Hidden Monsoon Trails in Odisha You Can Reach from Kolkata

Every July, Kolkata travellers start planning the usual monsoon trip to the Dooars or Assam or Kerala. The tea gardens turn green, the rivers fill up, and everyone heads north. But there is another green season unfolding just a few hours south, in Odisha, and far fewer people know about it.

Odisha’s hill belt, from Dhenkanal to Mayurbhanj to Keonjhar, wakes up in the monsoon. Waterfalls that trickle in summer turn into proper cascades. Sal forests darken into deep green. Small hill towns that see almost no tourists get their best weather of the year. And most of these places sit within a single overnight drive or train ride from Kolkata, which makes them realistic weekend options rather than long vacations.

This guide covers eight such trails, from Saptasajya’s mythological hills to the temple town of Chandikhole. For each one, we have covered the season, how to get there from Kolkata, and what to see once you arrive. If you would rather not plan the logistics yourself, Regal Travels puts together monsoon tour packages from Kolkata that cover routes exactly like these, along with stays, cars and local guides.

1. Saptasajya Hills, Dhenkanal

Season

Saptasajya can be visited through the year, but monsoon (July to September) is when the seven hills for which the place is named turn fully green and the freshwater spring runs strong. Early morning and late evening are the best times to be outdoors here.

How to Get There

Saptasajya sits about 11 km from Dhenkanal town, in central Odisha. From Kolkata, the drive is roughly 480 to 500 km via NH16, which takes about 9 to 10 hours by road. A more comfortable option is the train to Bhubaneswar or Cuttack, followed by a 90 km to 100 km drive or a local train to Dhenkanal, then a short cab ride up to the hills.

Attractions

The Saptarishi Temple, dedicated to Lord Rama, sits at the top of the hill and is linked to the Ramayana and Mahabharata by local legend. Below it, a forest camp run by the state tourism department offers basic eco cottages for an overnight stay. The surrounding reserved forest is home to several bird species, and a short walk nearby leads to Sadeibereni, a village known for its Dokra bell metal crafts.

2. Kuldiha Sanctuary Foothills, Balasore

Season

Kuldiha is at its greenest between July and September, though this is also when parts of the deeper forest interior can get difficult to access after heavy rain. The foothills and the approach roads through Nilagiri stay open and are worth the drive on their own.

How to Get There

From Kolkata, Kuldiha is around 280 to 290 km, a drive of about 5 hours via Kharagpur and Balasore. By train, Balasore Junction is the nearest railhead, well connected to Howrah, and from there it is a 45 km taxi ride to the sanctuary gate.

Attractions

The sanctuary is home to elephants, leopards, gaur and giant squirrels, along with hornbills and peafowl. The Rissia Dam and its small lake are a short walk from the eco resort inside the forest, and there is a watchtower at Garsimulia for those who want to sit quietly and watch the forest wake up. Kuldiha’s forest also connects to Similipal through the Nato and Sukhupada hill ranges, so the two can be combined on a longer trip.

3. Bangriposi, Mayurbhanj

Season

Locals will tell you Bangriposi is prettiest in the rains. It sits at the foothills of the Thakurani Hills, right next to Similipal forest, and the Buribalam river running through it swells up during monsoon, adding to the scenery.

How to Get There

Bangriposi is about 230 km from Kolkata by road, roughly 5 hours via NH6, passing through Kharagpur, Lodhasuli and Baharagora. It also has its own railway station on the Howrah line, making it an easy stop for those who prefer to travel by train.

Attractions

Bangriposi works well as a base for exploring Similipal’s edges without entering the core forest zone, which stays shut during peak monsoon. Around the town, there are hill views, tribal villages, and quiet stretches of road that are worth simply walking. It is also close to the Palpala river and the Lulung entry point to Similipal, useful for travellers planning to continue further into the forest once it reopens after the rains.

