A 500-year-old banyan tree at Sakhibata in Kendrapada district, a mute witness to times gone by, has been accorded tourist spot status.
The gigantic tree, spread across 1.3 acres of land with about 600 trunks and sub-trunks, has been granted the tourist spot status by the State Government following visits of tourists to the area throughout the year. Funds have been sanctioned for building tourism infrastructure, including good road connectivity and a tourist cottage, for the benefit of visitors to the area.
The banyan tree withstood the devastating 1999 Super Cyclone. A 200-year-old temple is still intact at the spot. The temple is also a reminder of historic importance of the place.