How about a road trip that encompasses travelling in different kinds of terrains in a single trip – driving on hill roads, a night safari in the forest, relaxing at the beach and staying in a palace with the royal descendants? Sounds amazing!! Isn’t it? When we planned this trip, we also had no idea that this tour would eventually let us experience so many different things in a week. But that’s the beauty of Odisha. The state is so rich in geographical diversity that you can travel to hills, forests, sebeaches and historical places in a week road trip.
Our initial route plan was a little different than what we finally made. We planned to go along the Kolkata-Mumbai Highway to Keonjhar and then come back via Kharagpur-Chennai Highway or NH5. Our planned route was like this –
Bangriposi – Simlipal National Park – Keonjhar (2 nights)- Panchalingeswar / Chandipur (2 nights)
But, things went differently. We had an unplanned stay in Jashipur changing our entire plan. We then decided to circle around Simlipal National Park. Eventually, our route was this –
Bangriposi (1N) – Jashipur (1N) – Simlipal National Park (1N) – Baripada (1N) – Panchalingeswar (1N) – Chandipur (1N)
Day 1 – Bangriposi
Distance from Kolkata to Bangriposi – 230 kilometres
Driving time – 5 hours
Bangriposi is a small tribal town in the foothills of Thakurani Hills in the Mayurbhanj district. Situated beside the NH6, this place is also at the outskirts of Simlipal Forest. The Budha Balang river, also known as the Buribalam river, connected to the famous Buribalam War fought between the British Army and the Indian freedom fighters led by Bagha Jatin, flows beside Bangriposi. The rural landscape with simple tribal life and the enchanting Ghat roads make this place a beautiful weekend destination. In Spring, the full bloom Palash flowers make the town more colourful.
How to reach
Bangriposi is 230 kilometres from Kolkata. It will take near about 5 hours to reach the place from Kolkata. The National Highway – 6 or Kolkata-Mumbai highway cuts through the town. So. it is just an easy drive on a 6-lane highway until you reach Bangriposi. There are few patches where work was going on to widen the lanes and construct flyovers, especially after Bombay Chowki. Apart from that, the road is all smooth. Be a little cautious near Baharagora, where you need to take a left turn instead of continuing straight on the flyover.
Places to visit
- Maa Dwarsini Temple or Bonbibi Temple
- Buribalam river
- Barhman kundo
- Kuliana Village
Where to stay
- Khairi Resort – best place to stay in Bangriposi. Previously it was an OTDC Panthanibas and before that a Forest Bungalow. Now the property is taken on lease by a local businessman. The old bungalow still provides accommodation to guests as well as the new two storied building. Framed photos of the tigress Khairi and her master Saroj Raj Chowdhury are placed on the corridor of the bungalow. The old well is now used for providing water in the resort through pipelines.There are lots of open spaces for parking, along with garden and a few rides for children. The roadside non vegetarian restaurant serves food to the gusts along with daily commuters.
- Bangriposi Resort
(Note: Although they are named resorts, they are just basic accommodations in an offbeat travel destination. Do not expect anything fancy there.)
Driver’s Accommodation: Khairi Resort, dormitory available from ₹300
Where to eat
Foods are basic and provided in all the hotels. You have to pre-order and wait for 2 hours before your meals get ready.
Day 2 – Jashipur
Distance from Bangriposi to Jashipur – 40 kilometres
Driving time – 1 hour
Jashipur is a small town, and one of the two entry points to Simlipal National Park, the other being Pithabata near Baripada town. Jashipur town is situated beside the same Kolkata-Mumbai highway that passes through Bangriposi also. The Forest Bungalow in Jashipur was the residence of the first conservator of Simlipal National Park, Mr Saroj Mohan Chowdhury, and the tigress Khairi. You have to visit the place to get your permit before entering Simlipal forest.
How to reach
You drive another 40 kilometres ahead of Bangriposi crossing the ghat roads, and you will reach Jashipur town. The direction continues on the same NH6 until Jashipur. Bisoi is a small place on the way from where the road to Rairangpur diverges. Apart from the initial stretches of Ghat roads, the road is in excellent condition. This stretch of road was the most scenic of our entire trip. You will drive along a 4 lane highway with Simlipal National Park on one side and the hills of Badampahar range (place of iron ore mines) on the other side.
We reached Jashipur by visiting Bankabal and Suleipat Dams on the way. It caused us 50 kilometres detour in total and took 3 more hours including the time we spent in both the places.
Places to visit
- Bankabal Dam
- Sulaipat Dam
- Bisoi Haat
- Ramtirtha Temple
- Ramtirtha Crocodile Project
Where to stay
- Ramtirtha Eco-Tourism Nature Camp – Best place to stay in Jashipur. The nature camp is located beside Khairi river, two kilometres away from the town. There are beautiful gardens and lots of open spaces to stroll around. The crocodile project is behind this property and the Ramtirtha Temple is on the other side of the river. Remember, you can book Odisha eco-tourism nature camps only until 11 am on the day of your stay and that has to be done online. There is no provision for spot booking from forest range offices or permit offices.
