Keonjhar: Be they tourists or bikers, those passing by Kanjipani Ghat in Keonjhar stop for a while to enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the ghat. But lack of basic infrastructure is a hurdle for development of tourism here.
Hills amid luxuriant green vegetation remain enveloped with misty clouds in the rainy season. Floating clouds appearing to be kissing the tips of the hills are a delight for commuters travelling on National Highway-49 from Jaganmohanpur to Kanjipani.
They are seen halting at an 8-km stretch of NH-49, particularly from Panasanasa to Telkoi for a few minutes to enjoy the picture perfect view of the hilly terrains.
Amid the misty atmosphere, a stream cascading down from a rocky cliff adds to the charm of the area. Given its natural settings, the place is no less beautiful than Mussoorie or Darjeeling. Nature lover Bimbadhar Behera feels that there is a need to put in place some facilities for tourists and commuters.
Though Kanjipani has been tagged a tourist place, much has not been done for convenience of tourists. There is a need for rest sheds along the route, watch towers and drinking water facilities to attract more tourists. Besides, the government should develop roads and protect forests, river and streams in the area, experts said.
There are several tribal villages in Kajipani Ghat where primitive tribes like Juanga and Bhuyan have been living for centuries. The development of Kanjipani Ghat will naturally usher in socio-economic development of tribals.
“If some infrastructure development is undertaken along the road, automatically eateries, hotels and restaurants will come up. But there is a need for coordination between the administration and the tourism department to push development of Kanjipani,” said Prakash Sutradhar, a resident of Keonjhar.
PNN
