Keonjhar, a beautiful Odia district, once was a small princely state. Keonjhar served as a capital where the king Dhanurjay Narayan Bhanjadeo built a small palace sometime between 1861 and 1905. After India become the republic, the Royals slowly left the palace due to some or other reason. Lack of attention deteriorated the beauty of the small castle. Nowadays, the palace is not open for public; however, two temples nearby are. One is Maa Tarini temple located inside the palace. After sunset, this part of Keonjhar is frightening. No lights, no directions and feels like it's a typical ghost-Bangalow.
The other temple Matiabandh Pokhari (now called Chandan Pokhari) is on the south side of the palace, outside the premises inside a small lake. Once the lake dries up, people visit the temple. During Rath Yatra and Chandan Yatra, a unique fair is organised.
Lakeside is a peaceful place to be, especially in the morning. The lake and palace are now very near to the new expressway AH-46, to be operational soon.
A small Siva Temple is located near the Nehru Tower of Hirakud dam. Temple built by Rotary Club is located on a small hill and is visible when you descend from Nehru tower to go towards Burla. The ceiling of the sanctum of the temple is painted with pictorial depicts using vibrant colours. Premises of the temple hosts small temples of other deities as well. Temple is a calm place to visit in the evening. Hardly few people visit the temple in the evening.
Koilighughar is one of the serene and tranquil location of a waterfall, lesser known spot which is hidden in the Chhuikhanch' forest dominated by Mahua and Saal trees near Lakhanpur. Koilighughar waterfall is around 100 ft on the river Ahiraj later to merge into the Mahanadi river. It is said that Inside the fall there is a Shivalingam known as Maheswarnath.
The lingam is submerged in water and is not ordinarily visible. For the benefit of the pilgrims, another Shivalingam has been created just outside the waterfall. Worshippers, in plenty, come here to praise the lords. The place of lingam is unique due to its location. Perhaps the most scenic I have ever seen. Beware of the monkeys who are daring enough to snatch anything from your hand, particularly bags.
To enjoy the front view of this beautiful little beast, one should cross the river, go left and climb down a shallow cut through the boulders. The best season to enjoy the thick forest and water flow is from October to December. Koilighugar has an annual fair on the occasion of Sivaratri.
An ashram of Soham swami is located on the premises where the priests of the temples live.
Place of worship where the alternative Shivalingam is located
A priest cleaning the arsenals of the goddess Durga on the occasion of Vijayadashami
Front view of the fall
Ashram of Soham Swami
Mobile Shots:
An entrance gate being built
Temple on the campus
Cooking space for visitors
Driving from Gobindpur to Koilighugar through forest
Videos:
How to reach:
On driving from Jharsuguda, drive towards Raigarh on SH 49. From Gobindpur, located at about 20 Km from Belpahar, take a right turn and drive for about 6 km through the forest to reach Koilighugar Waterfall.
Road from Jharsuguda till Gobindpur is newly built in 2016 and is very wide and smooth. At Belpahar railway crossing chokes the traffic especially due to the heavy transport vehicles. While returning to Jharsuguda make sure that you cross the railway crossing before 3.30 PM. After 3.30 PM, all the trucks are released and will make the drive difficult.
Raigarh is about 40 Km if continued on same highway 49.
Rani Sati Temple, also known as second Jhun-Jhun Dham is located in Birimitrapur, a small town on the Odisha -Jharkhand border famous for limestone mines. Rani Sati Temple spread over two acres of campus run by a trust, headed by Gopalji Tulsian. Besides Rani Sati temple other temples in the premises are Sita Ram Temple, Ganesh Temple, Hanuman Temple, and Shiva Temple.
Temple was constructed in 1967 and then was renovated in the years 1992 and 2000. The white marble temple structure is decorated with art works (especially one on the ceiling), costumed with silvery metal sheets and has a golden top. Day of attraction is on auspicious days like Bhado Amavasya or the no-moon day when special pujas are offered.
Timings:
Contact Info:
Shree Rani Satiji Mandir
"Jhunjhunu Dham"
Main Road,Birmitrapur(Odisha)-770033
Tel No:0661-3209970/2610627
Email: ranisatimandir@gmail.com
Notes:
Photography is not allowed inside the temple.
No separate parking facility available.