- Kanak Residency Lodge – If you can not get a booking in the nature camp, you can stay here. It is better than other lodges in Jashipur. Although, you have to arrange food from outside.
Driver’s Accommodation: Dormitory bed available from ₹300 in lodges and usually provided free of cost in Nature Camp.
Where to eat
If you stay in a nature camp, then all meals are included in the package. If you are staying in a lodge, you can have your meals in roadside dhabas located at one end of the town beside the highway towards Bisoi. There is one vegetarian Dhaba also, which is quite popular among locals. You can have your breakfast in one of the sweet shops in the market.
Day 3 – Simlipal National Park
Distance from Jashipur to Jamuani Nature Camp – 20 kilometres
Driving time – 40 minutes
Simlipal National Park is one of the largest national parks in India. It is also a protected tiger reserve. The geographical landscape of this national park makes it more beautiful. A majority of the Simlipal National Park is on the hills and pierced by many water streams, leading to many beautiful waterfalls inside the park. Some of them are Barehipani Waterfall, Joranda Waterfall, Uski Waterfall, Sitakund waterfall etc. There are many more which visitors can only access by hiking inside the forest. The name Simlipal comes from the abundance of Silk Cotton Trees inside the park. The park is home to the Bengal tiger, Asian Elephant, Gaur and Chausinga.
How to reach
The nearest entry gate of Simlipal National Park beside Jashipur is Kaliani. It is 20 minutes drive from Jashipur. Remember, you can enter the forest with your car only if it has a good ground clearance. You will not get a permit with a hatchback like us. In that case, you need to hire an SUV from Jashipur and leave your car at Ramtirths Nature Camp. Your new driver will be your guide in the forest. If you have a bigger car with you, then you need to arrange a guide from the Permit Office in Jashipur.
We entered the forest through Kaliani Gate and visited all the sightseeing points and other eco-tourism nature camps. Finally, we reached our camp at Jamuani after spending 7 hours on the way.
- Only same day permits are issued from Pithabata and Jashipur Forest Office.
- Permit time: 6 am – 9 am
- Entry fee: Adult – ₹100/person, Student – ₹30/person, Children below 3 years / Physically handicapped – no fee, Car entry – ₹100/day, Still camera charge – ₹100/first 3 days
- Required documents: Aadhar card (preferably) / Voter ID card
Places to visit
- Guruguria Orchidarium
- Uski Waterfall
- Barehipani Waterfall
- Nawana Valley
- Joranda Waterfall
- Chahala watchtower
Read more: A Visit to Simlipal National Park | Driving along the forest trails and staying in a Nature Camp
Where to stay
- Jamuani Nature Camp – we stayed in Jamuani Nature Camp. It is very close to the core area of Simlipal forest. Chahala watchtower is 30 minutes drive from this nature camp. There are beautiful ac cottages with lots of open spaces along with a volleyball and a badminton court.
- Barehipani Nature Camp
- Kumari Nature Camp
- Guruguria Nature Camp
Driver’s Accommodation: Dormitory bed available in Nature Camp without any extra cost. You have to pay for the food only.
Where to eat
All the nature camps have in-house restaurants that provide sumptuous local dishes. All the meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) are included in your package. If you are a non-vegetarian, they will provide egg meal in lunch and chicken in dinner.
Day 4 – Belgadia Palace Hotel in Baripada
Distance from Jashipur to Baripada via Jharpokharia – 100 kilometres
Driving time – 2 hours and 30 minutes
Baripada is the district town of Mayurbhanj district. It is a well-planned town built beside the Budha Balanga river. The town was the home of the Mayurbhanj Dynasty rulers, who had an immense influence on the development of the Mayurbhanj district and nearby areas. The old Mayurbhanj Palace is now converted into a government college, and Belgadia Palace, the guesthouse of the Bhanj Deo rulers, is now the residence of present-day royal descendants.
How to reach
Baripada is on the other side of Simlipal National Park. If you enter inside Simlipal National Park in your car, you can traverse across the forest and reach Baripada on the other side. As we left our car in Jashipur, we had to return to Jashipur and came back along NH6 until Jharpokharia and took a right turn from there. The stretch from Jharpokharia to Baripada was under maintenance work and took a longer time than expected. The distance from Jharpokharia to Baripada is 30 kilometres.
Places to visit
- Mayurbhanj Palace
- Ambika Temple
- Jagannath Temple
- Jubilee Park
- Deuli Dam
- Sabai village
- Dokra village
- Haripur ruins
- Lulung
- Sitakund Waterfall
Read more: The Belgadia Palace in Odisha | A Place to Immerse Yourself in the History of Bhanj Dynasty
Where to stay
- Belgadia Palace Hotel – A heritage palace hotel in Baripada town. An 18th century building constructed in a mixture of Greek and Victorian architecture. The descendants of Mayurbhanj kings resides in a part of the property. And the most ineteresting part, you might be lucky enough to be taken for an exclusive tour of the palace by one of the members of royal family during your stay.
Driver’s Accommodation: Sai Binayak Hotel, non-ac double bedroom from ₹500
Where to eat
We had our meals in Belgadia Palace, included in our package. The food was delicious and served in the same dining room where the royal family members had their meals.
