Daringbadi is a small hill town in Kandhamal district, Odisha, that travellers and the state tourism department both call the “Kashmir of Odisha.” Perched in the Eastern Ghats at about 915 m, it trades Odisha’s coastal heat for pine ridges, coffee and pepper gardens, and the rare winter morning when frost settles on the grass. This guide covers what to see, the best season, how to reach, where to stay, and the costs to plan for.
Daringbadi is a hill station at roughly 915 m (3,002 ft) in Kandhamal district, Odisha, about 105 km from the district headquarters at Phulbani. It is known for pine forests, coffee plantations and winter frost, and the Kandhamal district administration lists it as the only place in Odisha that reports winter snowfall.
Key takeaways
- Daringbadi sits at about 915 m (3,002 ft) in Kandhamal district, Odisha, and is marketed by Odisha Tourism as the “Kashmir of Odisha.”
- Best season is October to February; December and January bring the frost and occasional sub-zero mornings, with temperatures recorded below 0 degrees Celsius.
- Nearest railway station is Berhampur (Brahmapur), 119-130 km away; nearest airport is Bhubaneswar, about 246-290 km, per the Kandhamal district administration.
- Putudi waterfall, 18 km from Phulbani, drops about 60 ft on the Salunki river, according to the Kandhamal district portal.
- The OTDC-run Daringbadi Nature Camp is the main government stay; coffee and pepper gardens lie about 5 km from the camp.
- More than half of Daringbadi’s residents are from Scheduled Tribes, chiefly the Kondh, so it pairs a hill landscape with living tribal culture.
About Daringbadi and quick facts
Daringbadi is a hill town in Kandhamal district, Odisha, lying at about 915 m (3,002 ft) in the Eastern Ghats. According to Wikipedia’s summary of census data, its population is around 6,996, and more than half of its residents belong to Scheduled Tribes, chiefly the Kondh. The name is usually traced to a British officer, “Dering Saheb,” who was posted here; “badi” means village in the local tongue, so the place became Dering’s village.
The draw is the climate and the landscape. Where most of Odisha is hot and coastal, Daringbadi’s ridges are lined with pine, and the slopes carry coffee and black pepper gardens. Winters are genuinely cold by Odisha standards: Wikipedia notes temperatures here have often been recorded below 0 degrees Celsius, and the Kandhamal district administration describes Daringbadi as the only place in the state to report snowfall in winter. In practice that usually means heavy dew and ground frost rather than deep snow, but it is real enough to earn the “Kashmir of Odisha” tag that Odisha Tourism uses.
| Location | Kandhamal district, Odisha, Eastern Ghats |
|---|---|
| Altitude | About 915 m (3,002 ft) |
| Coordinates | 19.9072 N, 84.1228 E |
| Known for | Pine forests, coffee and pepper, winter frost, waterfalls |
| Nearest railway | Berhampur (Brahmapur), 119-130 km |
| Nearest airport | Bhubaneswar, about 246-290 km |
| Best season | October to February |
| Ideal trip length | 2 days / 1 night |
Best time to visit Daringbadi
The best time to visit Daringbadi is October to February, when the air is cool and dry and the pine slopes are at their clearest. December and January are the headline months for the cold: this is when frost and the odd sub-zero morning appear, the feature that gives the town its reputation. Travel sources advise carrying proper warm layers through these months, because temperatures can drop sharply after dark.
Monsoon, roughly June to September, fills the waterfalls and greens the valleys, but the hill roads turn slippery and some forest tracks become hard to use, so it suits confident drivers rather than first-timers. Summer, March to May, is milder than the Odisha plains but loses the frost that most people come for. If the winter chill is your reason to travel, plan for late December.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | October-February | Cool days, cold nights, frost in Dec-Jan; best overall and peak for crowds |
| Summer | March-May | Mild hill weather, green coffee gardens, fewer visitors, no frost |
| Monsoon | June-September | Full waterfalls, lush valleys, slippery roads, limited forest access |
How to reach Daringbadi
Daringbadi has no airport or railway station of its own, so you arrive by road after a train or flight to the nearest city. The Kandhamal district administration lists Berhampur railway station at 130 km, the Phulbani bus stand at 120 km, and Biju Patnaik International Airport at Bhubaneswar at 290 km. Wikipedia gives slightly shorter figures measured differently, so treat these as planning distances and confirm your own route.
