Beyond the Ghats: Deomali to Araku

Morning

6:30 AM – Start from home
8:00 AM – Ramatirtham Temple
✔ Sri Rama Temple
✔ Buddhist cave monastery
✔ Bavikonda hilltop view
⏱️ 1.5 hrs is perfect

Tip: Morning mist here looks magical—great photos.

Late Morning

9:30 – 11:00 AM – Drive to Thatipudi Reservoir
✔ Short walk
✔ Boating (if operational)

11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Option A: Bobbili Fort (history + architecture)
Option B: Skip & head straight to Salur (saves energy)

Lunch

1:30 PM – Salur

• Try Andhra meals / local dhabas
• Eat well here — no food options later

Afternoon Drive

2:30 – 4:30 PM
Salur → Sunabeda → Pottangi → Deomali base
🌿 Dense forests, hairpin bends, Eastern Ghats views

Important:

• Fuel up at Salur or Sunabeda
• Mobile network fades after Pottangi

Evening

5:00 – 6:30 PM – Deomali Peak

• Sunset + wide-angle shots
• Wind can be strong — jacket needed even in summer

Night Camping

✔ Campfire cooking
✔ Star gazing (Milky Way visible on clear nights 🌌)
✔ Night temperature drops fast

Carry:

• Sleeping bag / thermal blanket
• Torch + power bank
• Dry food + water (3–4 L/person)

Early Morning

5:30 AM – Sunrise at Deomali
☕ Flask coffee = luxury up there

6:30 – 8:00 AM – Descend → Koraput side
📸 Morning valleys = postcard views

Morning Stops

8:30 AM – Dumuriput Hanuman Temple
Peaceful, powerful vibes

9:30 AM – Breakfast at Sunabeda / Koraput

• Idli, dosa, omelette easily available

Midday

10:30 AM – Red Mud Pond (NALCO)
⏱️ 20–30 min photography stop

12:00 PM – Biju Patnaik Park
Good place to relax before lunch

1:00 PM – Lunch in Koraput
Try:

• Odia meals
• Simple veg/non-veg thalis

Afternoon

2:30 – 5:30 PM

• Kolab Reservoir / Garden
• Tribal market (if weekly haat day)

Evening & Night

6:00 PM – Check-in (Panthanivas / private stay)

7:30 – 9:00 PM – Sabara Srikhetra

• Calm Jagannath darshan
• Occasionally tribal cultural programs

🌙 Early sleep recommended (Day 3 is long)

Early Start

5:00 AM – Leave Koraput
🎒 Carry snacks + water

Duduma

7:30 AM – Duduma Waterfall

• One of Odisha’s tallest (≈175 m)
• Best flow post-monsoon
  ⏱️ 1.5–2 hrs

10:30 AM – Rani Duduma

• Less crowded
• Peaceful, raw nature

Lunch

12:30 PM

• Local dhaba / packed food
  (No luxury options here)

Evening Adventure

3:30 PM – Balda Caves

• Short trek
• Ancient meditation caves
• Sunset views from top = 🔥

Leave before dark (trail isn’t lit)

Night Ride

6:00 – 8:30 PM – Balda → Araku
🌄 Ghat roads, cool breeze

8:30 PM – Check-in at Araku
✔ Haritha Resort / private valley stay
✔ Dinner & well-earned rest