival. wild dog, porcupine, pangolin are almost The sojourn of the troupes from different parts getting extinct. Keeping them in the zoological of the state gives a good evening entertainment parks for breeding can only preserve those like a river cruise on the Mandavi in Goa, but species. The wild life sanctuary project at Sri it has paid little attention to offer something Rampur near Kotgarh is yet to see the light of lucrative to the tourists. It should invite the day. Unlike the sanctuary a Zoo or a Deer luminaries from different fields of art, theatre Park can be planned at locations of Kalinga, and culture to add spice to the broth. The venue Tudipaju, Siddingi and the like. Kalinga with should also be changed from year to year so Botanical Garden and good communication to that every important place and its periphery Berhampur, Baliguda and Phulbani can be an gets tourist attention. ideal location. The flora of this district is varied and In the modern day tourism, landscaping priceless. It spreads from Sal forest to has played a very important role. The natural Rouwolfia and from mangoes to gooseberry sports have been moulded to provide a tasteful (Amla). This treasure of the district has been feast to eyes and to enhance safety. The places siphoned and decorated the drawing rooms of like empty fall near Mussoorie, Telco picnic cities. The famous Chandanban of Kalinga has spot at Jamshedpur, spice plantation at Ponda lost its name and nature. The indigenous in Goa and Sambhav near Rohibanka in knowledge of medicinal plants of local people Nayagarh District are some good examples of needs to be preserved. It is an era of 'Back to landscaping. At Ponda, it is tried to provide a Herbal' wherein lies the tremendous potential glimpse of past life style and culture. The tools, to preserve as well as to market the forest musical instruments and irrigation techniques produce. What needed is to bring the nature of yore are preserved and displayed in a very closer. People can plant Amla trees in their informative and tasteful manner. At few places courtyard and the like. Slowly, these activities the slopes are levelled to carve a room for 2 Orissa Review * September - 2004 conference venues, open-air theatre and dinner harvest its dividends for a long period. The banquets. The whole of the place is covered Government and the District Administration in with tall trees where creepers of black pepper particular have to play a pivotal role in grow. Such spots can be planned near water development of tourism in the district. The reservoirs at Balaskumpa, Madhujhari dam, legislators representing the district at state and Kakalbaki and Sirki dam. These places, when national level can play a very significant role developed can serve as the interacting coffee as the ambassadors of district tourism. All the houses for different people, The Grand Cheetal endeavour of government and private enroute Haridwar is another fine example under entrepreneurs will end in nightmare unless the private enterprise. A plot of about two acres attitude towards the tourist is not friendly. In so designed provides a snacks /coffee bar, ice- quite some places the locals take pleasure in cream parlour, green lawns and flower gardens. invading the privacy of tourists by making lewd It has made provisions of drinking water for remarks, showing wrong direction of road or the stopping vehicles. These places justify the location, etc. In tourism, the policy of saying : "The supply creates it own Demand". politeness pays and it pays amply. The people A simple transformation of the place can be of Goa have learned this truth. As a result taken up at Banani picnic resort, in front of tourists prefer to be a paying guest or taking a sylvicultural garden at Kalinga. The slogan is cottage accommodation in hotels. Will the "Give me a mountain, I will make it a Garden." proud local sons of the soil realise this Availability of large-scale wisdom ? accommodation is another necessity for tourism The financial institutions like OSFC, development. The district of Kandhamal has DIC and commercial banks have to extend no Panthnivas at any place of interest. The finance to the emerging entrepreneurs. The PWD Inspection Bungalow and Forest edifice of tourism can be built on the Bungalow are for official use and does not have infrastructure provided by the government. The a flavour for serving the guests. Panthanivas at potential has been a talked, weighed and places like Phulbani, Belghar, Tumudibandh accepted fact. It is, therefore, high time to act, and G. Udayagiri will be suitable starting and work in coordination with people and points for site seeing as well as private nature so that tourism of the district gets a boost entrepreneurship. A Panthnivas with a good with ever expanding linkages. menu, art gallery, souvenir boutique and a small stage for performance of local dance and song will provide a nice and memorable stay. Investment in tourism is like planting a Anuja Mohan Pradhan lives at SA-224, NML Flats, fruit tree nourish the seedling till it grows and Agrico, Jamshedpur. 3 Orissa Review * September - 2004 Heritage Tourism (Places of Tourist Interest in the District of Puri) Sunil Kumar Patnaik Heritage is our legacy from the past-what we Puri is largely a pilgrim place, a live with today, and what we pass on to the religious centre, an Eternal City, a holy land future generations.