Satkosia Gorge
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Rest of Odisha · Mahanadi's 22-km gorge & gharial haven

Satkosia Gorge

210 km from Random Rider, Puri (4 hrs) · Angul / Nayagarh districts Full day or overnight

The Mahanadi slices through the Eastern Ghats to form a forested gorge at Tikarpara — boat past gharials and mugger crocodiles, camp on river sands and watch elephants come to drink.

History & legend

The gorge's name comes from 'saat kos' — seven kos (about 22 km) of the Mahanadi cutting through the hills. It was a hunting preserve of the Angul and Boudh rulers; British records of the 1880s describe gharial 'as thick as logs'. Satkosia was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1976 and a Tiger Reserve in 2007, and the gharial breeding centre at Tikarpara, started in 1975 with UNDP support, was central to saving the species in India.

Timings

6:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Nature camps Oct–May

Best time to visit

November–February

Entry fee

₹40 entry · boat ₹1,500–3,000 · nature camp tents ₹3,000–5,000

Approx. cab from Puri (one way)

₹5,250 · 210 km × ₹25/km

Don't miss

  • Gorge boat ride
  • Gharial breeding centre
  • Riverside tent camps
  • Elephant & bird spotting

Local tip: Book Tikarpara / Baghamunda nature camps online via Odisha Ecotourism. Alcohol is banned in the reserve.

On the map