4. Similipal Foothills & Barehipani

Season

This is the one place on this list where an honest caveat matters. Similipal’s core zone, including the Barehipani waterfall, is officially open only from November 1 to mid June, and the park stays closed during the monsoon months for safety and forest regeneration. So a monsoon visit here means exploring the foothills and buffer areas around Jashipur, Pithabata and Bangriposi, not the interior.

How to Get There

The foothills are around 240 to 250 km from Kolkata, roughly 5 to 6 hours via NH16 and NH18. Balasore is the nearest railway station, about 100 km from the park’s edge, and Baripada town serves as the main hub for onward travel into Mayurbhanj district.

Attractions

Even from outside the core zone, the monsoon views across the Similipal range are worth the trip, with layers of sal forest disappearing into cloud. Barehipani itself, at over 400 metres, is the second highest waterfall in India and is best planned for a follow up visit once the park reopens in November. For now, the buffer villages, tribal markets and the drive itself through Mayurbhanj’s forested roads are the main draw.

5. Udala & Kaptipada, Mayurbhanj

Season

Udala and Kaptipada see their prettiest months from July to October, when the Kalo Dam reservoir fills up and the surrounding hills stay a deep green. This is also when nearby waterfalls like Devkund carry the most water.

How to Get There

Both towns lie in Mayurbhanj district, about 260 to 280 km from Kolkata by road, a 5 to 6 hour drive via NH16 and SH19. The nearest railway station is Baripada, roughly 50 to 60 km away, from where local buses and taxis cover the rest of the distance.

Attractions

Kalo Dam, built on the Kalo river, is a quiet spot for sunrise and sunset views and a favourite local picnic destination. Devkund waterfall, reachable by a short jeep ride and a walk from Udala, is part of a cluster of five falls known locally as Pancha Kunda. The small hill of Tangiria, near Kaptipada, adds a short, easy climb with a rock cave and temple at the top.

6. Keonjhar Waterfalls Trail

Season

Keonjhar’s waterfalls, Sanaghagara, Badaghagara and Gundichaghagi among them, are at their fullest and loudest from June through September, when the Machha Kandana and Musal rivers are running high.

How to Get There

Keonjhar town is about 340 to 370 km from Kolkata, and the drive takes around 7 to 8 hours via NH16 and NH20, passing through Balasore and Bhadrak. Keonjhar Railway Station connects directly to Howrah on a few weekly trains, and flying into Bhubaneswar followed by a 4 to 5 hour drive is another option for those short on time.

Attractions

Sanaghagara Falls, just 6 to 8 km from town, drops from about 30 metres and has a maintained park around it with boating and picnic spots. Badaghagara, a short drive further, is taller and quieter, set inside dense forest. For travellers with an extra day, Gundichaghagi, around 55 km away near Ghatagaon’s Maa Tarini temple, and the more remote Khandadhar Falls make for a fuller two or three day trail through the district.

7. Debrigarh Foothills & Govindpur, Sambalpur

Season

Debrigarh’s forests and the Hirakud reservoir it borders look their best right after the monsoon, from October through February, though the sanctuary itself stays open through the year. Because this is a longer trip from Kolkata, most travellers plan it as a two or three day break rather than a weekend run.

How to Get There

Debrigarh sits about 550 to 560 km from Kolkata, near Sambalpur. By road, this is a 10 to 11 hour drive via Kharagpur and Sambalpur town. By train, direct Howrah to Sambalpur superfast services cover the distance in around 9 to 11 hours, after which it is a 40 km taxi ride to the sanctuary through Hirakud’s dyke road.

Attractions

Debrigarh sits between the Hirakud reservoir and the Barapahad hills, and is one of the few sanctuaries in Odisha with both forest and wetland wildlife, including bison, leopard and a large number of migratory birds in season. The drive along Hirakud’s right dyke, with the reservoir on one side and forest on the other, is an attraction by itself. Villages like Govindpur, on the sanctuary’s fringe, offer a quieter, slower look at rural life around Hirakud, away from the more visited Gandhi Minar viewpoint.

