Road trip : Tatanagar - to Chattisgarh, 2800 km trip, part Three : To Jagdalpur Chattisgarh

 

 

Day 3 –Sambalpur (orissa) to Jagdalpur ( chattisgarh)  13^th OCT 2022

 

Early morning, tea and biscuit is all we had as we started off by 0700 hours, we had already fallen in a schedule of waking up at 0530 hours and getting ready by 0630 hours, we were in the car all packed and off to Chhattisgarh.

 

 

The weather report for the next 7 days looked quiet wet and we were once again glad we were driving and not riding.

"What will be will be",  was the thought as we set off, and hoped we will be graced with  dramatic sky in the days to follow.

 

Panthanivas our hotel in Sambalpur staff was nice enough to pack a couple of boiled eggs for us,  

 

 

The drive was smooth and roads were state highway mostly, thus we were driving quiet slow, we had information that food would be scarce on this road and thus we kept our eyes peeled, and did manage to eat breakfast of Medu vada, Aloo Vada and it was quiet tasty, usually we have such vadas with sambar or chutney, but in these part of Orissa (we were still in Orissa) they have it with Chilly, fried food you are thiking will be our bane, and I so agree, why do people have such ? 

While on our way and 250 km from Sambalpur, the hotel called to inform us we had left a cable behind, and it turned out to be the cable for our hot water flask (used primarily to make tea) we were too far gone to return , 
we started to keep a look out for a electrical shop, 75 km before jadgalpur, we came across a few electrical shop and we did try to get a cord that fits our water jug, but with no success.

  Stopping for Lunch of Biryani (which was quiet tasty at 1430 hours) and driving on through mostly state highways all the way onto Jagdalpur.   We had done 419 km to reach jagdalpur from Sambalpur.

 

We reached Jagdalpur by 1645 hours and the hotel looked fine from the outside, it had a parking lot too, so our car would be safe, but then but hold on the hotel had no restaurant but only a bar,

 

 

The rooms were really seedy and rundown, no ventilation, looked very depressing and dirty.

We had already paid advance for 4 days stay (I know you must be thinking why did we plan to stay here for 4 days, and we were asking our self the same too) 

 

 

We called the travel agent who had booked this room for us and he claimed family’s typically like this hotel (which is all bullshit I think) anyway we checked in and got our luggage to the room, had a round of tea and then as I sat back after a quick wash, I realized I had received a echallan (MY 1^st) for speeding 

 

 

The challan read, Rs 2000 for over speeding (going 82 in 60kmph zone (I was overtaking a vehicle, so yes I was faster that’s how one overtakes)I had been driving well within 70kmph which was mostly the speed limit posted  on the statehighway.

Rs 5000 for no driving license (really I always carry my license), so I was billed Rs 7000, in spite of having a license. And the next line read, if I produced the license I could get the Rs 5000 waved.

 

I am guessing all the MBA’s who have made it to government jobs are calling the shots now about how to harass the people, as I was not stopped for speeding but issued a no driving license challan ( a definite MBA influence idea)

 

 

Calling the vahan helpline I was informed I would have to go back to where the challan was issued which was 180 km away to produce my license, (What a sham, and low blow policy to make money off law abiding citizen, so I was to drive 180 km, each way and would incur a fuel bill of Rs 4000 for a challan of Rs 5000, plus waste a day driving.

 

 

Anyway no point getting worked up and looking up the map I realized I would be crossing within 100 km of this particular place Badli, near Bhawanipatna, in Orissa on my way back, so I guess I would have to detour and do the needful, the day was not panning out too good, My friend was still fuming from the TA having bluffed us into a bad hotel.

 

Typically such days I thinks one should just lock oneself and avoiding all contact with world, when all seem to be going wrong. We still had to plan dinner, and I wondered what other calamity awaited us

 Rest of the day went a-ok, food was a Chinese soup that had a lot of Adrak, and I am not going to to complain no more this day … but thibk of thw waterfalls waiting for us over the next few days.

 

 

Sambalpur to Jaddalpur - distance 419 km

Road condition - Good

Food avability along the road - Scarce but is there and tatsy.