By air: The nearest airport is Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar, about 246-290 km away depending on route. From there you hire a cab or take a bus toward Phulbani or Berhampur and continue by road.
By rail: Berhampur (station name Brahmapur) is the nearest major railhead, which Wikipedia places about 119 km away and the district portal about 130 km. It is well connected on the Howrah-Chennai main line, so most travellers break the journey here and drive up.
By road: From Berhampur, Wikipedia lists the shortest route via Sorada on NH-59 at about 120 km; longer options run via Bhanjanagar and G. Udayagiri on NH-117 (about 180 km) and via Mohana (about 145 km). From the district headquarters at Phulbani it is about 105 km. The last stretch is a climbing ghat road, so allow extra time.
| From | Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Berhampur (Brahmapur) railway station | 119-130 km | Nearest major railhead; drive up via Sorada (NH-59) |
| Phulbani (district HQ) | About 105 km | Nearest bus stand listed at 120 km by district portal |
| Bhubaneswar airport | 246-290 km | Nearest airport; about 6-7 hours by road |
| Balliguda | About 49 km | En route to Belghar |
| Raikia | About 30.5 km | Small town on the approach |
Top things to see and do
The main sights cluster within a short drive of the town, so a single base works well. Expect viewpoints, waterfalls, coffee and pepper gardens, and a nature park rather than built attractions. Carry cash for small local entry tickets, which change from year to year and are best reconfirmed on arrival.
- Hill View Park: A landscaped park in town with gardens, a butterfly section and a medicinal-plant area, plus a display on the Kutia Kondh tribe. The Hill Top Viewpoint sits directly opposite and gives a wide look over the ridges.
- Lovers’ Point: About 13 km from Daringbadi, where, per the Odisha Tourism Nature Camp page, a stream drops through large black rocks. A rough road leads to it, so a sturdy vehicle helps.
- Midubanda (Daringbadi) waterfall: A short descent from the parking area leads down to this fall near town, with pine forest along the approach. It is the easiest waterfall to reach from the centre.
- Putudi waterfall: Per the Kandhamal district portal, the Salunki river drops about 60 ft here, 18 km from Phulbani, so it works best as a stop on the way in or out rather than a short hop from Daringbadi.
- Coffee and pepper gardens: The Odisha Tourism Nature Camp page places the coffee and pepper gardens about 5 km from the Nature Camp. A short guided walk explains how beans and peppercorns are grown and dried.
- Nature park and deer enclosure: A forest-department nature park near the town is set up with trails and a small deer enclosure; confirm opening days locally, as forest sites can close for maintenance.
- Emu farm: About 14 km out at Dadubada, a small enclosure with a few emus, listed on the Odisha Tourism Nature Camp page.
| Spot | Distance from town | Time needed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hill View Park & Hill Top Viewpoint | In town | 1-1.5 hrs | Gardens, butterfly park, Kondh display; nominal ticket |
| Midubanda (Daringbadi) waterfall | A few km | 1 hr | Short walk down to the fall |
| Coffee & pepper gardens | About 5 km from Nature Camp | 1 hr | Best with a local guide |
| Lovers’ Point | About 13 km | 1 hr | Rough access road |
| Emu farm, Dadubada | About 14 km | 30 min | Small enclosure |
| Putudi waterfall | 18 km from Phulbani | 1.5 hrs | 60 ft fall on the Salunki river |
A suggested two-day itinerary
Two days and one night is enough for an unhurried first visit. Here is a simple plan that keeps driving sensible and leaves time for the cold morning that most people come for.
