Baipariguda, Jan, 05: This is neither Kashmir nor any tourist spot of Jharkhand. Yet, nature has spread here the veil of its extraordinary beauty. Once your eyes fall upon the enchanting scenery of this place, it becomes difficult to return easily. Such a treasure of natural splendor exists in the Baipariguda block of Koraput district.
Amid lush green forests, the blue waters of the Shabari River flow, cutting through the chests of hills and mountains. On both banks of the river, streams cascade over rugged rocks with gentle murmuring sounds, while the chirping of birds captivates the mind. Along the riverbanks, many tall trees stand upright, as if performing penance, raising their heads toward the sky.
From Baipariguda in Koraput district, after traveling about 29 km, one reaches Pujariguda hamlet under Ramgiri Panchayat. After going 1 km further lies Pujariguda village. From there, after traveling 4 km, one reaches Amgabali village. From Amgabali, Badudi Hill is about 2.5 km away. Inside the forest, narrow footpaths are the only means of access, and at several places one has to climb hills.
Only about seven families live in Badudi Hill village. Forest produce is their main livelihood. Their thirst is quenched by river and stream water. The abundance of natural beauty here completely mesmerizes visitors. One of the major attractions is the Dhableshwar Shaiva shrine located here. The confluence of the Shabari River and the streams creates an extremely captivating view. After crossing the river lies the border of Chhattisgarh. With the cooperation of people from both states, a bamboo bridge has been constructed over the river. After crossing the river, one can visit Pataleshwar Mahadev.
Despite being such a scenic tourist destination, Badudi Hill—surrounded by rugged mountain ranges—has remained out of the attention of the state government, district administration, and block administration till today. No steps have been taken for its development. Due to the negligence of the tourism department, such a mesmerizing place has not yet come into the public eye.
While the government provides crores of rupees in grants for the development of various tourist destinations, this area continues to be ignored. The gentle murmuring of the Shabari River along with the streams creates an illusion reminiscent of Uttarakhand. If steps are taken toward infrastructure development, then like the famous Gupteshwar shrine, this place too could attract thousands of tourists every day.
Badudi Hill has the potential to earn a special place on the tourism map. It now remains to be seen when this rare and enchanting natural destination will receive the government’s much-awaited attention and blessings.