 

 

#orissa #roadtrip #editorialphotography #agreenleafproduction #jampotblues #biketaleswithrajat #travelphotography #stockimage #rajatghoshphotography #storytellingimages #conceptualimages #dailylife #sunset #color #Jagdalpur #2800kmroadtrip #lifeinIndia #hotelreeka  #badhotel   #trafficticket

 

 

 

 

 

Road trip : Tatanagar - to Chattisgarh, 2800 km trip, part Two : Around Sambalpur

 

Day2  12^th OCT 2022

 

 

Yu know you are in Orissa where every turn has the Threesome gracing the houses and shops, they are  such a sweet sight and I think relationship’s between brothers and sisters are so special ,,, 

 

 

Another Photographer friend had advised  me about what to do while in Sambalpur, Mr. AMit Padhi had informed us about a waterfall he visits  Devjharan,

 

So next morning saw us head out for Devjharan waterfalls, The road leading out of town were ok (the road eventually leads to Cuttack,) but soon turned very bad and potholed for most part, surprising considering Orissa roads are usually quiet good, if not excellent, the road condition impaired our speed quiet a bit, the weather was clear for most part even though the prediction of rain was on the back of our mind.  It was slow going, once there at the last 10 km mark the map showed  there was a turn off which was so non –descriptive and small,   that we refused to believe it could be the road that led to the waterfall.

 

Well we went on a little ahead and found a even more non descript way (according to Google) we were getting ready to give up on this mission, BUT, we retreated and there we took the 1^st non descriptive road and we were finally rewarded with a good single lane road which went all the way to the waterfall, it was a wonderful road and a absolute pleasurable scenery to boost us, as we drove and took pictures. The waterfall was just amazing

 

In hindsight we should have started 45 minutes earlier, we felt we were a trifle late we did manage to get a few images of the waterfall,  but missed the early morning golden hour on the waterfall.
 

 

  Spending a few hours there was capital n then slowly as the light got hard, we decided to head back,  the weather Gods were kind on us, hardly had we gotten in the car when it opened up with a sharp shower.

 

 

Our next stop was The Baba Bimaleshwar leaning HUMA temple, approx. 52 km from the waterfall, the temple was constructed by the 1^st Raja of Sambalpur, Raja Balaram Deb.

 

 

It was a lovely setting and people were nice unlike many famous temples where people are pushy n want you to but flowers and stuff, as we drove to the temple we met with short shower, that kept the day cool for us, and we were dry (thankfully we were not on a bike) here we could sit n contemplate on the lord Shiva and spend some time, relaxing and observing the temple, no touts selling us nothing, not sure on the reason to lean for the temple, except for Lord Shiva, everything is at an angle in this temple, sure needed amazing knowledge of Geometry to construct it such,

 

 

The temple has many a narrow corridors and huge courtyard, it has a few Shivlings all over the temple which attracts many a  Shiva worshipper. The rear side of the Temple has a river running by which has huge fishes who seem to have a taste for Biscuits, which is sold in abundance here, and is fed by the devotees to the fishes, a very calming experience.

 

we were ready to head back to Panth Nivas, Sambalpur, our hotel, It is run by OTDC which is a corporation and food here is quiet reasonable and tast.

 

 We were back by 1400 hours, evening plan was to visit, Hirakut dam, sunset was scheduled for 1745 hrs. 

We hoped the Sunset might be spectacular this day,  we drove off at 1600 hours, lost our way( whats new you say )  and ended up going a extra 10 – 15 km through some really narrow lanes, crossed IIM Sambalpur and another university campus to reach the main Hirakut dam, here there were board of NO Photography and the guards directed us towards, the Right Dyke

 

which is 10 km from the main dam, The right Dyke is almost 10 km long and we did drive the length of the Dyke, it is a lovely road and very secluded, there is a national forest that starts where the right Dyke ends,  the sky was gloomy and looked very muddy cloudy we were hoping there would be a opening for a sunset.

 

 

There is a water sport complex, just as the Right Dyke starts and facilities like water scooter and banana boat and a few other options are available,

 

 

 

it was already Golden hour and we went a little further, to look for a spot where we could make some images of the Sunset, Me all ready to capture the moment 

 

Lo behold the Sun god was kind and we did get to see a spectacular sunset.

