PLACES TO VISIT IN GANJAM
Odisha offers many tourist destinations to explore, here below are some of the best tourist attractions in Ganjam.
Gopalpur: Gopalpur is on the Bay of Bengal coast in Ganjam district which is having famous sea beach attracting tourists from across the globe. Gopalpur beach has a charm of its own- a peaceful and equable environment enhances the beauty of the beach. Days-long an annual beach festival is observed at Gopalpur in the month of December. Besides, there’s an Aqua Sports providing training-cum-fun ride facility on the backwaters of Gopalpur Sea.
Taptapani: ‘Taptapani’ is one of the wonders of Odisha where tourists visit throughout the year to enjoy the natural hot sulphur water spring flowing in a lush green forest of the region. Taptapani names itself means ‘Tapta’ (hot) and ‘Pani’ (water). The spring is also said to have medicinal properties and visitors definitely take a bath at ponds especially created next to the spring for the purpose.
Bhairabi Temple: The place is named after the presiding deity Goddess Bhairabi at remote village Mantridi. Bhairabi now a days has become an important Shakti Pitha. Tourists from all most all parts of Odisha as well as northern Andhra Pradesh visit this holy shrine every day.
Panchama –Siddhi Vinayak Temple: It is a small village of Ganjam District. Here Lord Ganesh is worshipped in the groove of a large Pipal tree for ages. The actual age of the temple is not available on record. According to legend, the Lord Ganesh statue with its left facing tusk (otherwise known as Sidha Vinayaka) is some way related with Sri Purushottam Dev, the then Gajapati of Puri. On the eve of Vinayaka Sukla Chaturthi, lakhs of devotees especially from neighboring State throng the temple and offer worship to the God.
Humuri Tampara-A Sweet Water Lake: Nearer to NH-5 (from Chatrapur)is the beautiful Tampara Lake, With gentle waves breaking on the beach, Tampara offers great avenues for water sporting, One can also take a leisurely amble through the vast stretches of cashew plantations along the beach. An exciting is trek about 2 kms trough these plantation leads to avirgin beach on the Bay of Bengal. A trip to Tampara is sure to be exploratory as well as pleasurable.
Mahurikalua – Shakti Peetha: Visitors usually negotiate the site while traveling on the road that connects Berhampur with Western Orissa. As and when the urban people of Ganjam are browned of an inclement atmosphere, generally, opt to visit Goddess Mahurikalua, Having a shapely visage, smeared with red Leo and decorated peacock tails. This picnic spot of unrivalled ambience of seclusion allures good number of tourists.
Buddhakhol –Panchu Mahadeva Temple: At a distance of about 3kms towards the north of Buguda is Buddhakhol, which is a scenic spot frequently visited by tourists and picnickers. Amidst natural surroundings there is a cluster of five temples on the top of a hill, dedicated to Lord Siva, Popularly known as Panchu Mahadeva. At the upper most part of the hill a perennial stream forms a waterfal. A number of Buddhist remains have been found at the place which give the impression that it was a Buddhist settlement in ancient days. Not far from the place there are numerous caves one of which is called Siddha Gumpha where Buddhist monks were said to have performed meditation in old days. On Sivaratri and Kartika Purnima days a large number of people gather here to offer Puja at the temple.
Olive Ridley turtles at Rushikulya: Lakhs of endangered Olive Ridley turtles flocked the Rushikulya river mouth for their annual mass nesting in Odisha’s Ganjam district. These scarce species gather the place every year from the third week of February to the first week of March for nesting. Odisha is the largest mass nesting site for Oliver Ridleys in the world.While last year more than 3.8 lakh turtles had gathered the river mouth, the number is expected to rise this year. The State Government and the Rushikulya Sea Turtle Protection Committee have taken a number of steps to ensure that the turtles are conserved during the period.
Jiranga Monastery: Jiranga Monastery has been built by Tibetian Refugees after they migrated to India around 1965. One can feel the serene and placid environment that fills hearts with utmost satisfaction. The saying, sleeping in the lap of nature go in parlance with Jiranga. The monastery also has a spiritual garden where tourists can enjoy nature’s beauty.
District Headquarter: Chatrapur
Location: Berhampur
Nearest Airport: Biju Patnaik International Airport (180km)
Nearest Railway Station: Berhampur Railway Station
Nearest Bus Stand: OSRTC Bus Stand, Berhampur
