My clients had booked me at
Hotel Ginger in
Bhubaneswar, the capital city of the state of
Odisha, in the Eastern part India. This was my second visit to the state after many years and I was there to deliver a lecture on a management related subject.
For the second day a visit to the exotic
Satkosia Gorge Wildlife Sanctuary with a night stay at the riverside tents was arranged. Wow! That was terrific I thought!
During dinner, Mr Sadanand, my gentleman guide for the trip explained me elaborately-
'Kiran, this enchanting tourist state of Orissa has three National Parks-1/Simlipal National Park 2/BhitarKanika National Park and 3/Nandan Kanan National Parkand has five Wildlife Sancuaries-1.Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary
2.Chilika Wildlife Sanctuary
3.Nandankanan Wildlife Sanctuary
4.Satkosia Gorge Wildlife Sanctuary 5.Sunabeda Wildlife
We picked up Satkosia Gorge Wildlife Sanctuary to its big brothers like Bhitarkanika and Chilika which are well known tourist spots because Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary is a hidden jewel full of natural beauty a with scenic gorge on river Mahanadi one of its kind in the world and a real wild green dense forest around the banks of the river with incredible flora and fauna!'
'That sounds great,' I replied hiding my excitement and before Mr Sadanand had an opportunity to open his mouth to continue further, I chuckled and said,
'rest I think you tell me tomorrow on the way while I'm discovering the thrill myself''Oh, sure', he replied rather sheepishly.
Next day we were a bit late while leaving for
the Satkosia Gorge Wildlife Sanctuary due to my meeting with client’s executives. We headed for a town
Angul, a district HQ and also a forest divisional center for Satkosia to collect some papers for our visit.
A 160 kms enchanting journey through rural
Orissa on NH 42. The road bifurcated after covering a distance of about 30 kms from
Angul. One was meandering to the left and reached
Labange. The other road was for to
Mahanadi river after crossing
Purnakote. Soon we were at the entrance hoarding of the Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary.
It was early evening when we reached near Gorge close to the river bed (
Tikarpada). Tents were lined up on the banks of the river
Mahanadi. Our night abode! My goodness! What a sight. I was mesmerized by the evening scene- The tents with the backdrop of the mountain forest and on banks of
Mahanadi with the river at one side flowing through the mountains. Without wasting much of the time we strolled along the riverside. Later we took a boat, cursing on a 22kms beautiful Gorge of river
Mahanadi. Mr Sadanand informed us the unique Crocodile (Gharial) conservation center, one of it’s kind in the world. While watching the twinkling lights of scattered few village houses slowly appearing within the shadows of enveloping darkness, I wondered what kind of life is crawling in those jungles! Well.
We will see tomorrow, I said to myself.
It was a beautiful morning. A golden landscape and a breeze with a fragrance of jungle and it’s soil. It had rained during the night. After a breakfast of
Puri Aloo (deep fried wheat flour pancakes and fried spiced potato) we left for the jungle to explore it’s mysteries.
The road was barely sufficient for our
Scorpio SUV to move. A dense forest live with queer sounds. We saw jungle fowls, a barking deer, giant squirrel and the beautiful birds. Of course monkeys too! It was a great experience!
Then we heard it. A terrifying sound from our right! The car stopped. At a distance we noticed a sort of crushing of bushes and then we saw HIM. A tusker. A real wild tusker. We didn’t wait and left the spot. That scene haunted me for a long time.
I didn’t talk to anyone while returning to
Bhubanaswar.
I was engrossed in Satkosia…a lifetime experience. I wondered… How many years I would need to see such exotic wildlife sanctuaries in my country? I believe there are more than 50! But this was incredible- around most beautiful river Gorge!
HOW TO REACH THERE
AIRWAYS
Bhubaneswar, the State capital is well connected to Calcutta, Delhi, and Mumbai and Chennai. Regular flights are also available from these cities.
The nearest Airport is Bhubaneswar situated at a distance of 160 kms.from
Angul ROADWAYS The Headquarters of Satkoshia Wildlife Division is at Angul on NH-42 about 160 Km from Bhubaneswar. Similarly the headquarters of
Mahanadi Wildlife Division is at Nayagarh.
RAILWAYS The nearest railway station on Satkoshia Wildlife division side is
Angul and that of Mahanadi Wildlife Division is Khurda Road of E.Co Railways. Direct buses are available to Tikarpada from Angul. One can take taxis on hire from Angul, Nayagarh, Boudh and Daspalla to reach the sanctuary.
ENTRY POINTS The main entry point of sanctuary is
Pampasar which is 30 Km from
Angul on SH-23. One can also approach from Nayagarh through entry point at Chhamundia or Kusang of Mahanadi Wildlife Division.
ACCOMMODATION
Tents on the riverside.
There are Forest Rest Houses with sylvan back drop at
Tikarpada, Baghamunda, Labangi, Raigoda, Tulka, Pampasar, Purunakote in Satkoshia and Sitalpani (PWD IB), & FRH at Chhamundia and Kusang in Mahanadi Wildlife Division side. PWD IB is available at Purunakote and Irrigation IBat Badmul. Circuit House, Forest Rest House and Luxury hotels are available at Angul. Besides, PWD IB and other accommodations are also available at Dasapalla and Charichhk. F.R.H reservation can be done at respective Division offices.
FOOD AVAILABILITY
All F.R.Hs have crockery, cutlery and utensils. The
Choukidar (attendant) can cook simple meals if provisions are carried and supplied to him. There is no catering facility inside. Provisions are available at local villages or have to be procured and carried from places like
Angul, Nayagarh, Boudh, Daspalla and Tikarpada.