Places to visit in Koraput

• Opening hours: The temple is open daily from 5:30 AM to 1:00 PM and from 4:00 PM to 8:30 PM. Sanctum darshan is briefly paused during midday offering rituals (around 12:30 to 1:00 PM).
• Entry fees: Admission to the temple and hilltop grounds is completely free for all visitors.
• Universal Entry: Visitors of all religions, nationalities, castes, and backgrounds are explicitly permitted and welcomed inside all areas of the temple, including the inner sanctum.
• Photography is permitted in the open courtyards and of the temple exterior; photography inside the inner sanctum sanctorum during active prayers is restricted.

Sabara Srikhetra is situated on a hillock in Koraput town, approximately 23 km east of central Jeypore (Jeypore Palace) and 2 km from Koraput Railway Station.

• By Road: Motorists take the scenic four-lane National Highway (NH 26) ascending from Jeypore through the winding Koraput Ghat pass, reaching the hill base in Koraput in roughly 30 to 40 minutes. The drive offers magnificent views of the Eastern Ghats.
• By Public Transport: Frequent buses, shared jeeps, and private taxis ply every 10 to 15 minutes between Jeypore and Koraput bus stations. From Koraput town, local auto-rickshaws reach the hilltop temple in under 5 minutes.
• Parking: A dedicated paved parking lot is available at the base of the temple steps, accommodating cars, two-wheelers, and tourist buses with nominal parking fees.

• Opening hours: Open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Strictly closed on Mondays and state government gazetted holidays.
• Entry fees: Modest admission ticket: approximately ₹20 for adults, ₹10 for children; ₹50 for foreign visitors.
• Photography using mobile phones is generally permitted inside the galleries for a nominal photography fee (approx. ₹20-50); commercial filming and flash photography are restricted to protect sensitive natural fibers.
• Visitors must not touch or handle the fragile bark clothing, organic beads, or wooden artifacts.

The Tribal Museum is located on the hilltop adjacent to Sabara Srikhetra Jagannath Temple in Koraput town, approximately 23 km east of central Jeypore (Jeypore Palace) and 2 km from Koraput Railway Station.

• By Road: Motorists drive east from Jeypore along the smooth four-lane NH 26 up the Koraput Ghat road (approx. 30 to the onward journey). Follow the signs pointing to Sabara Srikhetra / Tribal Museum near the town center.
• By Public Transport: Frequent buses and shared jeeps run between Jeypore and Koraput. From Koraput town bus stand, local auto-rickshaws reach the museum gate in under 5 minutes.
• Parking: A dedicated paved parking lot is available directly outside the museum gate, shared with the adjacent Sabara Srikhetra temple.

• Opening hours: The TDCCOL Koraput Coffee Cafe is open daily from 9:00 AM to 8:30 PM. The Coffee Board demonstration plots can be visited on working days from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
• Entry fees: Entry to the cafes and retail lounges is completely free; coffee and products are priced according to standard menu rates.
• Menu pricing: Freshly brewed specialty coffee ranges from ₹40 to ₹90; 250 g sealed bags of roasted whole beans or ground coffee range from ₹220 to ₹380.
• Photography: Photography of the cafe, brewing equipment, and educational displays is warmly encouraged.

The primary TDCCOL Koraput Coffee Cafe and the "Tribal World" store are centrally situated along the Main Road near the ITDA / Collectorate complex and Chandan Pokhari in Koraput town.

• By Road: Located directly in town, easily reachable within 5 minutes by auto-rickshaw or walking from Koraput New Bus Stand (approx. 1.2 km).
• From Jeypore: Drive 24 km east along NH 26 (approx. the onward journey up the scenic ghat road).
• By Train: Koraput Railway Station (KRPU) is located roughly 2.5 km from the cafe; local auto-rickshaws are readily available.
• Parking: Dedicated paved roadside and courtyard parking is available directly outside the cafe and TDCCOL building; parking is free.

• Opening hours: Public viewpoints are open daily from dawn to dusk (approximately 5:30 AM to 6:30 PM).
• Entry fees: Admission to all public viewpoints and hillside promenades is completely free.
• Safety notice: Stay within marked railings and avoid standing on loose gravel or mossy rock ledges along steep cliff faces during windy conditions or rain.

The public viewpoints are located in and immediately adjacent to Koraput town center.

