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Hill Stations in Odisha

Popularly known as ‘The Kashmir of Odisha’, the spectacular hill station of Daringbadi happens to be a quaint town packed with pine forests, cascading waterfalls, and lush hills. The town also shelters many enchanting plateaus and valleys where the locals practice tea, coffee, and spices plantations.

Famous for its unadulterated natural beauty and amazing viewpoints, this hill station in Odisha attracts honeymooners, photographers, and nature lovers. Tourists visiting Daringbadi can engage in a number of exciting activities including jungle safari, trekking, and birdwatching. They can also hike to one of the lofty hills in the region and catch a breathtaking glimpse of the stunning sunset. 

Best Time to Visit: September to March

Highlights: Rushikulya River, Hill View Point, Doluri River, Pataudi Waterfalls. Belghar Sanctuary, Lovers’ Point, coffee and tea plantations

Considered as the country’s second-highest mountain peak, Mahendragiri has achieved a lot of popularity for its tremendous mythological and religious significance. Packed with green hills, rolling meadows, lush vegetation, and abundant wildlife, this place is also counted among the state’s prettiest hill stations.

The religious sites, natural beauty, and rich biodiversity of Mahendragiri lures nature lovers, wildlife enthusiasts, photographers, peace seekers, and pilgrims to this place. Tourists visiting this quaint hill station can enjoy jungle safari, trekking, and religious excavation tours. 

Best Time to Visit: October to February

Highlights: Navratri festival, Bhima Temple, Kunti Temple, Yudhisthira Temple, Lord Parshuram Temple, Lord Shiva Temple, Burakhat Pass, excavation sites

Surrounded by thick lush forests and packed with a plethora of enchanting hills, Taptapani has its name among the top hill stations in Odisha as well as India. This breathtaking place is popular among the travelers for its beautiful hot spring, which is believed to have some great medicinal properties.

Known for its rich culture and unparalleled natural beauty, Taptapani attracts peace seekers, nature lovers, and culture enthusiasts. Tourists visiting Taptapani enjoy watching some excellent tribal dance and music performances. They also love to catch a glimpse of the soothing views of the incredibly spellbinding sunrise from the lofty hills.

Best Time to Visit: October to March

Highlights: Hot water spring, Deer Park, tribal villages, Hindu temples, trekking.

Perched at an approximate altitude of around 1000 meters, Dumuriput happens to be a pretty little hill town. Lying between Sunabeda and Koraput, this beautiful hill station brims with sprawling lush valleys and hillocks. In addition to its stunning natural beauty, Dumuriput is also known among the travelers for its deep religious significance.

The kneeling Hanuman status in the hill makes for the tallest statue in the entire state and forms the major attraction of this place. The Hindu festival of Ram Navami is also celebrated with great pomp and show, attracting millions of devotees from all over the country.  

Best Time to Visit: October to March

Highlights: The kneeling statue of Lord Hanuman, Ram Navami festival, Sri Ram Temple, Rani Duduma Waterfalls, Jagannath Temple, Kolab Dam, and Tribal Museum.

Lying in the town of Kendrapara and known among the travelers for its deep religious and mythological significance, Olasuni Hill has gained a lot of popularity for its cultural activities. Famous as the abode of Goddess Olasuni, this place gets a huge number of devotees and pilgrims from all over the country.

One of the important festivals of the state, Magha Ekadasi is celebrated here with great pomp and show and forms the main attraction of this place. In accordance with a mythological belief of the natives of the place, Olasuni Hills hold some traces of the Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. Tourists visiting Olasuni Hills can seek the blessings of Goddess Olasuni, enjoy trekking, and explore the thick hill forests.

Best Time to Visit: October to March 

Highlights: Magh Ekadashi festival, Olasuni Hills, Olasuni Temple, Olasuni Caves.

Packed with a plethora of jaw-dropping rock-cut hills, Deuli Hills is famous all over the state and the country as an amazing historical site. This spectacular destination has managed to beautifully preserve many captivating ruins of a plethora of ancient monuments.

This age-old site is also home to some unique and pure laterite rocks. Brimming with excavation works and old remains, Deuli Hills is known as one of the historical hill stations in Odisha and propels history fanatics, archaeologists, and photographers. Travelers visiting this place can take a historical exploration tour, do some archaeological photography, and visit some old temples located here.     

Best Time to Visit: October to June

Highlights: Gokarneswara Temple, rock-cut Buddhist chambers, historical remains.

Situated in the district of Keonjhar and nestled at an approximate elevation of about 1500 feet, the developing town of Barbil has its name among the major producers of iron and manganese in the entire country. Boasting a cosmopolitan environment, the town has also managed to beautifully preserve its bountiful natural beauty that includes waterfalls and forests.

The place has also preserved its culture and tradition and celebrates all the important festivals of the state with great pomp and show. Barbil indeed makes for one of such hill stations in Odisha where you can find a perfect blend of nature, religion, culture, and modernization.  

Best Time to Visit: July to December

Highlights: Murga Mahadev Waterfalls, Badaghagara Waterfalls, Gonasika, Deogaon, Sanaghagara Waterfall

Lying in Odisha’s Gajapati district, the stunning hill station of Chandragiri is popular for its Buddhist Monasteries and Tibetan civilization. Known popularly as ‘mini-Tibet’, this place is also famous for its spiritual significance. Sheltering thick-forested areas and spellbinding mountain trails, the region also flaunts the unmatched scenic beauty of the picturesque vistas.

All these amazing elements lure nature lovers, adventurers, and nature lovers to this quaint hill station to indulge in a spectrum of activities including trekking, forest exploration, and photography. Tourists visiting Chandragiri also spend time purchasing some exotic souvenirs from the local flea markets. 

Best Time to Visit: March to May and September to November

Highlights: Horticulture plantations, Buddhist Monastery, Tibetan Handicraft Centre, Padmasambhava Mahavira Monastery, fruit orchards, Tibetan settlements, tribal hamlets, carpet and shawl shopping

Situated at an approximate distance of around 93.5 kilometers from the ‘Steel City’ of Odisha, Rourkela, the incredibly beautiful Tensa Hill is perched at a height of about 3,700 meters. With sheltering lofty hills and lush green meadows, this amazing hill station is known for its glorious cultural and historical significance.

This quaint hilly town mostly attracts couples and honeymooners but is also visited by nature lovers, young experience seekers, and avid photo fanatics. Tensa Hill also forms a highly recommended destination for picnickers and weekend trippers.  

Best Time to Visit: September to March

Highlights: Shanti Stupa, evergreen forests, hills, Zero Point, picnic spot