SAMBALPUR: Two more destinations of the district are set to make it to the list of tourist places. Khinda in Rengali block and Bhima Mandali in Naktideul block will soon find a place on the tourism map.
Located around 41 kms from here, Khinda is the birth place of legendary freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai and is located on the fringes of Hirakud dam. Bhima Mandali, on the other hand, is situated around 100 kms from here inside Landimal Reserve Forest under Rairakhol forest division and river Champali that flows near is a major attraction. Another major draw is a cave named after mythological character from Mahabharat, Bhima and hence the place locally called Bhima Dali or Bhima Mandali.
Both places have the potential to attract visitors from across the State, said District Tourist Officer, Sambalpur Rabindra Kumar Dalei adding a survey has already been conducted to include these two places in the tourist places list.
The district-level committee will recommend Tourism Department to recognise both the places as tourist destinations in the next meeting to be held shortly, he said. There seven other identified tourist places in the district are Sambalpur, Hirakud, Ushakothi, Huma, Chiplima, Gudguda and Kandhara.