Very nearby is the testing range of India's Balastic missiles. 

It can be reached both by rail & road. The nearest railway station Palasa is 44 kms away from Paralakhemundi. All the trains connecting Howrah with the southern part pass through Palasa and have a halt here. JITM campus is 7 kms away from Paralakhemundi

How to reach :-

• By Bus:- It's 30 km far from Paralakhemundi and 153 km far from Berhampur.
• By AIr:- It's nearest Airport is in Bhubaneswar.
• By Train:- Nearest station is Rayagarda and Berhampur.

Famous for:-

• Best place for wildlife photographer
• Best place for picnic and waterfall

By Amaresh Chandra Das, http://www.eodissa.com (if you are an Odia you can visit the site and join their great 17000 strong FB group)

"Had Konark been discovered first and Taj Mahal at Agra Later by the Europeans, then there is no doubt that Taj would have taken a second place in the mind of world." -- Charles Fabri, Art Historian

It was a specialty of the Konark artisans that they constructed the main temple, Mukhasala, Naatamandir and the temple on the eastern gate in such a way that it facilitated the first ray of the Sun to fall on the head of the Sun god placed on the throne of the main temple passing through the doors of all these temples. The temple, being situated in a corner of the State and far from hills and hillocks, it confused the visitors and also the engineers to find out the way as to how the big stones were carried from distant places for construction of the temple. It is also places for construction of the temple. It is also astonishing that when the engineers of 19th century failed to carry the Navagraha-Paathar upto sea shore which is only 3 Kms. away, how its six hundred years back the artisans were able to bring it from distant places and put them in the higher altitudes of the temple at a time when there was no improved machinery. It is believed that perhaps those stones used to be carried by rafts along with old river routes which are now not in existence and have disappeared in course of time.

The magnetic dome was removed from the top as it was causing many ships to crash around the shores. It is kept in the ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) museum for display.

http://www.saveourtigers.com/

Simlipal National Park, 320 km from Bhubaneshwar (Orissa), is a 2,750 sq km sanctuary and a Project Tiger Reserve. Situated in the Mayurbhanj district, the park’s hills, waterfalls and dense foliage hide almost 95 tigers and a number of other species of ‘typically’ Indian wildlife: elephants, deer, leopards, gaur bison, sloth bears, reptiles, langurs, crocodiles and more than 200 species of bird life.

The forests of Simlipal consist predominantly of deciduous sal trees, and are crisscrossed by twelve rivers, which meander through the hills and plateaus of Simlipal, creating some of the area’s most impressive waterfalls.

The spectacular Barehipani waterfall, with a 400-metre drop, and the Joranda waterfall, with a shorter drop of 150 metres, are so beautiful that one is forced to reflect on nature’s majesty.Besides the fact that there’s a lot of wildlife to be seen in Simlipal, there’s also a wide range of local flora; the park boasts of at least 82 species of orchids.

The National Park has a core area of about 850 sq km, where most of the tigers are concentrated. Visitors are not allowed into this section of the park, but if you’re lucky you just might see a tiger wandering further out. What you’re more likely to see are elephants, monkeys, deer and birds. Joshipur, which is one of the two entrances to the park, has amaggar centre where you can catch a glimpse of the crocodiles at close quarters.

Entry Requirements 

Entry permits for Simlipal have to be collected from the Field Director, Simlipal Tiger Project, Baripada, before you’re allowed to step into the national park. One has to apply at least 10 days (preferably 30 days) in advance to visit the park. The application has to be accompanied by a copy of your passport, if you are a foreigner. Indians have to provide proof of identity to support the information required.

Foreigners have to pay an entry fee of Rs 100; Indians, Rs 5. Cameras have an extra charge levied on them. All applications for entry to Simlipal must be reconfirmed at the Simlipal Park Office (Tel: 06792 52593) at Baripada.

Thick forests where the sunlight can hardly reach the forest floor, estuarine swamps with over sixty varieties of mangrove plants, isolated beaches, variety of wildlife, giant turtles, ferocious crocodiles add to the trill of Bhitarkanika. There is adventure awaiting you at each step in these forests.

Don't Forget to see at Bhitarkanika:

1. Largest salt water crocodiles in the world
2. Olive Ridley Turtles laying eggs at Gahirmatha beach
3. Rare and endangered White Crocodiles
4. Rare white crocodil named 'Gori'