Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary

Situated on the banks of Hirakud Hydel Power Project is Debrigarh Widlife Sanctuary. A 5 km drive off the National Highway brings you to a foothill where the road divides - one leading to the Hirakud Dam and the other to another man-made dyke encircling the Mahanadi Reservoir.

We, a group of 9 members, reached the Sanctuary at around 1.30 pm and after the formalities with the Forest Range Office, we are allowed to enter the sanctuary . We checked in into beautifully done cottages with a fine view of the lake and the forest. Hospitality was excellent and so was the food served. We freshened up after a welcome drink of fresh lime juice and lunch followed. The Manager promised us to take us for a jungle safari at 5 pm.


It was hot and sultry and was impossible to nap in the afternoon. We waited for the evening and at around 4.30 we climbed up the watch tower to get an aerial view. As we stood there with the hills on our left, thick vegetation and the largest reservoir in front of us, we could suddenly see ripples forming on the lake far away whereas the water in front of us still calm.

We guessed it was a storm approaching and then we got to taste the strong winds, almost felling us. After experiencing a heat of 48 - 49 degrees over a week or so, it was more than welcome and was soothing to the skin. Along with it came the downpour and we soaked ourselves.

We came down from the watch tower and ran to the dining area where tea and pakoras were being served, a perfect thing to go with heavy rains in an idle evening. We watched the rains bringing a new leash of life to the parched lands and the trees . It was a refreshing experience altogether but then our jungle safari got cancelled. Nevertheless, after the downpour we took a walk to the lake side. The sun was about to set and with the wind blowing, we got to see some silhouettes of bison who had come to the other end of the lake to have a drink.


It was getting dark so we came back to our cottages and spent the evening chatting over more cups of tea whereas the men indulged themselves with drinks. It was a perfect ambience to catch up with family members, away from the madding crowd tucked away amidst natural and the various nocturnal calls. Dinner was served in the open dining area at around 9.30 and after that we all retired early with nothing to do in the dark.

Next morning, me, my hubby and niece woke up at 4.30 am and sneaked out woke up the manager and made him take us into the forest. The morning was beautiful and charismatic, very unlike the ones we city dwellers are used to see. We drove slowly through the forest and caught glimpses of peacocks, squirrels, wild boars, monkeys, a couple of foxes.

Bad luck we didn't get an opportunity to catch a glimpse of the royal cat but the manager did tell us that a couple of days prior to our visit, a group got lucky to see a tiger sitting majestically on the driveway making them come to a halt.

Sun was rising high and it was time for us to get back to our cottages and leave the wild at peace. We came back, got ready, had our breakfast and started our journey back home, promising to come back here atleast once more .