- Day 1: Arrive by late morning and settle into your stay. After lunch, visit Hill View Park and the Hill Top Viewpoint, then the coffee and pepper gardens with a local guide. End at the Midubanda waterfall for the evening light. Dinner and an early night; the cold deepens after dark.
- Day 2: Start at dawn to catch the frost or heavy dew on open ground, which is the signature experience. Drive out to Lovers’ Point and the Emu farm, then begin the return journey, timing a stop at Putudi waterfall near Phulbani if your route allows.
Where to stay in Daringbadi
The main government option is the OTDC-run Daringbadi Nature Camp, an eco-retreat listed by Odisha Tourism; around it you will find a growing set of private resorts, cottages and homestays. Daringbadi is a small town, so rooms are limited and fill fast in the December-January peak, which makes booking ahead essential rather than optional.
The figures below are indicative planning estimates, not quoted tariffs, and should be reconfirmed at the time of booking. Odisha Tourism’s eco-retreat and Nature Camp bookings are handled through the OTDC booking channels, while private stays list on the usual travel platforms.
| Type | Options | Indicative per night |
|---|---|---|
| Government / eco | OTDC Daringbadi Nature Camp (book via OTDC) | Reconfirm with OTDC |
| Budget | Homestays, small lodges | About ₹1,000-1,800 |
| Mid-range | Resorts and cottages | About ₹2,000-4,000 |
| Premium | Larger resorts, tented camps | About ₹4,500 and up |
Food and coffee to try
Food in Daringbadi is simple and local, built around rice, dal and seasonal vegetables, with coffee as the one thing to seek out. Because the hills around the town carry coffee gardens, a cup of locally grown coffee is the obvious buy, and small roadside stalls and your stay will usually serve it.
Look for Odia staples such as dalma (lentils cooked with vegetables), pakhala (fermented rice soaked in water, a summer dish) and simple chicken or mutton curries at local eateries. Black pepper and turmeric grow in the district – Daringbadi’s wider Kandhamal region has a geographical-indication tag for organic turmeric – so these make honest souvenirs. Carry snacks and water for day trips, as options thin out away from the town centre.
Budget for a Daringbadi trip
A two-day Daringbadi trip is inexpensive once you reach the hills, with transport from Berhampur or Bhubaneswar the largest single cost. The table below is a per-person planning estimate for two days and one night, assuming two people sharing a mid-range room and a hired cab for local sightseeing. These are indicative figures to reconfirm, not fixed rates.
| Item | Indicative cost | Assumption |
|---|---|---|
| Stay (1 night) | ₹1,000-2,000 | Mid-range room, two sharing |
| Local sightseeing cab | ₹1,000-1,500 | Shared between two |
| Meals (2 days) | ₹600-1,000 | Local eateries and stay |
| Park tickets and extras | ₹200-400 | Reconfirm on site |
| Transfer to/from railhead | ₹1,500-2,500 | Berhampur return, shared |
| Approx. total | ₹4,300-7,400 | Excludes long-distance train or flight |
Permits, rules and responsible travel
No special permit is needed to visit Daringbadi; it is an open hill town in Kandhamal district with free road access, and only small entry tickets apply at parks. There is no inner-line or restricted-area requirement here. If you plan to enter forest-department areas or the nature park, follow any on-site instructions and opening days, as these can change.
Daringbadi sits in a predominantly tribal region, and more than half its residents are from Scheduled Tribes, chiefly the Kondh. Treat villages and people with respect rather than as sights: ask before photographing anyone, do not hand out money or sweets, and buy local produce fairly. Carry out your plastic, avoid loud music in the forest, and stay on marked tracks near waterfalls, where rocks are slippery.
Practical tips
- Cold: Pack a warm jacket, cap and gloves for December-January; nights can touch freezing, and mornings are frosty.
- Cash and connectivity: Carry enough cash, as ATMs and reliable mobile signal are limited in the hills; do not count on UPI for small stalls.
- Transport: Hire a cab from Berhampur or Phulbani for the whole trip; local transport inside Daringbadi is sparse, and sights are spread out.
