Rourkela Tourism

"Steel City of Odisha" Rourkela Tourism Surrounded by hills and rivers, the city of Rourkela is located in the state of Odisha. Popularly called as the 'Steel City of Odisha' and Ispat Nagar, it is one of the first cities of the country to become commercialized for steel production.  Rourkela?s natural positioning in the lap of nature makes it an offbeat tourist location for the people of nearby areas. Rich in naturally occurring minerals, Rourkela has also been blessed with a variety of relief features and natural tourist destinations. Falling in the Sundergarh district of Odisha, Rourkela is considered as a stopover destination, before visiting the other popular destinations nearby. It also holds great religious significance due to its prominence in epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Download Rourkela PDF Guide > What's Great? Full of history and architecture. Has many scenic places. What's not so Great? Does not have its own airport and hence it is difficult to access. Nothing much to do around the city except for visiting temples and places. For Whom Rourkela is ideal for religious people and pilgrims. Also a good weekend getaway for people living in Odisha.

Etymology The name Rourkela originates from the words of a local tribal language called Sadri. Rour means our and kela means village, hence translating to Rourkela or Our Village. History Surmounted by the hills and surrounded by rivers, the land of Rourkela speaks the mythological story of India and holds great religious significance. The city is dotted with a number of temples that have witnessed important incidents from Hindu epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Vedvyas temple, an important attraction of the town is the very same place where Ved Vyas, the narrator of Mahabharat saged the holy book. Hanuman Vatika, which hosts the 75 feet tall idol of Hanuman, is referred to as the pride of Odisha and has been talked about in the holy book of the Ramayana. Rourkela owes its development and industrialisation to the Germans, especially the German businesses Krupp and Demag, who established India?s first public sector steel plant facility here. In the 1950s and 1960s, Rourkela was the largest German colony outside of Germany. Due to the influx of a large number of Germans, a diaspora of the Indo-German mix was created in the town.The Germans also mingled with the local tribal communities and trained them to be equipped to work in the steel plants. Many myths and legends recount eerie tales of Germans as well as locals disappearing in the nearby Vedyas caves, and in the whirlpool of the river Koel. Another famous local legend is a Royal Bengal Tiger?s death in the steel plant?s blast furnace.

One Day Itinerary Day 1- Arrive in Rourkela, and start your sojourn by visiting one of the city?s most important tourist destinations - the Vedvyas temple. Named after the Mahabharat mythology, the temple lends great religious significance to the city. The Vedvyas temple hosts a famous religious fair in the month of February, which is a hugely enjoyable affair. Follow this up with a  visit to the Hanuman Vatika, famous for its 75 feet tall Hanuman idol, often referred to as the pride of Odisha. Day 2- Leave early in the morning, and visit the idyllic Khandadhar Falls, located on the outskirts of the town. Also visit Deogarh, a small local village which has many popular picnic spots and is famous for its natural landscapes. Be sure to try out delicacies from the Odisha cuisine during your stay in Rourkela.

Restaurants and Local Food in Rourkela Rourkela has lots of options and places to eat for tourists. Try the Odishi cuisine during your stay here. Rice is the staple diet in the region, and they have many tasty chutneys, green vegetables, dal preparations and sweets as sides in the Odishi thaali. Their fish curry is also quite popular. It is generally easy to get other cuisines in Rourkela as well. View 2 Restaurants in Rourkela >>

Oct-Maris the best time to visit Rourkela October to March are the best months to visit Rourkela. While for most part of the year, Rourkela experiences hot and humid climate, the weather is most suitable for tourism visits from October to March. Some tourists specifically come for the Vedvyas mela in February while some wanting to attend the popular Rath yatra head to Sundergarh during June-July. Weather in Rourkela Loading... Rourkela in Summer (March - June) The temperature in the Summer season ranges from 20 to 38 degrees Celsius.The weather is extremely hot and humid during this period. Although, this is not the best time to visit the city, but a number of pilgrims visit Rourkela for the auspicious Rath Yatra. Rourkela in Monsoon (July - September) Rourkela receives heavy rain showers during the Monsoon season. The south-west monsoon brings heavy rainfall in the city and leaves the town in the wet state. Rourkela in Winter (October - April) The winter period begins with the month of October and continues to April. The temperature during this season fluctuates between 9 and 24 degrees Celsius. This is considered as the best time to visit Rourkela as the temperature is neither too high or too low and is perfect for the out day tours. Monthly Weather in Rourkela Month Avg. Minimum (°C) Avg. Maximum (°C) January 12 26 February 15 30 March 19 34 April 25 40 May 26 39 June 26 37 July 24 30 August 24 30 September 24 30 October 21 31 November 15 28 December 12 26