Pradhanpat Waterfalls in Deogarh

Bike ride to Pradhanpat Waterfalls in Deogarh district was planned long back and finally on this Sunday we did bike to this place. There are two roads to go to Deogarh..one via Barkot (about 130 kms) and another through Kuchinda (about 150 kms). But we did choose the later as road through Barkot is almost non existant...courtesy Mining Dumpers....After having a good breakfast at Badgaon which is about 45 kms from Kansbahal. There was a small chowk called Gariamal on SH 10 from where we took left turn to Kuchinda.Passing through some of the dense forests and small ghats that I have seen in recent times we reached Bamra and then Kuchinda.Here we met the NH 200 and moved towards Deogarh at a brisk pace.



Another waterfall...Pradhanpat under my belt

First view of waterfall was enough to make us say "its worth biking 165 kms to see this waterfall".Falling from a height of almost 100 feet it actually sprayed water to near by onlookers.This place is sorrounded by hills on all side and place was really dark.



Pradhanpat spraying water to vistors delight



Pradhanpat waterfalls...testing my photography skills

One good thing that we found at Pradhanpat was that district tourist officials have really taken care about the place and made all kind of arrangements like cement benches and small bridges etc.Good to see that some people are working hard in keeping the place up to the mark.



At a small shrine near waterfall...with Anna and Prithi

As anna was feeling hungry,we had to leave little bit early and drove back on NH 6 looking for a good dhaba( 18 kms on NH6 and then 40 odd kms on NH 200).If you plan by any means to drive down to Pradhanpat then make it a point to have lunch at Kuchinda.There was not a single dhaba on the whole 50 km stretch from Deogarh to Kuchinda where you can get good food.Feeling hungry,we drove the bikes at full throttle towards Kuchinda.



Driving on SH 31 from Bamra to Kuchinda was a pleasure



Weekly "haat(market)" at Bhojpur near Kuchinda

13 kms from Kuchinda we stopped for a minute to have a look at the local weekly "haat"(market) at Bhojpur where all kind of things starting from Onions to Cattle was being sold.

After having lunch at Kuchinda we drove towards another waterfall Gudguda which has been covered in another section of this blog....

Gundichaghai Waterfall

“What’s the happiness you get by visiting new places and photographing them?”...This was the question one person asked me when I told that I was going to one unheard place called Gundichaghai for photographing a waterfall. After travelling overnight in train from Rourkela to Jajpur Road…then biking for 75 kms towards Ghatgaon on a beautiful road (NH 215) amongst forests of Sal & Mahua…then driving on a virtual non existent road to the point of waterfall..and finally photographing the waterfall and publishing in the web for the first time….What did I achieve? Answer is simple- Sense of Achievement.

Gundichaghai Waterfall

River Mudala cuts through the rocks

Daitari-Banspani Railway Line ....Lifeline of Orissa's Economy

Me and my cousin Bunty took the left diversion from Ghatgaon towards Harichandanpur..Its surprising that few people have idea of this waterfall near Ghatgaon of Kendujhar district. After you drive for 15 kms on the road you reach Harichandanpur.This is an important small road junction with roads leading to Kendujhar,Bansapani and Sukinda. There is also a railway station at Harichandanpur but presently not a single passenger train plies on the important route of Daitari-Bansapani.Thanks to our poor, low voiced good for nothing MPs .From Harichandanpur, there is a kachha road of 4kms that leads to the waterfall. River Mudala was at full flow due to incessant rains on previous day.

I just wish that more and more people can visit these unheard ..unknown..neglected tourist places…Tourism in Orissa is not only Puri,Konark ,Bhubaneswar & Chilika….but rather those numerous waterfalls like Gundichaghai…deep gorges of Tikarpada…Temples of Veda Vyas…Tiger sanctuaries of Similipal….Sprawling Deomali of Eastern Ghats in Koraput and the list is never ending…..

Koilighughar in Jharsuguda

Me and Mothi aka Anna were suposed to go to Pradhanpat Waterfalls in Deogarh District. But due to last moment change in Mothi's plan we ended up in going to IB Thermal , a place in district of Jahrsuguda. I was browsing through the official website of Jharsuguda district which had a mention of this place called Koilighughar which is famous for a waterfall. Distance that we both covered in last two days was approximately 410 kms..daunting task for a Hero Honda CD 100.

On the Rourkela-Jharsuguda Highway....Mothi( Future Elephant.. ;-) and a Jumbo

After staying at IB Thermal and visiting places like Lakhanpur Mines and Reservoir waters of Hirakud Dam we left for a place called Gobindpur on Jharsuguda-Raigarh Highway. Its approximately 20 odd kms from Belpahar.From Gobindpur Chowk you have to take a right turn to reach Koilighugar Waterfall. After Driving through thick forest of Sal and Mahua for around 6 kms you reach this less heard waterfall of Orissa called as Koilighughar. While driving through the forest ,I was just wondering about my bikes condition.It was good that I had changed the engine oil just 2 days back.

Drive through the Jungle road to Koilighughar

There were hardly any tourist at the place. We could see the Ahiraj rivulet which after originating from the forests near Hemagiri in Sundergarh District flows through a deep gorge near the Temple and cascades down to form a spectacular waterfall before joining the famous Mahanadi river. All around you can see thick green forests.

Ahiraj Rivulet flowing through a gorge near Koilighughar Temple

Waterfall near the Temple

Near the temple there is an Ashram where some babas live. Previously a famous baba by the name of Saham Swami used to do his meditation in the nearby caves . Later on a temple was constructed there which still has that cave. We met a Swamiji and started talking with him. He belonged to a place called Neelamadhaba near Nayagarh and told us that this forset his full of snakes and animals. During monsoons the rivulet creates a fierce face of itself and cuts through the gorge with full speed. If you are lucky then offer some rice and you will see big fishes coming to the surface to eat them.

