Odisha is a land of hidden treasures of tourist destinations. As far as the recent 'Make in Odisha' Conclave’s tagline is reckoned - 'India’s best-kept secret' is the apt description for Odisha and its huge unexplored expanse of traveller's destinations. The hunt for offbeat locations in and around 150 Km radius around the capital city of Bhubaneswar comes into fore. Last week, I came across one of the most serene and beautiful waterfalls of Odisha – The Deojhar Waterfall.
Deojhar or as it is locally called 'Dian Dhar Jhar' lies along the foothills of a majestic hill in the Hindol – Badamba Forest Range in the Cuttack District of Odisha. Its nearby inhabited village is Olaba, which lies approximately 800 metres away from the gateway to the fall. Being one of the finest weekend getaways for Bhubaneswar and Cuttack people, Deojhar falls from a height of approximately 300 feet but the best part of the same lies within a heightspan of 60 feet. The water from the fall accumulates into a pond kind of structure, which is hardly 6 feet deep, making it a perfect destination for waterfall bathing.
Located at a distance of 113 kilometres (2.5-hours) from Bhubaneswar, this beautiful spot is surrounded by greenery and mountains. The picturesque location of the place mesmerizes at every level. The pathway from the nearby town of Champeswar, stretching for almost 15 kilometres through tiny villages and paddy fields and hilly terrains and Ghats, delivers a taste of a unique travel experience.
After parking your vehicle, you need to walk almost 400 metres to reach the location through thick and deep tropical forests menacing over you and jumping across small brooks fed by the waterfall.
The prime location is an ultimate destination for painters, photographers and also adventure travellers to peek-a-boo of what Odisha can offer. Deojhar has failed to attract public because of the unavailability of toilet facilities and the thugging activities, which makes the family-oriented tourist rethink before taking the next step. Also, due to the thick forest cover, elephants are frequent visitors here.
Still Deojhar remains as one of the finest locations in my bucket list of weekend getaways from the Temple City. A recreational activity park or a well-maintained resort bearing traditional cottages are the best investment the place needs currently.
P.S.- There are frequent power-cuts in the villages nearby and you will not find any kind of mobile/satellite network/communication in this area.