Rourkela in One Day

Rourkela is a beautiful city in the state of Odhisa, nestled in between the hills & rivers with a number of tourist attractions like religious temples, sparkling waterfalls, beautiful parks & wildlife sanctuaries. If you are short of time and want to take a short break and rejuvenate yourself, one day tour to Rourkela is highly recommended. Rourkela is not a very costly city, is easily accessible from all parts of the country, and there are plenty of places to shop, eat & enjoy in the city. A fair knowledge about the tourist attractions, ways of transportation, etc. should be acquired beforehand to avoid any hassle during the trip. Though it is difficult to cover the whole city in one day but the below article will help you in planning your trip so that you can explore this intriguing city in the best possible way.

How to Get Around in Rourkela ?

Rourkela can be reached by air, road or rail as per your convenience; Ranchi is the nearest airport and Howrah-Mumbai rail line connects the city to Kolkata and Mumbai. On arriving in the city a number of taxis, buses, auto rickshaws, tempos are easily available to travel within the city. Shared tempos or buses are the most economical option but those who want to travel in comfort can hire taxis or private cabs. Rourkela has a number of attractions which will delight the visitors coming to the city; the first half of the day can be spend in sightseeing.

Approximate Cab Charges
Half Day Cab (4 to 5 hours/ Rs. 10 to Rs. 14 per km)

Types of Cars: Tata Indica, Tata Indigo (/C Car 4 Seater)
Fare: Rs. 1200 to Rs. 1600

Types of Cars: Chevrolet Tavera AC, Toyota Innova AC
Fare: Rs. 2600 to Rs. 3300

Full Day Cab (8 to 9 hours/ Rs. 10 to Rs. 14 per km)

Types of Cars: Tata Indica, Tata Indigo (A/C Car 4 Seater)
Fare: Rs. 1800 to Rs. 2350

Types of Cars: Chevrolet Tavera AC, Toyota Innova AC
Fare: Rs. 3000 to Rs. 3500

(Note: Extra charge for Airport Pick and Drop and Additional charges for per Km/ Hour Extra / Driver)

The bus & tempo fares in Rourkela are quiet economical ranging between 10 Rs. to 50 Rs. for travel within the city depending upon the distance and thus suit every pocket. Regular buses ply from main localities of Rourkela and connect all parts of the city. One can take guidance of the local people about where to board the buses and the bus routes.

Start Your Day with Divinity

One can start the day by visiting the Maa Vaishno Devi Temple situated on the top of Durgapur hill and seek the blessings of Goddess Kali, Goddess Lakshami and Goddess Saraswati. Surrounded by greenery all around one gets a feeling of calmness and spirituality. A must visit place is the Hanuman Batika temple complex in the center of Rourkela city which is a beautiful garden with a huge 75-feet tall standing statue of Hanuman. A number of other temples like Santoshi Ma Mandira, Bruhat Sivalinga Mandira, Bata Mangala Mandir, Binayaka Mandir, Ram Daravar are also present here which are a added attraction for the devotees.

Enjoy a Relaxing Picnic at Khandadhar Waterfalls

After doing the local sightseeing, one can travel to Khandadhar located at a distance of 104 kms from Rourkela; it is the highest waterfall in Odisha and the perfect place to have a relaxing picnic lunch. The gushing water falling from the hill top presents a refreshing & breathtaking view leaving you feeling relaxed & rejuvenated.

Spend Evening Time at Famous Parks in Rourkela

A number of beautiful recreation parks like the Indira Gandhi Park, Jubilee Park, Nehru Traffic Park, Ispat Nehru Park Udyaan, Sanjeevani Park, Uditnagar Municipality Park, etc. are present in the city of Rourkela. Children will surely enjoy a visit to the Indira Gandhi Park which has a mini zoo, aquarium, doll museum, toy train and a lake with boating facilities. From there proceed to The Jubilee Park (Deer Park) which is home to a number of Deers, and after that take a leisurely stroll in the beautiful Ispat Central Park admist all the greenery & blooming flowers. The recreation parks are a good option to spend some time admist the nature as well as have fun with friends & family.

A quick look at the Hands of Steel or the Ten Million Monument designed by Mr Vijay Acquilla can also be included in the itinerary. One can also check if any drama or stage show is going on at the Bhanja Bhaban (Bhanja Kala Kendra) and Civic Centre in Rourkela and enjoy the cultural extravaganza.

Shop till you Drop in the Local Markets & Malls of Rourkela

A trip to any city can never be complete without lots of shopping be it local handicrafts, souvenirs for your loved ones or just cosmetics, perfumes or garments. Rourkela City Market, Ispat or Ambagan Market, NAC Market, VIP Market & Super Market are some of the popular shopping destinations selling handicrafts like statues of soap stone, wooden toys, straw mats, polished horn of birds, shell ornaments, jewellery, silk & handloom textiles, etc.

Sign of the Day by Dining & Enjoying a Late Night Movie

After a hectic round of shopping, dine at any of the chic restaurants or food courts in the city serving mouth-watering food. A number of excellent eating places like Ambagan Food Court, NAC Market, Hexagon Restaurant, Curry Pot, Khana Khazana, Max Restaurant & Bakery, Green Chillyz, etc. are present in Rourkela city where one can enjoy a delicious meal. For the movie buffs a late night movie after the dinner is like an icing on the cake; the city has several movie theatres & multiplexes like Konark, UMA, Apsara, Deepak, Razzaq, PSR Cinemas and Cineplex where one can watch the latest flick in an amazing ambience.