National Inmportannce

The other places of tourist interest are the Hirakud Dam on the Mahanadi and the hydel power station at Machkund in Koraput district. As centers of tourism, they are of national importance. The steel plant at Rourkela comes in this category. Lake Chilika, on the eastern sea board, is one of the beauty spots. Simpilipal is also a tourist centre as a tiger reserve is located here.

Local Importance

Among the places of local tourist interest, the waterfall at Deogarh in Deogarh district, Taptapani hot spring in Ganjam district, the Atri hot spring in Khorda district and the temples of Nrushingnath and Kapilas figures prominently. Among the festivals which attract a large number of people from the country and abroad is the world famous car festival of Lord Jagannath of Puri. The festival lasts about 10 days. It draws a large number of international tourists. The Durga puja of Cuttack is also famous. Orissa has still a long way to go to develop tourism as an industry. Modern hotels need to be provided. The transport facilities are to be made more efficient. Qualified tourist guides are also needed.

Cuttack

30 Km north of Bhubanewar was the medieval capital cuttack, one of the oldest town in Orissa. It was the capital and administrative centre until the end of the British Raj, still the year 1956. The cuttack was founed by Nripati Kesari (920-935). It occupies an important strategic position in relation to the network of canals in the region. The town is almost an island and situated at the head of the Mahanadi delta and surrounded by the great river and its tributary the Kathjuri.