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