Rourkela, Odisha
Vedvyas
Darjing and Deoghar
Khandadhar Waterfall
Biju Patnaik Hockey Stadium
Rourkela Municipal Commissioner and Rourkela ADM taking award from Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu

Rourkela

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Odisha India
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Rourkela Travel Essentials

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Ideal duration: 1 day

Best Time: October to March Read More

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"Steel City of Odisha"

Rourkela Tourism

Surrounded by hills and rivers, the city of Rourkela is located in the state of Odisha. Popularly called as the 'Steel City of Odisha' and Ispat Nagar, it is one of the first cities of the country to become commercialized for steel production.  Rourkela’s natural positioning in the lap of nature makes it an offbeat tourist location for the people of nearby areas.

Rich in naturally occurring minerals, Rourkela has also been blessed with a variety of relief features and natural tourist destinations. Falling in the Sundergarh district of Odisha, Rourkela is considered as a stopover destination, before visiting the other popular destinations nearby. It also holds great religious significance due to its prominence in epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata.

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Places To Visit In Rourkela

Khandadhar Waterfall

Khandadhar Waterfall
Darjing and Deoghar

Darjing and Deoghar
Vedvyas

Vedvyas
Ghogar

Ghogar
Ambagan Market

Ambagan Market
Biju Patnaik Hockey Stadium

Biju Patnaik Hockey Stadium
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History

Surmounted by the hills and surrounded by rivers, the land of Rourkela speaks the mythological story of India and holds great religious significance. The city is dotted with a number of temples that have witnessed important incidents from Hindu epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Vedvyas temple, an important attraction of the town is the very same place where Ved Vyas, the narrator of Mahabharat saged the holy book. Hanuman Vatika, which hosts the 75 feet tall idol of Hanuman, is referred to as the pride of Odisha and has been talked about in the holy book of the Ramayana.

Rourkela owes its development and industrialisation to the Germans, especially the German businesses Krupp and Demag, who established India’s first public sector steel plant facility here. In the 1950s and 1960s, Rourkela was the largest German colony outside of Germany. Due to the influx of a large number of Germans, a diaspora of the Indo-German mix was created in the town.The Germans also mingled with the local tribal communities and trained them to be equipped to work in the steel plants. Many myths and legends recount eerie tales of Germans as well as locals disappearing in the nearby Vedyas caves, and in the whirlpool of the river Koel. Another famous local legend is a Royal Bengal Tiger’s death in the steel plant’s blast furnace.

Etymology

The name Rourkela originates from the words of a local tribal language called Sadri. Rour means our and kela means village, hence translating to Rourkela or Our Village.

Restaurants and Local Food in Rourkela

Rourkela has lots of options and places to eat for tourists. Try the Odishi cuisine during your stay here. Rice is the staple diet in the region, and they have many tasty chutneys, green vegetables, dal preparations and sweets as sides in the Odishi thaali. Their fish curry is also quite popular. It is generally easy to get other cuisines in Rourkela as well.
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Suggested Itinerary for Rourkela

Day 1- Arrive in Rourkela, and start your sojourn by visiting one of the city’s most important tourist destinations - the Vedvyas temple. Named after the Mahabharat mythology, the temple lends great religious significance to the city. The Vedvyas temple hosts a famous religious fair in the month of February, which is a hugely enjoyable affair. Follow this up with a  visit to the Hanuman Vatika, famous for its 75 feet tall Hanuman idol, often referred to as the pride of Odisha.

Day 2- Leave early in the morning, and visit the idyllic Khandadhar Falls, located on the outskirts of the town. Also visit Deogarh, a small local village which has many popular picnic spots and is famous for its natural landscapes. Be sure to try out delicacies from the Odisha cuisine during your stay in Rourkela.

Best Time to Visit Rourkela

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Rourkela Photos

Rourkela, Odisha
Vedvyas
Darjing and Deoghar
Khandadhar Waterfall

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FAQs on Rourkela

What is the best time to visit Rourkela?

October to March are the best months to visit Rourkela. While for most part of the year, Rourkela experiences hot and humid climate, the weather is most suitable for tourism visits from October to March. Some tourists specifically come for the Vedvyas mela in February while some wanting to attend the popular Rath yatra head to Sundergarh during June-July.
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What are the places near Rourkela?

The top places near to Rourkela are Ranchi which is 129 km from Rourkela, Jamshedpur which is located 151 km from Rourkela, Sambalpur which is located 126 km from Rourkela, Bodh gaya which is located 271 km from Rourkela, Digha which is located 284 km from Rourkela

What are the things to do in Rourkela?

The top things to do in Rourkela are Khandadhar Waterfall, Darjing and Deoghar, Vedvyas, Ghogar, Ambagan Market, Biju Patnaik Hockey Stadium. You can see all the places to visit in Rourkela here

What is the best way to reach Rourkela?

The most convenient way of travelling to Rourkela is by train, as it is connected to most parts of the country by super fast trains. It does not have its own airport and the nearest airport is located in Ranchi, 250 km away. If you wish to travel by road, you can get to Rourkela from Bhubaneshwar. The state has good and well-developed roadways.
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What is the local food in Rourkela?

Rourkela has lots of options and places to eat for tourists. Try the Odishi cuisine during your stay here. Rice is the staple diet in the region, and they have many tasty chutneys, green vegetables, dal preparations and sweets as sides in the Odishi thaali. Their fish curry is also quite popular. It is generally easy to get other cuisines in Rourkela as well.
Read More

Who should visit Rourkela?

Rourkela is ideal for religious people and pilgrims. Also a good weekend getaway for people living in Odisha.

What is not so good about Rourkela?

Does not have its own airport and hence it is difficult to access. Nothing much to do around the city except for visiting temples and places.

What is famous about Rourkela?

Full of history and architecture. Has many scenic places.

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Rourkela Reviews

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Devyani Chandra

6 years ago
- It will be better if you hire a cab for a complete day and cover the nearby tourist spots.
- Travelling in public transport could be time consuming.
- When you visit the dams, have ample time (Read More) in hand to sit and enjoy the refreshing site, there is nothing as such worth seeing, it is just pleasant to sit by the river and spend time with nature.
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