Berhampur, Dec 1: The Kashmir of Odisha, Daringbadi in tribal-dominated Kandhamal districthas turned into a tourist magnet with the temperatures dipping every passing day.
Tourists from far flung areas for the state and beyond are making a beeline for hill town, which has been recording temperature of around 8 degree celsius over the past few days.
“The flow of visitors from different of the country has increased. The weather there is beautiful,” said district tourist officer M R Das adding more visitors are likely to arrive in Darginbadi in the coming days, especially around Christmas and New Year’s Day to enjoy the scenery and the cold weather.
While 16,420 tourists visited the town in 2013, the number increased to 25, 227 and 54,275 in 2014 and 2015, respectively. In 2016, as many as 76,621 tourists visited Daringbadi, officials sources said.
Last, year the figure touched around 1 lakh, while more than 40,000 people have already visited the spot so far this year sources said.
Situated at an altitude of 280 meters above the sea level, Daringbadi is known as the coldest place in the state. Vast stretches of coffee plantation, a scenic view of the hills forest of pine, butterfly park, a museum and waterfall are the attraction in Daringbadi.
Meanwhile, the mercury level dipped in other parts of the state also. As per reports, Balasore witnessed 14.8 degree Celsisus while the temperature was 12.6 degree in Angul, 14.2 in Keonjhar, 14 degree in Talcher, 13.2 in Bhawanipatna, 14.5 in Balangir, 12.6 in Korput, 13 degree in Titilagarh and 13.2 in Sonepur.
The MeT officials predicted that the mercury would dip to as low as 2 to 3 degree Celsius in the state this year.
PNN
