Think of Chandaka Elephant Sanctuary, for a change! Carved out of a deciduous jungle belt, and situated barely 20 km away, this 241-sq km forest is a paradise! This forest had become denuded already courtesy timber smugglers and mindless felling of indigenous trees. In the 1980s, the political will of a green Chief Minister reversed the trend. Saplings of bamboos and teak were planted and nurtured with utmost care. This forest patch is rich with flora and fauna and easy to approach. Today this is a green lung for the city dwellers, though they themselves are blissfully unaware of it!

Chandaka takes about 30 minuets to reach on a good tar road. A massive entrance structure cast of a pair of elephants greets visitors. In fact, the forest is home to 80-odd elephants. Stray leopards and spotted deer also abound. There are mud roads inside spreading like arteries through dense foliages leading to watch towers at Kumarkhunti, Ambilo, and Deras.

Deras is 20 km from Bhubaneswar and it has a large reservoir with hills surrounding it. On the top of a hillock there is a ‘bamboo hut' overlooking the enchanting view. The bamboo hut is made with durable Burmese bamboo splits and bamboos. In the lush green woods, the Deras reservoir is a treat for the eye. On the embankment, it is mentioned that it was built by one Dera Sahib. The reservoir is formed with the streams that drain into it from the surrounding hills. The streams flow here from as far as 20 km.

The bamboo hut was built only last year atop a 200-ft high Barhapahada for the tourists overlooking the waters looking like a meandering river glittering like a pearl hidden amid woods and hills. The hut has a watch tower and the ambience is truly cut off from civilization. But the bamboo hut is special, beautiful and with modern amenities. There is a small hut-shaped kitchen if one wants to cook one's meals. The kitchen supplies gas, utensils and charges for one night stay at the bamboo hut costs a pittance, just Rs 500 per room.

This place is safe and secure. There is a provision of 60 to 70 km trek within the forest through the core area. In the jungle, spotted deer, mouse deer, elephants, leopards, peacocks, pheasants and snakes inhabit and one spots birds quite frequently too. One can also see the relics of the valiant Orissan Kings – the boundary walls, the tunnels and old shrines. There are some tribal hamlets too.

There are two small lakes at Ambilo and Saurabila. Viewpoints from Kochilakhai, Manturoad and Pitagadia are excellent. The reservoir is quite deep but no boating facilities are available. In winter, many migratory birds fly in filling the serene silence with their lively chirpings. Elephants that love the bamboos and Jantari, Mai and Kumbi leaves forage in the locality quite often, adding to the adventure.

This is also a place to do nothing at all, but enjoy the blissful serenity around with the reservoir looking like a winding river.