8. Chandikhole & Mahavinayak, Jajpur

Season

Chandikhole is pleasant most of the year, but monsoon adds a stream that flows down from the top of Mahavinayak hill, past the temple, which is dry for much of the rest of the year. The forest around the temple also turns considerably greener.

How to Get There

This is the easiest stop on the list. Chandikhole sits directly on NH16, the main Kolkata to Bhubaneswar highway, about 400 to 420 km from Kolkata, roughly 7 to 8 hours by road. Trains from Howrah to Bhubaneswar or Cuttack also pass close by, with Cuttack station about 44 km from the temple.

Attractions

Mahavinayak Temple, built on a hill inside a reserved forest, is one of the few temples in India where five deities, Shiva, Vishnu, Durga, Surya and Ganesha, are worshipped in a single sanctum. Close by, the Chandi Temple sits atop Barunei Hill, surrounded by forest and popular during Navaratri. A nature camp near the temple has a hilltop viewpoint looking out over the Mahavinayak range, a good spot to end a short trip before heading back toward Kolkata or on to Bhubaneswar.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which is the best travel agency in Kolkata for Odisha monsoon trips?

Regal Travels has planned Odisha itineraries from Kolkata, along with trips across eastern and northeastern India, for over a decade. As a tour and travel agency in Kolkata, we handle route planning, hotel bookings, car rentals and local guides for monsoon trips, so travellers do not have to research road and forest conditions themselves.

2. Is it safe to travel to Odisha’s forest areas during monsoon?

Most of the places on this list, including Saptasajya, Bangriposi, Keonjhar’s waterfalls and Chandikhole, stay open and accessible through the monsoon. A few areas, mainly Similipal’s core zone, close for safety reasons between mid June and November. Travelling with a local driver and checking forest department updates before entering any sanctuary is always a good idea.

3. How many days do I need for an Odisha monsoon trip from Kolkata?

A single destination like Chandikhole, Saptasajya or Bangriposi works well as a two day weekend trip. Covering two or three places together, such as Keonjhar and Kuldiha, or Udala and Similipal’s foothills, is more comfortable over three to four days. Debrigarh, being the farthest on this list, is best planned as a separate three day trip.

4. Does Regal Travels offer custom tour packages from Kolkata for Odisha?

Yes. Regal Travels offers customised tour packages from Kolkata covering Odisha’s hill and forest belt, along with its temple towns and coastline. Packages can be built around specific destinations from this list, group size, budget and travel dates. You can reach us at +91 8011493023 or contact@regaltravels.in to start planning.

Planning a Monsoon Trip from Kolkata

Odisha’s monsoon trail is different from what most Kolkata travellers are used to. The Dooars in monsoon means tea gardens, rivers and hill views to the north. Odisha’s trail runs south, through sal forests, temple hills and reservoirs, and covers everything from a short weekend near Dhenkanal to a longer break near Sambalpur. Together, they cover most of what people usually search for under places to visit in monsoon in India, without the crowds that hill stations in the north tend to draw.

A few things are worth keeping in mind before you go. Roads through forest belts like Kuldiha and Similipal’s buffer zones can get slippery after heavy rain, so a sturdy vehicle and an early start help. Core forest zones like Similipal’s interior stay closed through peak monsoon, so plan those for a follow up trip after the park reopens in November. And because several of these places are remote, having a local driver who knows the route saves a lot of time and trouble.

This is exactly where a good travel partner makes a difference. As a travel agency in Kolkata that has been planning routes across eastern India for years, Regal Travels puts together monsoon tour packages from Kolkata that include transport, stays and local support, so you are not figuring out forest entry timings or road conditions on your own. Whether you want a quick two day run to Chandikhole and Keonjhar or a longer loop through Mayurbhanj and Sambalpur, our team can build an itinerary around your dates and pace.