• Nishani Munda: Situated roughly 2 km south of Koraput Bus Stand along the hillside road toward Damanjodi; reachable by auto-rickshaw or a 25-minute uphill walk.
• Sabara Srikhetra Terrace: Located in the western part of town, roughly 1.5 km from the main market; well-paved road ascends directly to the temple hill parking terrace.
• Chandan Pokhari Promenade: Located in the town center adjacent to the main administrative offices and TDCCOL coffee cafe.
• From Jeypore: 24 km east along NH 26 (approx. the onward journey up the scenic ghat road).
• Parking: Paved open parking is available at the Sabara Srikhetra temple hilltop and roadside near Nishani Munda; no parking charges apply.

• Opening hours: The permanent daily market around Chandan Pokhari operates daily from 8:00 AM to 8:30 PM. The Sunday Weekly Haat operates exclusively on Sundays from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
• Entry fees: Admission to the market grounds is completely free.
• Photography: Respectful photography of stalls, produce displays, and market streetscapes is welcomed; always ask polite permission before taking close-up portraits of individual tribal vendors.
• Notice: Market vendors take pride in their produce; negotiate with fairness and good humor rather than aggressive haggling over modest sums.

The Koraput town markets are situated in the town center between the Old Bus Stand, Chandan Pokhari, and the dedicated weekly market grounds.

• By Auto-Rickshaw / Walk: Located right in central Koraput, easily reachable in 5 minutes by auto-rickshaw or a 10-minute walk from the New Bus Stand (approx. 800 metres).
• From Jeypore: 24 km east along NH 26 (approx. the onward journey).
• Public Transport: Regular town buses and shared autos crisscross between the market area, railway station, and administrative offices.
• Parking: Confirm the current charge and what it includes with the operator or service provider. Visitor admission, vehicles, parking, activities and accommodation can have separate charges.

• Opening hours: The Kolab Botanical Garden is open daily from 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM (often extended to 7:00 PM on weekends for musical fountain shows).
• Entry fees: Modest admission ticket: approximately ₹20 for adults, ₹10 for children (aged 3 to 12).
• Musical Fountain: Included with the regular garden entry ticket (operates on scheduled evening timings, typically 6:00 PM in winter).
• Walking onto the high-security operational crest of the dam wall and power generation turbines is restricted by the Odisha Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC) for security reasons; public viewing is centered on the garden terraces and designated viewpoints.
• Swimming or boating in unmonitored deep sections of the reservoir is strictly prohibited.

Kolab Reservoir and Botanical Garden are situated approximately 15 km southeast of central Jeypore (Jeypore Palace) and 15 km southwest of Koraput town.

• By Road: Motorists take the scenic paved state highway branching south from NH 26 near Jeypore toward the Upper Kolab project site (approx. the onward journey). The approach road winds through picturesque tribal villages and undulating hill forests.
• By Public Transport: Local shared auto-rickshaws, private taxis, and rural buses connect Jeypore bus station directly to the Kolab Dam gate.
• Parking: A spacious paved parking facility operates directly outside the main botanical garden entrance gate, accommodating cars, two-wheelers, and tourist buses with nominal standardized parking fees.

• Opening hours: Accessible daily during daylight hours from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Boat operations across the reservoir cease before sunset for safety reasons.
• Entry fees: Entry to the village and the open Jain temple shrine is free.
• Boating charges: Local ferrymen charge approximately ₹20 - ₹50 per passenger for shared boat crossings from Pandi Ghat, or ₹300 - ₹500 for a private chartered boat return trip.
• Safety notice: Country passenger boats are managed by local village boatmen; insist on wearing safety life-jackets where available and avoid boat travel during stormy weather or heavy downpours.

Kechala is situated in central Koraput district on the western peninsula of the Kolab Reservoir, roughly 30 km east of Jeypore and 12 km southwest of Koraput town.

• By Road and Boat via Pandi Ghat (Most Scenic): Drive from Jeypore or Koraput to the Pandi Picnic Spot / Boat Ghat on the northern shore of Kolab Reservoir (approx. 24 km from Jeypore via NH 26; 10 km from Koraput). At Pandi, hire a local country boat or motorized ferry to cross the reservoir to Kechala village (15 minutes on the water).
• By Road Entirely: A circuitous, unpaved rural road branches off the Koraput - Subai road, skirting the southern backwaters of the reservoir directly into Kechala village (approx. 38 km from Jeypore; 26 km from Koraput; rough in monsoon).
• Public Transport: Regular autos and shared jeeps connect Koraput town with Pandi Ghat. From Jeypore, private taxis or rental vehicles provide the most convenient door-to-ghat transit.
• Parking: Confirm the current charge and what it includes with the operator or service provider. Visitor admission, vehicles, parking, activities and accommodation can have separate charges.