Tourism means visiting various places and knowing the places with regard to their mythological, historical, cultural and scenic importance. Through tourism, various new things are learnt. It dispels monotony in life and adds freshness.
Odisha is filled with nature's bounty. Its sound history, culture, architecture, art, music and dance are unique. Its temples are masterpieces of artistic marvels. The State has sandy sea beaches and sky-touching mountains, besides verdant greeneries. Tourists all over the world get allured to Odisha because of its potent resources.
When Chinese visitor Hiuen Sang visited Kalinga during the period of king Kaniska, he was mesmerized by the beauty of the State.
Researchers have always taken keen interest in the culture and art of Odisha. The Buddhist monuments in the State have given wide scope for the scholars to undertake research on them.
Similipal National Park and Wild life Sanctuary in Mayurbhanj attracts tourist and nature lovers for its unique biodiversity. Tiger is the apex animal in the park. For sustained maintenance of the ecological hub, the Government must take the necessary steps. Especially, the ritualistic killing of animals by the tribals must stop here. Bhitarkanika National Park and Wild life Sanctuary is noted for the estuarine crocodiles, residential as well as migratory birds and Olive Ridley Sea turtles. Satkoshia Gorge Wild life Sanctuary is known for the Gharial crocodiles, which is a fresh water crocodile and feeds on fishes. The sanctuary is in Angul Forest Division.
Hadagarh Wild life Sanctuary is situated on the foot hill of Similipal. The river Salandi flows from Meghasan Peak of Similipal. The sanctuary is famous for tiger and other cats of tropical race. Hadagarh sanctuary provides habitat for large varieties of herbivores, lizards and amphibians. The catchment and reservoir of Salandi Dam at Hadagarh are the main attractions here for the visitors.
Baishipalli Wild life Sanctuary is physically attached to Satakoshia sanctuary of the Eastern-Ghat, which comes within the jurisdiction of Nayagarh revenue district. The panoramic views of the Satakoshia Gorge sanctuary is also present in this sanctuary.
Kothagarh Wild life Sanctuary comes under Kandhamal district and within Baliguda Forest Division. This provides home to the peak predatory cats and herbivores of the region. Elephant is the major attraction of the sanctuary.
Chandaka - Damapara Wild life Sanctuary is very close to the State capital, Bhubaneswar. The sanctuary has a lot of importance in harbouring the famous Nandankanan Park. The park occupies a portion of the forest. Animals and birds are the main attraction of the sanctuary. The Nandankanan Wild life Sanctuary is famous for the natural and artificial collection of flora and fauna.
Kholasuni Wild life Sanctuary and Badarama Wild life Sanctuary are equally important from scenic beauty and wild life. Balukhand - Konark Wild life Sanctuary and Chilika (Nalaban) Sanctuary are famous for being situated in the bank of the Bay of Bengal. When Balukhand sanctuary is home to the famous herbivores like blackbuck, spotted deer, monkey, squirrel, jungle cat, hyena, jackal,amphibians, Nalaban is famous for birds. The dolphins in Satpada in Chilika attract visitors far and wide.
Gahirmatha (Marine) Wild life Sanctuary in the Mahanadi delta is influenced by the Bay of Bengal. The sanctuary is a rookery for the famous Olive Ridley sea turtles. Other than Olive Ridleys, the sanctuary is also famous for dolphins, sharks and other marine flora and fauna.
Kuldhia Wild life Sanctuary of Nilgir in Baleswar is a fringed forest of the Similipal hills in the Eastern-Ghat Range. The crop composition and wild life resources are influenced by the eco system and the micro-climate of Similipal.
Absolutely, there is no difference between Similipal biosphere and the Kuldhia forest. Debnigarh Wild life Sanctuary comprises the areas adjoining to the Hirakud Reservoir. Its wild life resources are very rich. Tiger, elephant, leopard, nilgai, gaur, sambar, spotted deer, sloth bear, resident and migratory birds, monitor lizards, water lizards and chameleons etc are the main attraction of the biosphere.
lakheni Valley Wild life Sanctuary comes under the jurisdiction of Gajapati district. The sanctuary links with hot tourist spots like Taptapani, famous for hot water spring and Chandragiri, famous for Tibetan races establishing Budhist culture and relics.
Sunabed Wild life Sanctuary under the jurisdiction of Nuapara Revenue district is quite enjoyable and enchanting for scholars and researchers. It covers 600 sq km of tropical dry deciduous forests of miscellaneous species, which provides decent accommodation to tigers, leopards, hyenas, barking deer, chitals, gaurs, sambars, sloth bears and varieties of reptiles, snakes and birds, including hill-mynas and partridges etc. The reptiles dominate the area. The whole area is traversed by various water streams, falls and channels. The landscapes are very enchanting.
Karlapat Wild life Sanctuary comes under Kalahandi revenue district.
This sustains dense patch of lush ever green to dry deciduous forests with beautiful waterfall and is crisscrossed by river and rivulets which cools the eco-system and enriches the flora and fauna. Its valleys, hills, common streams and deep water pools are marvellous.
The main wild lives of the biosphere are tiger, panther, gaur, sambar, nilgai, barking deer, mouse deer, wild boar, varieties of birds, reptiles, amphibians, snakes and lizards.
Excluding above 18 prominent eco-tourist spots, there are other attracting eco hubs within the State. So a detailed survey should be made to enlist those areas in the tourism map.
Odisha also boasts of its 62 types of tribes out of the 437 in India. Every tribal village is having of several eco cottages. Every tribe has its own dialect, social and cultural nuances. The dignity of each tribe should be maintained.
(The writer is a former senior forest officer and an environmentalist)