16 Best Places to Visit in Daringbadi, India

Kashmir is often the dream destination for foreign as well as domestic tourist eager to visit during holidays. Believe it or not, there is a place in the Indian state of Odisha where it snows. But Daringbadi in Odisha is one of those places in eastern part of India, which for its natural green, valleys and most importantly the snow fall, is popularly called Kashmir of Odisha.

Daringbadi is a popular tourist destination located in the Kandhmal district of Odisha. Daringbadi offers a mix of all encompassing green valleys, coffee estates, thick pine woods and a lot of spots to visit. Being, the hill station is located at an elevation of 3000 feet. Daringbadi has its own importance and uniqueness.

Government of Odisha organizes Sita Utsav to attract tourists to Daringbadi too. You can feel the thrilling experience of Eastern Ghat Mountains, tribal lifestyle, calm and quite atmosphere. The culture of Daringbadi is different from rest of Odisha. Tribal culture is followed by its native population. They are innocent people mastered in art, festival and environment protection.

Kondh, the major tribal group lives in Daringbadi worships, trees and mountains as God. This hill station holds great appeal for those with an appreciative eye for exquisite beauty. Untainted by commercial tourist development, the place is beautified by the pristine valleys as well as pine and coffee gardens.

For wildlife lovers, the place is a compelling destination too. Thick rain forests teem with wild animals. The place is gifted with natural bounties such as pine jungles, coffee gardens and beautiful valleys. The journey from the plains to the hills of Daringbadi is an experience in itself. This pretty hill station is an ideal summer resort. Its scenic beauty, dense forest, tribal people and the peaceful environment are its major attractions.

This hill station receives snowfalls every year. If you want to enjoy the fun games associated with snow, it is time to embrace Daringbadi ahead of the cliched Shimla and Manali. You can visit the serene Biranchi Narayan Temple that is also known as the “Wooden Konark” or head to Hill Viewpoint from where you can view the entire Daringbadi. You can engage yourself at the Belghar Sanctuary and Putudi Waterfalls. When you are planning to visit this hill station, you can visit these attractions:

Sapanala, Lover’s Point, Emu bird Safari, Hill View Park, Botanical Garden, Spice Garden, Kalinga Ghat. The other significant attractions in Daringbadi including Doluri River, Putudi Waterfalls, Dasingbadi Waterfalls, Badangia Waterfalls, Dadubada Paradise, Kirikuti Picnic ground, Ludu Waterfalls, dark pepper and turmeric gardens, Duluri Picnic ground, Nature Park, Belghar Sanctuary, Kotagarh Sanctuary, and some more.

Most effortless approach to reach Daringbadi is to book a private taxi from closest area like Berhampur, Phulbani or Balliguda. The zone around the Putudi Waterfall is ideal for picnicking. Belghar Sanctuary lies nearer to Daringbadi slope station. This spot is speedy stopover to unwind from hustles and clamors of the city.

1. Belghar Wildlife Sanctuary

158 km from Phulbani, it is a place for viewing colourful wildlife, especially elephants. It is inhabited by Kutia kondhs. The place is full picturesque scenery, mountains, forest and wild animals, especially elephants. It is believed to be homeland of Kutia Kandhas, who are considered to be the descendants of primitive inhabitants of the area. This place is having a British era bungalow which is made up of only wood.

2. Daringbadi Waterfalls

100 km from Baliguda, it is situated in dense forest inhabited by wild elephants. This waterfall is 100ft height.

3. Hill Park View

Hill view Daringbadi is perfect place to enjoy sunset and sunrise.

4. Lovers Point

Small spring surrounded with natural beauty.

5. Kalinga Ghat

Odisha’s longest ghat road. The valley is famous for silviculture garden and medicinal plant cultivation. The silviculture garden has rubber trees and human thick bamboo plants.

6. Balaskumpa

There is a Shakti temple dedicated to Barala Devi and has plenty to offer to the nature lover. It is a picnic spot.

7. Padmatala

37 km from Phulbani, the place has a pond where wild animals can be seen in considerable numbers during evenings.

8. Puruna Katak

40 km from Phulbani, this place is famous for the temple of goddess Bhairavi.

9. Putudi

It is 15 km from Phulbani, a place of natural beauty having a charming waterfall on river Saluki falls from the height of 60 feet.

10. Chakapada

It is 60 km from Phulbani, renowned for the leaning Shiva Temple of Lord Birupaksha on the river Brutunga and Leaning Trees on the river towards South.

11. Dungi

It is famous for congregation of shivalingas in a compact area with archaeological importance.

12. Taptapani

Situated on the eastern slope of the eastern Ghats, the hot sulphur spring, the lush green forest has remained favourite among the visitors.

13. Kotagarh

It is famous for its National Park and wildlife sanctuary.

14. Charisambhu

85 km from Phulbani. Otherwise known as Jagati, it has the temple of Lord Charisambhu Ananta Vishnu.

15. Boudh

Buddhism was prevalent in Boudh in between 9th to 12th centuries. A place with a rich cultural heritage, Boudh was the center of various religious movements of the past. The Buddhist shrine where Lord Buddha is seated in Padmasana still stands as testimony to the historic past. Temples of Matangeswari and Hanuman are the added attractions of the place.

16. Spice Gardens

Black pepper garden, turmeric garden and coffee garden.

What to eat in Daringbadi

Lentil and vegetables like potato, pumpkin, eggplant, drumstick are made into a delicious and nutritious curry called Dalma. It is served with crushed coconut and coriander leaves. There are two types of Dalma. Ghee is added to Arua Dalma. Arua Dalma is a must have in case you go to Puri Jagannath temple and have the Mahaprasad. Regular Dalma is cooked with regular mustard oil and have the onion garlic tadka in it. Both are delicious in their own way.

Santula has no masala and extreme flavour. It's cooked with just hint of oil, panch phodan and little crushed garlic. Yet it's delicious and can be eaten both with roti and rice.

Besara means vegetables cooked with mustard paste. It's one of the popular servings in Puri temple. The aroma of mustard and little bit of tangy taste make it unique and delicious in its own way. It's better to be taken with rice.

Kobi Ghanta is another winter special dish where cabbages and cauliflower are extensively used to make the ghantaw.

Phulakobi means cauliflower. During winter Phula Kobi Kasa is one of the popular and must have vegeterian dish here.

Amba khatha means raw mango chutney. But Odia mango chutney is different for its traditional usage of jaggery and date fruit in it. It has a beautiful mixture of sweet and tangy taste. It goes as side dish with any main course.

How to reach Daringbadi

There are bus routes and train routes from Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. It has a distance of 250 km from Bhubaneswar. The best option is to book a car with or without driver and cover the place as one day long drive tour. Around a full day is enough to cover the tourist attractions in Daringbadi including the time taken to travel between Daringbadi and Bhubaneswar.

Best time to visit Daringbadi

The climate of Daringbadi is pleasant during summers and chilly during winters. In Summer you can experience tropical weather here. Temperature in day time remains between 28 to 35 degree Celsius and night temperature is around 15 to 22 degree Celsius. Between October to December, winter is the best time to explore Daringbadi.

In December mercury dips to 0 at night time, causing the water droplets to crystallize into ice or snow in the clouds. In morning time you can experience dense fog and in mid day you can experience blue sky, and green surroundings. Though contrary to the popular belief there is no snowfall in Daringbadi but yes you will see a layer of ice over the grass in the morning. You will love that moment.

In rainy season, whole Kandhamal district experience a decent rainfall. The surroundings are full of greenery then and waterfalls have good amount of water.