Rayagada is a district of meadows, forests, water falls and terraced valleys, peopled by colourful tribals and many Primitive Tribal Groups. The scenic beauty and heritage on the land is an unexplored paradise.

How to reach

By Air

Getting to Raigada is not difficult. Nearest airport is at Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) 200 km away which is well connected with New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai and Nagpur by flights.

By Train

Well connected from other parts of India like Delhi, Chennai, Allepy, Bokaro, Raipur, Gujrat, Nagpur, Kolkata, Hyderbad, Bilaspur and Bhubaneswar.

By Road

Convenient road transport facilities available as NH-43 is passing through Koraput,i.e. 109 KMs from Rayagada. Direct Express bus services are available from Vishakhapatnam, Vizianagarm, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Jeypore, Koraput, Malkangiri, Phulbani, etc.

Fairs and Festivals

Chaitra Parba of MAA MAJI GHARIANI GODDESS

Rath Yatra at Rayagada in the month of July

Kali Puja at Block Colony, Rayagada in the month of November.

Laxmi Puja at New Colony, Rayagada in the month of October.

Dasehra at J.K.Pur in the month of October.

Annual celebration of Gram Devata during March- April (9 days) at Rayagada

Medical

District Head Quarters Hospitals Rayagada. Phone No.06856-222059, Ambulance - 06856-222059, 102

Postal

Available in almost all the places of the district.

Banks

State Bank of India and other Nationalised Banks have their branches at Rayagada and other important places of the District.

Shopping

Shopping complexes are available under the supervision of Municipality, Special Planning Authority and also private. There is no weekly special markets at Rayagada, but in surrounding villages weekly markets are held. All essential commodities are made available at those places to facilitate the remote tribal people.

Weekly Market / Hats of Rayagada

Sunday

Narayanaopatna, Dongasil, Amlabhatta(12 Km).

Monday

Ambadola (90) KM, Sourapalli.

Tuesday

Majhiguda(35KM), Gumma(15 KM), Dahikhal ( Via Muniguda-77KM) Dukum(Via - Bissamcuttack-60 km)

Wednesday

Chatikona (43 KM), Kashipur ( 70 KM) , Muniguda (65 KM)

Thursday

Rapkona (31 KM), Mukundpur ( 30 KM), Hatmunuiguda (58 KM)

Friday

Tikiri (58 KM)

Saturday

Seshikhal (20 KM), Gorakhpur (60 KM)
Bhamini Cattle Market ( Via Gumuda-70 KM)

Places of Interest

Maa Majhighariani

Maa Majhighariani is famous in Southern Division of Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. Most of the devotees are coming from Madhyapradesh Chatishgarh, Andhra pradesh including undivided Koraput District. Only the face of the Maa MajhiGhariani is worshiped. During Sunday, Wednesday and Friday a large number of Devotees are coming to this place for worshiping the Goddess. The temple is famous for Chaitra-Parba i.e. March-April of every year.

Hatipathar

Only 3 Kms from the district headquarter. It is a place of great scenic beauty with two water falls on the course of river Nagavali. The scenic beauty is impressive and the boulders here appear like huge elephants. It is 133Kms from Koraput.

Laxminarayan Temple

Famous Laxminarayan Temple situated at IMFA Factory, Therubali. The deities Laxminarayan, Hanuman, Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra and Lord Siva also worshiped by thousands devotees.

Paikapada

The place Paikapada is famous for so many Siva Lingams. The deities like Lord Jagannath, Maa Dhakineswar Kalika, Samudra etc. are worshiped here. The car festival of Lord Jagannath is also celebrated and during Sivaratri a large number of pilgrims come to observe the function. The Place is situated near Theruballi. It is believed that there are 99,99,999 shivlingams (only one less to 1 crore) in & around Paikapada shrine.

Chatikona

It is located about 48 Kms from Rayagada surrounded by a series of valleys and wooden hills of varying colours and the place is a center of pilgrimage for the temple of Mahadev. It offers picnickers gorgeous view of the waterfall. The Siva temple is the focus of hectic activities on Siva Ratri. The Dongaria Kondha of Chatikona represent the primitive section of the tribe.

Minajhola

It is only 134 Kms from Rayagada. It is a beauty spot of nature, has a siva temple at the confluence of three rivers. It is situated in the heart of dense forest, rich in wild life. Sivaratri is a popular festival of this place. Though there is no good all weather road yet the place is worth visiting. Regular bus service is available from Rayagada and Gunupur upto Gudari.The rest 25 Kms. Road is Jeepable.

Devagiri hill

The Devagiri hill rises to a height of 120.2 meters. Unlike other hills it is not narrower upwards. The top of the hill is a flat platform of rectangular plain, which can be approached only from the northern side. There are 476 steps which are the unique feature of the Devagiri. At the top of the hill, there are perennial poles of water called Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Bhargavi and Indradyumna.

There is a cave looking like two Jaws, The Siva Lingam is enshrined at the meeting point of the Jaws. Sivaratri is its biggest festival, which draws a large crowd every year. It is 50 KMs from Rayagada. Regular bus services are available from Rayagada to Kalyansingpur and the sacred hill is close to Kalyansingpur.

Padmapur

Housing the shrine of Manikeswari Siva. It is identified to be the seat of Dharmakirti, the Budhist-Logician-philosopher. It is 90Kms from Rayagada.