![]() Balimela, a block in Malkangiri District constitutes to be an important tourist center because of the picturesque view of the wide and extensive valleys. Ideal to be a picnic spot, the hydroelectric-Project, which has been established near about the Town jointly by the Government of Orissa and Andhra Pradesh is worth visiting. Balimela is an important center in the tourism industry of Malkangiri because of its scenic beauty. Bonda hills representing a hilly landscape caped with dense impenetrable forest shares a significant importance in the tourism industry of Malkangiri. It was the land of the primitive tribal Bondas, which adds the historical significance to the place. Despite being historically important, the place attains prominence in the tourism industry of Malkangiri because of the mythological story that Godess Sita cursed Bondas, as they laughed at her while she was bathing in a kunda. Centering the specific festival called "Patakhanda Yatra" at Mudulipada, which is celebrated by the Bonda tribes in the month of January and worship the holy sword with a conviction that the sword might be of the Pandavas, a bulk of tourist gather to the place. Centering Amnakunda the tourism industry in Malkangiri District has earned a thriving prosperity. The cool place of Amnakunda, embracing a natural waterfall and subsequent flow of water forming a narrow gorge cast a panoramic view. Bounty of fishes abound the narrow gorge associated with the mythological story that these are the form of Lord Vishnu in " Matsya Avatar". At the southernmost nook of Malkangiri district, Motu at the confluence of Sabari and Saileru River attracts the tourists for the beautiful "Jagannath Temple" and "Moogi Point"- the extreme south point on the bank of the confluence of the river Sabari and Saileru. Difference in the color of water of the river is also a remarkable point of tourist attraction. The natural beauty of the Satiguda Dam makes it an important center in the tourism of Malkangiri. Surrounded by a number of hills a cave near the dam houses lord shiva is of exquisite beauty. The place surrounding the Satiguda dam is an ideal picnic spot. Apart from the places, there are bounty of hill temples dotted over the small hills, where the presiding deities are worshipped, which are no less important as the centers of tourist attraction. |