States » EastPosted at: Nov 11 2026 5:53PM


Satkosia to emerge as a major eco-tourism destination: Dharmendra Pradhan

Bhubaneswar, Nov 11 (UNI) In a major step towards strengthening Odisha’s tourism sector and promoting sustainable development, a world-class five-star eco-resort, ‘Suryaban’, is set to come up at Gurudhi inside the picturesque Satkosia forest in Odisha's Angul district.
The proposed project is expected to transform the region into a prominent eco-tourism destination while creating new employment opportunities, empowering rural communities and giving a significant boost to the local economy.
Former union Minister and Member of Parliament Dharmendra Pradhan said this while laying the foundation stone of the proposed eco-resort on Wednesday. He described the initiative as a landmark project that would bring together eco-tourism, world-class hospitality, skill development, local agriculture and traditional handicrafts under one integrated development model.
Pradhan said Angul was not merely an industrial district known for its coal, minerals and major industries, but also a region blessed with extraordinary natural beauty, a rich cultural heritage and a distinct identity. With its forests, wildlife, rivers and historical landmarks, Angul possesses immense potential to emerge as one of India's leading eco-tourism destinations.
He emphasised that the proposed ‘Suryaban’ project would be much more than an ordinary luxury hotel. Envisioned as an international-standard five-star eco-resort, it would place equal importance on tourism development, environmental conservation and the economic empowerment of local communities.
An important feature of the project would be the establishment of an open laboratory and a dedicated training institution for the hospitality industry alongside the resort. Local young men and women would receive specialised training over a period of two to five years, enabling them to develop professional skills and pursue rewarding careers in the hospitality sector in India and abroad.
Pradhan said the initiative would also create opportunities for Odia youths working outside the state to return to their homeland and contribute to the region's development by providing quality hospitality services.
The project, he added, would help transform local youth into skilled professionals while ensuring that the economic benefits of tourism reach people living in surrounding villages.
Highlighting the project's strong focus on strengthening the rural economy, Pradhan said local farmers, weavers and traditional artisans would be actively integrated into the resort's operations.
Organic vegetables, locally cultivated rice, pulses and nutritious traditional foods, particularly millets, would be sourced from farmers in the region and incorporated into the resort's food services.
Similarly, handloom products made by weavers from Athamallik and traditional handicrafts created by artisans from Dhenkanal would receive opportunities for promotion and wider market access.
He said the initiative would provide a valuable platform to showcase Odisha's traditional cuisine, agricultural produce, handloom products and handicrafts before national and international visitors.
Drawing attention to the immense tourism potential of Angul and the Satkosia region, Pradhan said the district was endowed with remarkable historical, cultural and natural attractions.
He referred to Kapilash, the Maa Hingula shrine, Talcher Palace and the Puranagarh Jagannath Temple as important heritage destinations that reflect the historical and cultural legacy of the Mahanadi civilisation.
According to him, the combination of natural landscapes, religious destinations, historical monuments and cultural traditions could make Angul a major attraction on Odisha's tourism map.
He underlined that protecting the region's rich biodiversity, including tigers, crocodiles, elephants and other wildlife, would remain an essential component of sustainable tourism development.
The natural beauty of Satkosia and its surrounding forest landscape, he said, offered enormous opportunities for nature-based tourism, provided that ecological conservation remained at the centre of all development initiatives.
The proposed ‘Suryaban’ eco-resort is expected to become an important landmark in the tourism development of Angul. With its focus on premium hospitality, professional training, local employment, traditional cuisine, handicrafts and environmental protection, the project aims to establish a sustainable model of tourism-led economic growth.
Pradhan expressed confidence that the initiative would not only attract domestic and international tourists but also open new avenues of income for farmers, artisans, entrepreneurs and rural youth.
The ‘Suryaban’ project, he said, would mark a significant new chapter in the development of Satkosia, strengthening Odisha's tourism identity while ensuring that local communities become active partners and beneficiaries of the region's economic progress.
UNI DP
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