Sambalpur: Debrigarh Sanctuary and Hirakud reservoir have emerged as tourism hotspot this year with inflow of foreigners and nature lovers to the Sanctuary by generating more employment opportunities for the locals.
With increased leopard sightings during jungle safari and guaranteed sighting of other wild animals all along the grasslands between Hirakud lake and forests of Debrigarh, Hirakud wildlife division authorities under supervision of Wildlife Organization have upscaled eastern side of 7 sq.km spanned Bat Island inside Hirakud without compromising with nature in a sustainable way.
Sitting places have been designed for accommodating 60 to 80 tourists at a time between 6 AM to 6 PM daily with breakfast and evening High-Tea. All amenities are made up of locally collected Palm tree/Bamboo/ natural stones curated by the local communities adjoining Debrigarh. Visitors are swept off by the view of pristine beach with crystal clear turquoise water of Hirakud spread vast at front with rugged forested mountains and cliff at the back of Island. Summer and winter evenings amid calm and shallow waters of lake with calls of animals echoing from the Sanctuary makes this Island not only adventurous but also soul soothing. All amenities have been created out of natural materials giving the Island a vintage look, without any construction. The Island is a 7 Sq.km forest patch inside Hirakud Lake with around 1200 Indian Fruit Bats or popularly known as Indian Flying Fox. The Island is connected with a narrow strip of land with Debrigarh Sanctuary. The Island has few temporary fishermen settlements which has been transformed into “Island Cafe” by employing those fishermen itself, & visitors will also get scope to buy Hirakud Fish from them directly there. A wildlife camp also exists there for inter- border protection to Debrigarh Sanctuary from reservoir side.
Package: 30 minutes boat ride by luxury cruise from Debrigarh Nature Camp to Bat Island. Island open for tourists from 6 AM to 6 PM. Price- Cruise with Breakfast or evening High-tea is Rs.2500.