Tourist Spots in Rourkela

The city of Rourkela is known as the steel city of India as it houses SAIL – Rourkela Steel Plant. Apart from this, there are many other nice tourist spots in and around the city which are a must visit.

Vedavyas in Rourkela

Vedavyas in Rourkela is one of the popular holy places of the Hindus. It got its name from Vedavyas - the writer of the great heroic saga, Mahabharata. The holy place of Vedavyas is located at a distance of around 14 km from the main city of Rourkela and is one of the busiest tourist destinations of the city. It is visited mostly by the Hindus. Here the three rivers Saraswati, Sankha and Koel merge and create the Brahmani River. There are several shrines and temples of various Hindu Gods and Goddess near Vedavyas. There is also a Sankirtana Mandapa near the Vedavyas where devotional songs or bhajans are played round the clock.

Pitamahal Dam in Rourkela

The Pitamahal Dam is one of the most popular picnic spots in Rourkela, built in 1978 on the river Pitamahal. The river is a tributary of the River Sankha. Pitamahal Dam is located at a distance of 15 km from Vedavyas and is about 30 km from the main city of Rourkela. As per the reservoir project running on the Pitamahal River, the dam was constructed to stop the floods in the river Pitamahal and also to pass the water for the purpose of irrigation through channels.

The Tensa Hill in Rourkela

The beautiful landscape of Tensa Hills is located at a distance of 108 km from Rourkela and is considered to be the mini hill station of Odisha. The hill is situated at an elevation of 3778 m above the sea level and is a famous tourist spot, especially for summers. The hilly area has a huge township named Tensa township. The township is one of the major tourist attractions of Odisha.

Hanuman Vatika in Rourkela

Famous for the huge Lord Hanuman Statue the Hanuman Vatika houses the statue of Lord Hanuman which is 75 feet high. The vatika was inaugurated by then Chief Minister of Odisha Shree Biju Patnaik in the year 1994. There are several temples near the statue. The place is popular for Lord Hanuman’s huge idol and a park surrounding it. Many events are organized here during various occasions. Some of the famous festivals celebrated here are Maha Shivaratri, Hanuman Jayanti, Sankranti etc.

Khandadhar Waterfall in Rourkela

Located on hill top, the Khandadhar Waterfall is a pleasant natural spot that is 250 m high. The waterfall is believed to have originated from a stream which is known as Korapani Nala. There is also a guesthouse near the waterfall. Visitors can stay here in the lap of nature and spend some quality time.

Ghoghar Dham in Rourkela

Located at a distance of about 28 km from the city of Rourkela, there is Ghoghar Dham. The dam is considered as one of the religious places for Hindus. Situated on the bank of River Ib the Ghoghar Dham is a thin gorge which has now turned out to be a major picnic spots of Rourkela. There is also a Shiva Linga near the Ghoghar Dham that is made of black granite. Several legends are associated with this Shiva Linga.

Darjing in Rourkela

Not to be confused with Darjeeling of West Bengal, Darjing is another popular tourist spot, situated at a distance of 19 km from Rourkela. It is blessed with enchanting scenic beauty and lots of natural wonders like sand stones and tall trees. It is located on the bank of Brahmani River and has also a beautiful gorge near the spot.

Famous Temples in Rourkela

Rani Satiji Temple
The temple of Rani Sati located at a distance of 36 km from Rourkela is dedicated to Goddess Rani Sati who is said to be an incarnated form of goddess Durga. The place is also known as the second Jhunjhun Dham of India, first being at the Rajasthan. For the Marwari community of Odisha, the Rani Satiji Temple is a holy pilgrimage. The temple complex is surrounded by lovely gardens. There is a statue of Lord Shiva also. People who visit the temple, also pay offerings to the statue.

Temple of Akhandal Mani
Located near the river Brahmani, the shrine of Akhandal Mani is one of the oldest shrines of Odisha. It was built in 1964. The temple has a beautiful gate that serves as a beautiful entrance to the shrine. The festivals celebrated in the temple are Durga Puja and Maha Shivaratri. The devotees majorly include the people belonging to Marwari community.

Jangha Dev
Located at a distance of about 70 km from Rourkela, Badagoan is a holy place near the village Bhiopali where there is a shrine of Lord Jangha Dev. As per the belief of local people, the lower part from thigh to knee of the idol is that of Lord Jagannath of Puri.

It is also believed that the Pandavas while returning after performing the funeral of Lord Krishna threw the remnants into the Ocean, The inhabitants of the forest found them, kept the lower part of the Lord and began worshiping it. The people who worship the lower part of the body are said to be Gonds. At the time of Mughal invasion, the idol of Lord Jangha dev was taken to the forests of Sundargarh. And since then, the Lord is being worshiped there.