Bhawanipatna, the headquarter of Kalahandi District, is a town of numerous temples dedicated to different deities of Hindu pantheon. Named after its presiding deity ‘Bhawani-Shankar’, it is the most convenient base for touring various places of interest in the district and the nearby district of Nawapara.
Maa Manikeswari is the main source of inspiration . Bhawanipatna is world famous for its unique and enchanting "Chattar Jatra" of goddess manikeswari .
Kalahandi is home to the Indravati river, Ravanadhara waterfall, hot water spring Banshakela, and the Upper Kolab Irrigation and Power Project. Some important places worth visiting are Junagarh Fort, Karlapat, Khariar, Belkhandi, Yogimath, and Patalganga.
Places of Interest
| Places of Interests |
| Phurli Jharan and Jakham |
A perennial waterfall of 16 m height, it has a special charm of its own. Jakham is famous for its "Wood House" and garden of medicated plants. |
| Ambapani |
The Ambapani hills with its frolicking valley called 'Haladigundi' is a place for viewing colourful wildlife and 7 km away from here is the prehistoric cave paintings at Gudahandi. |
| Junagarh |
The old capital of the ex-State of Kalahandi, Junagarh was a well built fort with Oriya inscriptions on its temple walls. The historic fort Asurgarh is only 35 km from Bhawanipatna. |
| Karlapat |
This sanctuary, known for its range of wildlife including tigers and leopards, is 32 km from Bhawanipatna. Within the sanctuary is Khanduala waterfall. A short distance from Karlapat is Thuamul- Rampur, a little slice of paradise on earth. |
| Belkhandi |
On the confluence of the rivers Tel & Utei, Belkhandi, is a place of archaeological importance. |
| Patalaganga |
40 km from Khariar, is considered as a holy spot. |
| Budhikomna |
Budhikomna houses the unique brick temple of Pataleswar it is 40 km from Khariar. |
| Yogimath |
9 km east of Khariar this place is famed for the cave paintings of Neolithic age. |
