Year 2019
Every year Me, my mother and father go for a long trip during Durga Puja holidays, so this year we decided a trip to Odisha. Our initial plan was to visit Puri only, later my father told me to add some more places. So we decided the places to visit and made a rough plan.
Travel Dates Day 1 (5 October)- Suri - Baripada (287 kms, almost 8.5 hours)
Day 2 (6 October)- Siteseeing (164 kms)
Day 3 (7th October)- Baripada - Keonjhar (163 kms, almost 6 hours)
Day 4 (8th October)- Siteseeing (216 kms)
Day 5 (9th October)- Keonjhar - Konark (255 kms, 5.5 hours)
Day 6 (10th October)- Siteseeing (332 kms)
Day 7 (11th October)- Siteseeing (149 kms)
Day 8 (12th October)- Konark to Suri (596kms, 15.5hours)
Hotel Booking
We searched hotels at Bangriposi but due to the peak season they don't have rooms, so decided to stay at Baripada as it is just 30kms from there, called "Panthanivas, Baripada" and booked our room, and they also provided the contact number of "Panthanivas, Keonjhar", quickly called them but they told us that they don't have rooms. I quickly searched and got "Hotel The Sans" and booked our Room. After that we called various hotels of Puri but there also the same story, either the hotels are booked or the Room tariff was way above our budget, so decided to stay near Konark. We booked "Hotel Surya Inn"(a 400 metre walk to Sun Temple).
Day 1
We started around 4 A.M, the roads are free from any kind traffic and can easily cruise. Within 3 hours we reached Bankura, but there after the road condition is not that good, thus the google map shows so much time to cover this much distance. The road condition improves near Pheko More, from there the last 50kms one can easily maintain a good speed. We reached our hotel around 12.15 P.M.
We got a big room and it was very good, they quickly served our lunch and then after lunch we went to visit Panchalingeswar Temple. The Road is very good and wide, and within 2 hours we reached the temple. The parking space is ample.
Few kilometers left Temple Gate Stairs to reach the top(250 steps approx) The water coming from the top Reached Coming down A Puja Pandel near our Hotel The lightings
Then we came back to our hotel.
Day 2
Today our plan was to visit Devkund Waterfall and Sitakund Waterfall. So we started around 9.30 A.M, the first few kilometers the road was congested and there were "no entry" boards also due to the puja pandels. After that the road condition improves and within 1hour we reached Sitakund Waterfall. One can trek to the top of the hill to get various views of the waterfall but we couldn't spot any person to ask the route.
Road to Sitakund Waterfall Sitakund Waterfall
While returning we saw the Simlipal Forest barrier but couldn't spot anyone there. After 5 minutes a person came from the office and told us that the forest is closed but we can go till Lulung. We make an entry in their office and then proceed towards lulung. The road till lulung is okay and one can easily go.
Simlipal Entry Gate Road to Lulung Lulung Palpala River