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. 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's Leaning temple is 32-km from Sambalpur. It is a Shiva temple on the bank of Mahanadi. 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. 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, 80-km south, is another textile center and there are tantric temples situated over here.
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
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.