- Driving: The ghat roads are narrow and winding – drive slowly, especially in fog, and avoid night driving on forest stretches.
- Fuel and supplies: Fill fuel and buy any medicines before the climb; the town has only basic shops.
- Health: The nearest larger hospitals are at Phulbani; carry a basic first-aid kit for day trips.
- Solo and women travellers: The area is generally calm; still, plan to finish outdoor sights before dusk and keep your stay informed of day-trip plans.
Nearby places to add on
Daringbadi pairs well with the wider Kandhamal hills and, for a longer trip, with Odisha’s coast and the state’s other coffee country. The nearby spots below are reachable on day trips or as stops on the drive in and out. For the bigger picture of routes and regions, see our Odisha travel guide, and for the state’s other hill-and-coffee belt, our Koraput guide.
| Place | Distance | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Phulbani | About 105 km | District headquarters; gateway town with Putudi waterfall nearby |
| Belghar | About 50 km from Nature Camp | Kutia Kondh country at about 2,555 ft; forest nature camp |
| Putudi waterfall | 18 km from Phulbani | 60 ft fall on the Salunki river |
| Balliguda | About 49 km | En-route town toward Belghar and the interior |
| Chakapad | In Kandhamal district | Temple and forest stop on the Kandhamal circuit |
Frequently asked questions
Where is Daringbadi and why is it called the Kashmir of Odisha?
Daringbadi is a hill town in Kandhamal district, Odisha, at about 915 m in the Eastern Ghats. Odisha Tourism and the district administration call it the “Kashmir of Odisha” for its pine forests, coffee gardens and cold winters – the district portal says it is the only place in the state to report winter snowfall.
What is the best time to visit Daringbadi?
The best time to visit Daringbadi is October to February, with December and January the coldest. This is when frost and occasional sub-zero mornings appear – Wikipedia notes temperatures recorded below 0 degrees Celsius. Monsoon fills the waterfalls but makes the hill roads slippery, so winter suits most travellers best.
How do I reach Daringbadi by train or flight?
The nearest railway station is Berhampur (Brahmapur), 119-130 km away, on the Howrah-Chennai line; the nearest airport is Bhubaneswar, about 246-290 km. From either, hire a cab or take a bus via Phulbani or Sorada. Daringbadi itself has no station or airport, so the last leg is always by road.
How many days do I need in Daringbadi?
Two days and one night is enough for Daringbadi’s main sights. That allows an afternoon for Hill View Park, the coffee gardens and Midubanda waterfall, a frosty dawn on day two, and a stop at Lovers’ Point or Putudi waterfall on the way out. Add a day if you plan to visit Belghar.
Does Daringbadi really get snow?
Daringbadi rarely gets true snow; what it reliably gets is heavy dew and ground frost on cold December and January mornings. The Kandhamal district administration describes it as the only place in Odisha to report winter snowfall, and Wikipedia notes sub-zero temperatures, but visitors should expect frost rather than deep snow.
Do I need a permit to visit Daringbadi?
No permit is required to visit Daringbadi; it is an open hill town in Kandhamal with free road access, and only small entry tickets apply at parks. There is no inner-line or restricted-area rule. Inside forest-department areas, follow on-site instructions and opening days, which can change without notice.
Last updated and sources
Daringbadi suits travellers who want a quiet, cold-weather hill break with pine forests, coffee gardens and tribal culture rather than built-up tourism. Go between October and February, and ideally in late December, for the frost that makes the trip.
Last updated: 17 October 2026. Fees, timings and permits change – reconfirm with official sources before you travel.
Sources: Kandhamal district administration, Tourist Places – Daringbadi and Putudi (kandhamala.odisha.gov.in); Odisha Tourism, Daringbadi eco-retreat / Nature Camp and blog (apps.odishatourism.gov.in, ecoretreat.odishatourism.gov.in); Wikipedia, Daringbadi (en.wikipedia.org). Accessed October 2026.