If you stay in any other hotel or lodge, you can have your meals in the hotel or any other eatery in the town. There are quite a few options near the main market. If you like to taste some lip-smacking mutton curry, visit Hotel Mohapatra near the private bus stand.
Day 5 – Panchalingeswar
Distance from Baripada to Panchalingeswar via Baripada-Udala road – 80 kilometres
Driving time – 2 hours
Panchalingeswar is a small village beside Nilagiri Hills in the Balasore district of Odisha. Nilagiri is also a historic town that has a history originating back to the eleventh century AD. The kings of Nilagiri were very much connected with the Kalinga Dynasty rulers for a long time. Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary is located on the other side of Nilagiri Hills and is a prominent elephant reserve in India.
How to reach
We reached Panchalingeswr via Baripada-Udala road as we visited Haripur ruins on the way. We drove to Udala on the state highway and then took a few village roads by following Google Map until we reached SH19 again and drive towards Nilagiri town. Before Nilagiri town, we took the Nilagiri bypass road and drove towards Panchalingeswar, 10 kilometres from Nilagiri town. We could avoid the village roads if we drive till Kaptipada and take a left turn from there along the highway instead of turning from Udala.
Although the most convenient way to reach Panchalingeswar from Baripada is to drive on Baripada-Balasore road and take a right turn at Shergarh, 4 kilometres ahead of Balasore, this is a much better road, and the driving distance is slightly less.
Places to visit
- Panchalingeswar Temple
- Khemkut Dam
- Kuldiha Forest
- Rissia Dam
- Deokund
- Nilagiri Palace and temples
Read more: Panchalingeswar and Nilagiri | Beautiful weekend destinations in Odisha
Where to stay
- OTDC Pantha Nivas, Panchalingeswar – Large property near the Panchalingeswar Hills. There are both ac and non-ac double bedrooms and dormitories in the main building as well as cottage type rooms. However the cottage rooms which they call suite rooms lacks proper cleaning. There is ample open space for parking.
Driver’s Accommodation: Dormitory bed available in OTDC Pantha Nivas from ₹450
Where to eat
The in-house restaurant in OTDC Panthanivas, Panchalingeswar, provides all the meals. If you are staying in a lodge, then there are a few roadside eateries near the OTDC Panthanivas, where you can get your meals on pre-order.
Day 6 – Chandipur
Distance from Panchalingeswar to Chandipur – 40 kilometres
Driving time – 1 hour 30 minutes
Chandipur is a less explored seabeach in the Balasore district of Odisha. It is also known as the “vanishing beach” among travellers due to the unique phenomenon that happens every day. The sea recedes for kilometres during low tide and comes back to the shore on high tide. During low tide, one has to walk for 3-4 kilometres before reaching the sea, and the empty seabed becomes one large ground full of mud, puddles and stuck marine life.
How to reach
Chandipur is 15 kilometres from Balasore town. From Panchalingeswar, we had to reach Balasore, and from there, we had to drive on Balasore-Chandipur road. Before reaching Chandipur, you have to take a left turn towards OTDC Panthanibas as the main road continues towards the DRDO campus. The only problem with Balasore-Chandipur Road is there is no exit point on the way. We faced a road blockade due to an accident, and we had to take narrow kaccha village roads to Balasore town. A new road is under construction, and maybe in another couple of years, the new road will serve as an emergency exit. Google Map did not help us while driving on those kaccha village roads. Only locals did.
Places to visit
- Chandipur sea beach
- Balaramgadi village and Buribalam river
- Balasore Emami Jagannath Temple
Read more: Chandipur in Odisha | A weekend beach destination with the “Vanishing Sea”
Where to stay
- OTDC Pantha Nivas, Chandipur – Situated in the best location in Chandipur. The rooms on the upper floors provide a view of the seabeach. Although the rooms and the linens lack cleaning. The staffs are co-operative apart from the manager whom I found very rude. A few local guys seek parking fee from the visitors for using the parking in hotel compond. Tell them that you have booking in OTDC Panthanivas to avoid this nuisance.
Driver’s Accommodation: Dormitory bed available in OTDC Pantha Nivas from ₹450
Where to eat
You can have your meals in the restaurant of OTDC Panthanivas. They make delicious dishes with fresh catches from the sea.
Book your trip: Resources
- Flight
Use Skyscanner or Google Flights to book your flight.
- Accommodation
Tripadvisor and Agoda are perfect for booking your hotel. If you want to stay in a hostel, then Hostelworld would greatly help you find one at your convenience.
- Travel Insurance
World Nomads is perfect for travel insurance. You can get comprehensive protection from them. Let them take care of unexpected situations while you concentrate on your trip.
- Package Tour and Activities
You can book a package tour from G-Adventures and Viator. They are a reputed company arranging small group tours and customising them per your requirements. You can also use Get Your Guide to book your private transport, city tours, heritage walks, food walks and other experiences like a cooking lesson or a Yoga session.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. You will be directed to another third-party website when you click those links. If you purchase anything via those links, I will earn a referral bonus without any extra cost to you.
