Brahmapur - The Silk City

Kulada is famous for Goddess Bagh Devi which is the presiding deity, Kulad is said to be birth place of great Oriya Poet Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja. It is situated to the north west of Ganjam District with a ruin fort, river Mahanadi flowing in the east and dense forest in the west side of the ruined fort. Legend speaks that during 12th century a Bhanja ruler had joined hands with a tribal leader’ KULA’ to be eradicating the foreign invasion. Seeing the danger from the tribe he stained the tribal leader KULA and on the same place, constructed a fort which was later known as Kulad / Kulargad. The original temple is at the top of the hill known as Upper Bagh Devi with 210 steps. Upendra Bhanja spent his term in meditation at this place. As the steps are yet to be made and the route is very tough for climbing another temple of Goddess Bagh Devi has been constructed near the road where people in large number gather to worship. 

Maa Bhairavi Temple is situated in a remote village ‘Mantridi' near Berhampur city in Ganjam district. This temple pays homage to goddess Bhairavi. The deity is an icon with one leg and four hands, craved in crude fashion. The image of the idol was found beneath the land while ploughing and was enshrined as such in a newly built temple in the year 1937. Legends says that fishermen and sailors used to take the blessings of Maa Bhairavi before commencing their journey. This temple has become an important Shakti Pitha for the villages nearby. Tuesdays and Sankranti days of all months are considered auspicious to worship Siddha Bhairavi. The temple features a big shrine which houses Lord Jagannath along with his siblings. Another unique feature of Siddha Bhairavi Temple is the 108 sub shrines which enshrine all the major Hindu gods such as the 12 Jyotirlingas, Venkateshwara, Badrinath, Madurai Meenakshi, Maa Vaishno Devi, Ranganatha and the Dasavatharas. Major festivals celebrated in the temple are Maha Saptami, Makar Sankranti, Dushera, and Mesha Sankranti.

Buguda is famous for the temple of Biranchinarayan. The temple was built by King Srikara Bhanja who ascended the throne of Ghumusar in 1790 CE. The image of God Biranchinarayan which is installed in the sanctum of the temple was recovered from the ruins of Malatigarh. About the finding of the statues, Sewell in his Ghumusar Report has stated that once a heredboy, while tending cattle, struck his foot against a plate of metal at the foot of the hill. Consequently, the villagers dug up the portion and unearthed a life-size image of Suryanarayan which was carried to Buguda where it was consecrated in a new temple. The temple subsequently came to be known as Biranchinarayan. The temple is built in the form of a chariot driven by seven horses. The temple is conspicuous for its remarkable wood carvings and wall paintings. The wood carvings are noticed on the ceiling of the Mandap and on the jambs of the entrance door way as well. 

Situated 16 km away from Berhampur, Gopalpur-on-Sea is a splendid retreat for avid beach lovers. From golden sands to clear blue waters, the beach has everything that can entice visitors. Besides a sun-kissed beach, Gopalpur-on-Sea offers glimpses of its past glory as a commercial port. The crumbling walls and pillars of an ancient jetty can still be found on the beach. In fact, Gopalpur was once a bustling maritime zone in Odisha and a sea port through which early settlers of Southeast Asia sailed off. Established during the British rule, the port stopped functioning in 1942 during the Second World War. There are ruins of several bungalows and mansions belonging to the European merchants, which give it a colonial look. A red-and-white striped lighthouse also stands on the popular beach. Commissioned in 1871, it is one of the oldest lighthouses in the state. Every year during Kartika Purnima, people sail tiny boats made of banana stems and paper, with lamps, betel leaves, crackers, fruits and coins in them, to mark the rich maritime history of Gopalpur-on-Sea.

Chilika Lake is a brackish water lagoon, spread over the Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts of Odisha state on the east coast of India, at the mouth of the Daya River, flowing into the Bay of Bengal, covering an area of over 1,100 km2. It is the largest coastal lagoon in India and the second largest coastal lagoon in the world. It is the largest wintering ground for migratory birds on the Indian sub-continent. The lake and its reed islands teem with nesting birds-white bellied sea eagles, ospreys, golden plovers, sand pipers, flamingos, pelicans, shovellers, gulls, include migratory ones flying great distances from Iran, Central Asia and Siberia. The lake is home to a number of threatened species of plants and animals. This lake is an ecosystem with large fishery resources. It sustains more than 150,000 fisher–folk living in 132 villages on the shore and islands. The enthralling lake also offers scenic views of sunrise and sunset and a host of other options to choose from. Attractions such as the Bird Island, Breakfast Island and Honeymoon Island are also frequented by tourists who visit the Chilika Lake. The lake also boasts of being one of the only two sites in the world where the endangered Irrawaddy dolphins can be spotted.

The Balkumari Temple is located 30 km away from the Berhampur city railway station. Temple of Maa Balakumari was founded by the royal family of Chikiti. Maa Balakumari is the famous goddess of the locality. The temple is situated in the east of the town Chikiti. The place is provided with all necessary features. Tourists have to climb 1240 steps to reach at the top of the temple. The temple reigned by Goddess Durga is frequented by people of many parts of Southern Orissa (Chikiti)and near areas of Andhra Pradesh. Although ascending the steps is daunting and undoubtedly tiring, it has spiritual significance. The idea of penance and worship are intertwined since time immemorial. The approach to numerous temples across India is as difficult or even more physically draining. The place is at a distance of 52 km. from the district headquarters and at a distance of 208 km from state capital. One of the important festivals celebrated at the temple is Sanskranti day of each month and all Tuesdays.