It actually does not cost much to travel in Odisha, only issue is that of good accomodation and facilities. Anyway outside the standard Bhubaneshwar-Puri-Konark-Chilika circuit, there are some places that are worth a visit, and which do not cost too much. Again these are places I have been to, don’t really have much idea about Western part of Odisha.
Koraput-Jeypore-Gupteshwar
Southern part of Odisha is quite an unexplored beauty. You have beautiful valleys, thick forests, hills, lakes waiting to be discovered. Unfortunately poor infrastructure and add to it Naxal issue has meant the region has not really tapped it’s potential. You can catch a bus to Koraput, or even go on a road trip from Vizag, or Vizianagaram. Till Saluru it’s pretty much plain area. From Salur, you have a very steep ghat road, runs through thick forests.
And then you reach Sunki right on the Andhra-Odisha border.
From there on to Pottangi, which has the Gali Gabdar waterfalls
From Pottangi en route to Koraput, you pass Sunabeda, lovely route with rolling meadows, valleys and lakes.
And the neatly maintained HAL Township here
Koraput is a sleepy small town, very picturesque with hills and all. Has some decent hotels too.
Jagannath Temple here is worth a visit
You can also check out the Kolab Dam hydro electric project between Koraput and Jeypore.
But the best part is Gupteswar temple, around 90 km from Koraput. The main attraction is the Shiva Linga in a limestone cave. Located near the Kolab river, it involves a trek through a dense forest.
And this is how it is in the cave.
This is one trip I would reccomend to any one in Odisha.
