Rourkela

• History
• Places to visit
• How to reach

The city of Rourkela is a wonderful destination surrounded by plenty of hills and rivers making it a travel-worthy offbeat destination. And due to the amount of steel production done here, it is also known as the Steel City of Odisha or in local dialect Ispat Nagar. 

Rourkela as a place is naturally rich in minerals thus, for businessmen, Rourkela can prove to be a gold mine. Apart from doing business, this place also holds a religious significance due to its prominence asserted in Hindu epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata. 

Best Time to Visit Rourkela

The best time to visit Rourkela would be from October to March. During this time, the overall temperature is quite pleasant.

History of Rourkela

Historically as well, Rourkela holds great importance and the presence of various temples is proof of that. These are not just any temples but belong to the timeline of Ramayana and Mahabharata. 

For instance, the Vedvyas Temple is considered to be an important attraction of the town and is also the very same place where Ved Vyas who was the narrator of Mahabharat wrote the epic. 

Historically speaking, Rourkela owes its development and industrialization to the German businesses like Krupp and Demag. In the 1950s and in 1960s, Rourkela was considered to be one of the largest German colonies outside of the country.

Major Attractions in and Around Rourkela

1. Khandhadhar Waterfall

A trip to these waterfalls won’t disappoint you at all. There is also a guest house located nearby which is run by the PBDA. A visit to this place more or less feels like a very refreshing experience in itself.

2. Darjing and Deoghar

This is a popular tourist spot located about 45 km away from Rourkela and is one of the most amazing places to visit closeby. Anyone who plans a trip to Rourkela shouldn’t miss out on Darjing and Deoghar.

3. Ambagan Market

This market is also referred to as the Ispat market and is considered to be one of the oldest markets in Rourkela. And since it is centrally located, the market receives a huge crowd all year round.

4. Vedvyas Rourkela

This place is situated in Rourkela and is located at a place where the rivers Sankham, Koel, and Saraswati merge. It has been named after the great Maharishi Vedvyas who also wrote the epic Mahabharata. One of the most prominent events celebrated here is the Shivratri Mela.

How to Reach Rourkela

Rourkela is one of the most epic places to explore in India. It is located at an approximate distance of 1,403, 1,576, 529, 1,824 km from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru respectively. Here is how you can travel to Rourkela by the following means of transportation.

By Air

The nearest airport is situated in the Birsa Munda Airport (IXR), Ranchi and is located 125 km away from the city. The airport has been named after the tribal freedom fighter Brisa Munda and is managed by the Airport Authority of India. It has overall good connectivity with other Indian cities. After you deboard at the airport, you will need to cover the remaining distance by some means of public transportation. 

Here is a list of Indian cities from where flights are available to Rourkela

• Kolkata to Ranchi Flight
• Mumbai to Ranchi Flight
• Delhi to Ranchi Flight
• Bangalore to Ranchi Flight
• Hyderabad to Ranchi Flight
• Patna to Ranchi Flight
• Ahmedabad to Ranchi Flight

By Train

To reach here by train, you will need to deboard at Rourkela Station. This station has a total of 5 platforms and is considered to be one of the busiest railway stations in India. It won’t be a problem for you to find a train from the major Indian cities to this place. Once you deboard at the station, you will need to cover the remaining distance by some means of public transportation.

By Road

If you want to travel to Rourkela by roadways then it would be a good decision for you. For travelling by road, you can book an interstate or private bus. Otherwise, you can also consider booking a cab or self-drive.

• From Ranchi - 168 km via Kolebira - Hat Gamharia Rd
• From Jamshedpur - 228 km via Jamshedpur-Keojhar Highway
• Simlipal National Park - 278 km via Rourkela Road

Frequently Asked Questions about Rourkela

Q: In which state is Rourkela located?
A: Rourkela is located in the state of Odisha, India.

Q: What are some popular places to visit in Rourkela?
A: Some popular places to visit in Rourkela include Hanuman Vatika, VSS Nagar and the Ispat General Hospital, and the Rourkela Steel Plant.

You can plan your trip and create your own route to the city with Adotrip’s technically driven circuit planner. Click here