Temple of Koilighugar

Swamiji offering rice to some Swans...lucky enough to photograph this...

Picture of the Rivulet Ahiraj from the top of Waterfall

Its said that your wishes gets fulfilled sooner or later...since we both were feeling hungry, from no where Swamiji offered us a meal that he had prepared for himself and other babas. Other babajis had gone to a nearby village on an invitation feast since that day was the occasion of Nuakhai, the famous festival of Western Orissa. Just wait I am not finished..we were offered Kheer,Sag made out of Roots of Bamboo & Moong Dal.The Sag in local language is called Baunsa Karidi..so tasty.

Fortunate enough to get to eat all these

Time for us to leave as we were supposed to drive around 200 kms and it was already 4 'o clock in the evening. Took the blessings of Swamiji and set off for Rourkela. Reached Rourkela at 9'o clock in the night. Had a good night sleep only to wake up at 10 in the morning next day....By the way...who said that Jahrsuguda does not have a Tourist place???? Come down to see Koilighughar..

Saptasajya in Dhenkanal

Apart from Kapilas Temple in Dhenkanal, another temple is quite famous ---Saptasajya meaning Bhagwan Bishnu's "sej" or bed. After 3 hours drive from Bhubaneswar we reached at this place crossing places like Naraj and Athagarh. Once we reached the Saptasajya Hill, though road is there upto a certain height, we preferred trekking up on the metalled road. On the foot of the hill we came across a small stream flowing down. After trekking up for 20 minutes you come across the temple. Since, we all were hungry ,surprise came when we saw a sole Shop near the Temple selling "Alu Chop ( Batata Wada)". To add on to the surprise there was "Dalma" which the shop owner had prepared for himself. Great. Then we came to know that there is another small Shiv Ling around 400 ft above this temple. Again we trekked up to the place passing through lush green forest and bushes of wild flowers. There was an Ashram on the top where a Babaji was sitting alone amidst dhyan. Going up we reached the place.... so cool...thick forest all around...sound of the same stream that we had come across near the foot of the hill was getting mixed with the chirping sound of Cuckoos. And the most beautiful part ---Stream after flowing down was directly falling on the Shiv Ling. No temple was there..but just a ling….

Mountain Spring directly falling on the Shiv Ling

Same spring flows down to the foothills

Just 10 ft above was the mouth of the stream coming out from below a rock. First time I saw the mouth of a stream. Anecdote is that there are some caves above this place where only the priest of the Saptasajya can go as Shiv Bhagwan himself stays in those caves guarded by Tigers…Another anecdote is that Pandavas of Mahabharat had rested here for some time…

Satpada- Mouth of Chilika

This place Satpada is amazing and makes you a Poet. Around 100 kms form Bhubaneswar ,one can easily reach this place by Car. Best place to visit is in Winters. On the way to Satpada don’t forget to have nice breakfast of “Poori” and “Dalma” served in a Banana Leaf at Chandanpur. A right turn will take you towards Satpada famous for Dolphins. As you cross Bramhagiri, you can feel that sea is nearby. All along the road you can sea Chilka water in the fields where breeding of Tiger Prawn are done. Finally one reaches Satpada and infront lies the Great Chilika Lake. An OTDC Guest House is there and some make shift shops of Sea Stationeries. But more than the Dolphins I was interested in seeing the Mouth of Chilka , which is around 15 kms from Satpada. There are Government Booking agencies that provide Boats to reach this place called as “ Muhan” or the “Mouth of Chilika”. On the way we could see Dolphins coming up the surface and before you could take a good snap..they were in….Proves that my instinct is still poor. From around 5-6 kms you can make out the mouth of the Lake. Line of trees with a Gap---the mouth.

Mouth of Chilika

Just was curious that how it must be to be at that place as I had never imagined a mouth of lake. As we reached the place ….it was one of the amazing sites that I can’t forget ever. Turbulent Bay of Bengal on one side and calm Chilika Lake on the other. Blue sea on one side and pale Green Lake on the other. The mouth was a place like Sea trying to prove to the lake that it is the Creator of the lake. Great Scene.

Don’t forget to have fried fish and cucumbers at the spot . Local villagers come in boats carrying tables and chairs and other items and give you fried fishes for mere 10-15 rupees.

Bike ride to Pitamahal Dam on a 2ft Road

Thought of going to Pitamahal Dam by bike came after a failed attempt( courtesy: beautiful road from Kalunga to the Dam site) to go in Mohanji's Estilo.But ,CD 100 SS without brakes and threadless tyres always challenges it's owner to go ahead-be it Sinhagad or the 2 ft width road to Pitamahal Dam with a canal on one side and 10 ft steep slope on the other.
On the way me and Moti lost the road ,but finally landed up near this beautiful passing stream with gathered hay and beautiful trees on its bank. Mani Ratnam do contact me before shooting for your next venture.You can get some great shots here (Little bit of Santosh Sivan in me...hahahahaha)
Reached the Dam site.....I just wish that I can get such a dyke to jog on everyday.........I saw in one of the Reebok's ad: Run...The road comes free. But in Orissa, Dams also come free. But,with lazy punters like me, they all are of no use.
Finally, sun setting at the Dam site.Please please...another wish....just imagine me sitting with a plate full of Fish fry with Mint and Coriander chatni and a mug of beer in hand....
But, was sitting there with a long list of wishes..............