Page 326 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

324  EASTERN INDIA

q Baleshwar in a picturesque old of the one that is held in
bungalow a short Puri (see p316), but is
Baleshwar district. 214 km (133 miles)
NE of Bhubaneswar. £ @ distance from the equally lively and
n Odisha Tourism, SPA Complex, beach, with the vibrant, as the entire
Station Square, (06782) 262 048. day’s fresh catch Brass fish, town joins in the
served at dinner. Baleshwar procession. A unique
Once a bustling seaport, Balasore The only blot on feature in Baripada
or Baleshwar was established by this peaceful landscape is that the chariot of the female
the British in 1642. It was later is the Indian Army’s test deity, Subhadra, is pulled only
in the possession of the French firing range for rockets, just by women.
and the Dutch, but had lost its outside Chandipur village, Another colourful festival held
importance by the 18th century, against which environmentalists here is Chaitra Parba (in April), at
with the silting up of the port. and villagers have been which tribal groups perform the
Its colonial past is visible in the cam paigning for many years. vigorous Chhau dance wearing
ruins of some Dutch tombs, and fabulous costumes. It was
what are said to be the remnants originally performed by warriors
of old canals that led to the sea. w Baripada just before they went on to the
Today Baleshwar is a sleepy Mayurbhanj district. 178 km (111 miles) battlefield. In the eastern part of
town, surrounded by paddy NE of Bhubaneswar. £ @ n (06792) town, Baripada Museum has
fields and villages, and renowned 252 710. ( daily. _ Chaitra Parba fine sculptures, pottery, and
for the pretty hand-crafted (Apr), Rath Yatra (Jun/Jul). coins found in the area.
lacquer boxes and brass fish
made locally. The main market town of E Baripada Museum
northeastern Odisha, Baripada is Open Tue–Sun. &
Environs the headquarters of Mayurbhanj
The tranquil seaside village of district, which is rich in forests and Environs
Chandipur, 16 km (10 miles) east has a large population of tribal Haripur, 16 km (10 miles)
of Baleshwar, is easily reached people. Baripada is also the south east of Baripada, has the
by a short taxi or scooter ride gate way to Simlipal National evocative ruins of palaces and
from the town. Here, the sea Park. The town holds a Rath temples built by the rulers of the
recedes up to 5 km (3 miles) at Yatra (chariot festival) in June/ Bhanja dynasty, who made this
low tide, leaving an expanse of July, which takes place around their capital in the 15th century.
clean white sand. Odisha the Jagannath Temple. This The most impressive ruins are of
Tourism offers accommodation festival is a small-scale version the brick-built Rasikaraya Temple,
and the Durbar Hall of the
Bhanja kings.

e Simlipal
National Park
Mayurbhanj district. 320 km (199 miles)
N of Bhubaneswar. Entry points: Lulung
& Jashipur. £ Baripada, 50 km (31
miles) E of the park, then bus or taxi.
@ to Lulung (via Baripada) & Jashipur.
n For bookings and permits contact
Field Director, Simlipal Tiger Reserve,
Baripada, (06792) 255 939. Open Nov–
mid-June. & Extra charges for photo-
graphy. 8 Jeeps available in the park.
This extraordinarily beautiful park
is located amidst the pristine
forests and hills of northeast
Odisha. Stretching over an area
of 2,750 sq km (1,062 sq miles),
Simlipal comprises dense sal
(Shorea robusta) and rosewood
forests, broken by lush grasslands.
Numerous rivers such as the
Budhabalanga, Khairi, Salandi,
Palpala and cascading rapids
traverse the forest, creating
Women tending their paddy fields near Baleshwar spectacular waterfalls, similar to
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p698 and pp711–12

324-325_EW_India.indd 324 26/04/17 11:45 am
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