How to reach:
Rani Satiji Mandir is about 35 Km from Rourkela on NH23 towards Ranchi. Private/hired vehicle is the best way to reach the temple. Bus service from Rourkela to Birimitrapur is also available. A passenger train from Rourkela runs daily to Birimitrapur Railway station in the morning.
Ghogar temple, near the Rajgangpur town of Odisha, was established by King of Raghunath Sekhar Deo. Temple is dedicated to lord Shiv temple and also known as Ghogar Dham or Sri Ghogareswar Mahadev.
The temple is located on the banks of the river Ghogar, near to the Kansbahal dam. A check dam is built near the temple to store the water for the use of temple and also used for fishing. The temple campus hosts the place for lunch (Bhandara) and tp stay (guesthouse).
Temple is a great attraction for devotees during a ritual called "Bolbum, observed during the month of Shravan, where people walk miles carrying the water from their native to come here and offer tot eh lord Shiv. Other two important festivals observed here are Kartika Purnima andMahashivratri.
I visited the premises in the September only to see the place is so dirty and ill-maintained and decided not to visit again. The temple trust seems not at all managing the system to maintain the holiness of the place. I clicked very few photos for record purpose and never entered inside the temple.
How to reach:
The place is abut 40 km from Rourkela near the L and T campus at Kansbahal. The best way to reach Ghogar is to travel by road with a private vehicle.
The Sri Venkateshwara Swamy Temple (Balaji Temple) in Jagdalpur is built by the members of Andhra Association. Balaji perhaps being the most sacred deity for andhraites, forced to have Balaji temple in their own town of Jagdalpur.
The temple is built over about half an acre square premise also hosts Ganesh Temple, idols of different Hindu gods and ample space to organise major events. As it seats on the boundary of the town near Dalpat Sagar lake, ambience is peaceful. Temple opens at five in the evening when the time so apt to experience the busy sky and a cool breeze.
Some tips:
1. Temple open at 5:00 OM in the evening and remains open till 9 PM.
2. Photography is allowed inside the premises but not inside the temples.
Vedvyaasis a holy place for all rourkelites to carry out important rituals. Almost all major festivals are celebrated at this complex of temples located on the sangam of three rivers. The attraction among all is the famous Vedvyaas mela arranged on the auspicious week of Mahashivaratri.
"Vedvyas Shivaratri Mela ( Fair) is an annual Mela that is held for 15 days starting with the Hindu festival of Mahahivaratri, in the Vedvyas Dham Ground, Rourkela. Shivaratri Mela is held as per Hindu calendar every year on the Krishnapaksha 13th day/13th night (breaking fast/'Vrata' on 14th after sunrise) of the waning moon in the month of Phalguna that corresponds to February/March as per Gregorian calendar. The festival’s popularity is widespread and hence is known as Vedvyas Mela, Lots of vendor from all over India came to open shops of different traditional & daily use items, local sweets and villager sweets vendors are coming to sell their product. "
Here are some glimpses of the premium fun and fair. Roughly one lakh or more people visit every day and visit few among as many as seven hundred shops. The district administration keeps the crowd quite disciplined.
The colors of Joy
Hundreds of small shops sell the goods required for the daily purpose, from plastic made to wood made. As the prices fall down, most people enjoy the shopping. Although the quality of goods like cheap ornaments, decorative items is rubbish, handmade articles by the local skilled craftsmen is certainly a good buy.
The food stalls
More than half the stalls sell food items, especially the sweets !
.... and very few sell least demanded cold drinks. Remember it is still February and Rourkela is still cold !
The fun part - Not 'only' for children:
Some try shooting, although there is no prize to claim !
From children to young and older ones enjoy most of it, may it be the giant wheel or for that matter any fearful rotating mechanism. I find these places full of emotions - fear, excitation, innocence, curiosity, and most importantly satisfaction !
Keonjhar, a beautiful Odia district, once was a small princely state. Keonjhar served as a capital where the king Dhanurjay Narayan Bhanjadeo built a small palace sometime between 1861 and 1905. After India become the republic, the Royals slowly left the palace due to some or other reason. Lack of attention deteriorated the beauty of the small castle. Nowadays, the palace is not open for public; however, two temples nearby are. One is Maa Tarini temple located inside the palace. After sunset, this part of Keonjhar is frightening. No lights, no directions and feels like it's a typical ghost-Bangalow. 
