Daspalla

Lanka Podi Yatra (festival)

Daspalla's most celebrated event is the Lanka Podi Yatra, held annually at the famous Lord Mahavir temple. The festival begins on Rama Navami and continues for 10 to 15 days, drawing devotees and visitors from across the region. Each day a live episode of the Ramayana epic — known as Rama Lila — is performed, bringing the ancient story to life through drama, music and devotion. The grand finale sees the symbolic killing of the demon king Ravan by Lord Rama, celebrated as Vijay Utsav. A towering effigy of Ravan with ten heads is mounted on a moving platform and pulled through the streets in a colourful procession, culminating in a spectacular display of fireworks that lights up the Daspalla sky.

River Kuaria

SatPatana

HataChaka

Ganesh Bazar ( Market)

Khurda–Bolangir Railway Line Through Daspalla

One of the most significant infrastructure projects for this region is the 301 km Khurda Road–Bolangir railway line, a dream that was first surveyed in 1945 and finally sanctioned in 1994–95. Daspalla sits at the heart of this project — the section from Khurda Road to Daspalla, covering 106 km, has already been completed and trains are running. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated Daspalla station in January 2024, marking a historic moment for the people of Nayagarh district. Currently four trains operate between Khurda Road and Daspalla, serving around 5,000 passengers daily.

The remaining challenge lies in the 75 km stretch between Daspalla and Purunakatak, which passes through dense forest, the Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary and the Satkosia Tiger Reserve landscape. To cross this rugged terrain, Indian Railways is constructing seven tunnels totalling 12.76 km — the longest being Tunnel No. 4 at 4.885 km between Buguda and Banigochha. Five of the seven tunnels have already achieved breakthrough. On the Bolangir side, 120 km from Bolangir to Purunakatak has also been completed. The full 301 km line is targeted for completion by December 2026, and once operational it will directly connect the remote districts of Nayagarh, Boudh, Sonepur and Balangir to the national railway network for the first time.

Swapneswar Hanuman Temple

Located close to the newly inaugurated Daspalla Railway Station, the Swapneswar Temple is a popular place of worship dedicated to Lord Mahavir. The temple draws devotees from Daspalla and surrounding villages, especially on festival days and auspicious occasions. Its location near the station makes it a convenient stop for travellers arriving by train, and many visitors combine a temple visit with a trip to the nearby Kuaria river and the town centre. The peaceful surroundings of the temple make it a good spot for quiet reflection away from the bustle of the market areas.

Where to stay