An eco-friendly tourism complex was today inaugurated at Devkund, a tourist site under green cover in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district.
Located at the foothills of the Similipal sanctuary, Devkund attracts a large number of tourists to the pristine beauty of forests..
Devkund or Deokund(The bathtub of Gods and Goddesses), located at a distance of 60 km from the district headquarters town of Baripada. Is a major tourist spot also due to its alluring 60 m high waterfall
Mayurbhanj District Collector Rajesh Pravakar Patil inaugurated the eco-tourism complex planned with a budgetary outlay of Rs 30 lakh.
The project included construction of two permanent eateries and sale of local handicrafts along with four green toilets and water supply from the waterfall.
The site was beautified with installation of stone statues and the local residents were trained to manage the activities under supervision of the forest department.
RCCF and Field Director Similipal Tiger Reserve Harish Kumar Bist, Baripada DFO Sanjay Kumar Swain and Deputy Director, Similipal Tiger Reserve Ajit Satpathy also attended the inaugural function.
The eatery would serve local delicacies, said a forest official.
The project was envisaged to generate employment for the local youth, said DFO Baripada Swain.
A picnic spot and paid toilet complex would soon come up as up-gradation of facilities for the tourists, Swain added.