 

 

   a day well spend as we drove back to our hotel in Sambalpur, we were looking at a 0630 hours departure the next day , would be a 430 km drive to Jagdalpur.  Evening was spend With Mr Karunakar Satapathy  who was kind enough to give us a few hours, for tea and chit chat, he too was leaving for a trip to mandu , a photography trip no less.

 

Road condition - not too good.

Time needed - Whole day. 

Was it worth it? YES

Tomorrow we head out to Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh.

 

 

 

 

#orissa #roadtrip #editorialphotography #agreenleafproduction #jampotblues #biketaleswithrajat #travelphotography #stockimage #rajatghoshphotography #storytellingimages #conceptualimages #dailylife #sunset #color #Sambalpur #2800kmroadtrip #lifeinIndia #devjharanwaterfall #hirakutdam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Road trip : Tatanagar - to Chattisgarh, 2800 km trip, part one : Tata- Sambalpur

 

 

11^th October 2022

Up at the crack of dawn, actually more like am up at 0530 hours, its still dark outside, we planned to depart by 0625

 

 

 

 

Morning rituals done, we actually are able to leave by 0631, impressed with myself and so happy was we that we were on the wrong road leaving town of Jamshedpur, 

 

GPS kept rerouting and watching it happen 3 – 4 times I realized we were headed to Kolkata which is due East of Jamshedpur

And not the direction we wanted to go, we corrected course and headed due west towards Chandil, Tamar and so on,,,

 

 

The roads were good and 4 lane highway till Tamar made sure we made good time, we had done a brisk pace of almost 60 km approx. before we turned to state highway, and stayed on State highway for most part of the journey.

 

 

 

We stopped at Khuti for breakfast, Aloo Paratha made into rolls we were carrying and sure tasted good ( thank yu Ruma my cook  and Mom for organizing the food ) the 30 minutes stop later we were once again on the way via

Simdega – kutra –

 

 

 

 

Once we left Kutra 30 km later we were on Rourkela – Sambalpur SH , which was 4 lane, it had 2 tolls , Rs 90 and Rs 55, and no fasttag, Strange but was not in a mood to argue I was enjoying the drive,

Feeling a little sleepy once I was on the highway for a while, we did pull over and took a 30-minute nap, before we headed off for Sambalpur, we crossed jharsuguda – telkoloi – bamloi – to reach sambalpur.

 

We reached approx. 1440 hours; it was 8 hours since we started, being the first day of a 12 day trip we wanted to pace ourself as best as we could and had lunch at Sambalpur, panht Nivas.

We met up with a friend Karunakar Satpathy, we spend a few hours together, tea and coffee( sure healped me become more bright and chirpy and fresh enough to roam around Sambalpur

 

 

Don’t get too excited we all are tea Tetaller here and it is tea in the glass for sure .

 

Visited the Sambheleshwari temple.

Ma Sambheleshwari is worshipped along wester Orissa and right upto Chattisgarh, and this temple is one of the Shakti peeth of Orissa. Situated on the bank of river Mahanadi Mother goddess here is worshipped as mother of Universe, we were honored to be in her presence and having an opportunity to have a darshan too.

 

 

External link :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samleswari_Temple

 

 

We were invited for dinner and had dinner at Mr. Satpathy’s house, we spend time with his family and a wonderful meal cooked by his wife, who is a Sanskrit teacher,  In spite of being a vegetarian she had cooked chicken for us, and it sure was tasty.

 

 

 

we did not want to stay out too late   and called it a day at 2145 hours. Heading back to our hotel.

 

Tommorow we will explore Sambalpur.

 

#roadtrip #biketaleswithrajat #tatasambalpur #rajatghoshphotography #Story

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcoming new, like the Sea

 Amazing view of the sea, at Puri, attempt to capture the beauty on this no moon day, This couple started early. 

Packing and stuff before the trip, Photography road trip

 

  we set off for Chhattisgarh for 12 days, a kind of trip that I have not done before, fully self sponsored photography trip n I am carrying my equipment myself, no assistants to help me set up, break down, hold stuff around, exciting is all I can say, stay tuned for the next 12 days.

 

Chattisgarh tourism, #otdc #jharkhandtourism #rajatghoshphotography #rajatghoshfilms

#roadtrip