Tourists back in cyclone Phailin-hit Ganjam in Odisha

Berhampur (Odisha), Nov 12: Tourism in Phailin-hit Ganjam district has started picking up with gradual inflow of visitors to locations like Gopalpur-on-Sea, Rambha and Tara Tarini temple.

As the peak tourist season spans from October to March, all the 20 major hotels including the state-owned 'Panthanivas' have been getting visitors soon after the authorities cleaned up Gopalpur, hoteliers said.

Visitors from the USA, Canada, Italy, Korea, Britain, Germany and Belgium have been visiting the town once normalcy was restored after cyclone Phailin battered the sea resort on October 12 last, they said.

"We have restored the lighting system in the beach on priority basis for the convenience of the tourists," said Gopalpur Notified Area Council Executive Officer R Mishra. Tourists from West Bengal and some other places have come to Rambha. They have lodged at Rambha and Barkul before visiting the Chilika lake.

"The restoration work is almost complete. Boating has also started in the site," Rambha 'Panthanivas' Manager Rabi Das said. Another tourist spot Tampara lake, located near Chhatrapur, has suffered a serious set back as its boating club, jetty, decorative electric poles and other facilities were destroyed.

"It will take some more time to restore normalcy at Tampara Lake area," the tourist officer said.

PTI