Daringbadi plans eco-retreat, eyes more foreign tourists
BERHAMPUR: The Kandhamal district administration hopes more tourists, basically foreigners, will visit Daringbadi this year as the state’s tourism department has decided to organise three-month eco-retreat festival in the hill town of the district from December 8.
“We are expecting visit of more tourists, including foreign visitors, to the hill town during the festival organised by the tourism department for the first time in the tourist spot,” said district tourist officer Anjan Kumar Barik.
As many as 25 luxury tents will be set up to accommodate at least 50 tourists in the town, located at an altitude of 280 metres above the sea level.
It is well-known as the coldest place in the state.
All the facilities, including food, cultural programmes, open-air film screening, star gazing and sightseeing will be arranged for the visitors during their stay in Daringbadi for one-night and two-day period during the festival, a tourism department officer said. The places to be visited include Midubandha waterfall, which is surrounded by nature’s bounty — different types of big trees and flowering plants — stairs to the waterfall through the forest, coffee garden, Saraswati cave, lovers point and emu farm. Saraswati cave is one of the best kept secrets of Daringbadi, said an officer.
In and around the cave, several ancient rocks and caves are also there which can be enjoyed by the visitors during their stay, said the officer.