Sambalpur in the Indian state of Odisha is one of the most historic as well as most popular city of Odisha frame for its culture and heritage. The city contains many historic buildings and parks, and is also the commercial capital of the western part of Odisha.
The world famous Hirakud dam built across the Mahanadi River, about 15 km from Sambalpur in 1956 is a major tourist attraction. It is longest dam in the world it’s also form the largest artificial lake in Asia. It’s also known for the lost temple which is submerged after the dam was completed. In summer season we can see the roof top of the temple from the dam. More than 200 temples were submerged by the dam, nearly 150 temples have either perished or are underwater and about 50 are visible during summer.
Cattle Island exists in one of the extreme points of Hirakud Reservoir, a natural wonder. It is near Kumarbandh village of Belpahar-Banharpali range which is about 90 km from Sambalpur. There are many places such as huma temple which is known as lining temple of India every year its lean towards the east bout 4cm it is situate around 25 km from Sambalpur.Samleswari temple famous for god samalaiswari is one of the oldest monuments of odisha its build by Indravati the king of khoshal state which survived even in the prehistoric age and holds a very important place in the history of Odisha and India.
The famous food is phakaal tarkari (means water rice and vegetable curry) and muri mansa (meat with puffed rice). The main attraction for tourist is the main cultural program held in sambalpur during summer season called shital shasti (marriage of lord Shiva and Parvati).
It is been held every year large number of people gathered and makes that day as festive day they dance and sing that’s shows the full flora fauna of cultural heritage in Sambalpur .Another main festival of Sambalpur is nua khai its very famous festival in western odisha. It is an agricultural festival mainly observed by people of Western Odisha in India. Nuakhai is observed to welcome the new rice of the season. Sambalpur is the city of culture. Sambalpur always been a part of odisha tourism which is yet to be fully discovered.