Jeypore, (Oriya: ଜୟପୁର) is the largest town in the Koraput district of Orissa, India. Along with Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Sambalpur, Rourkela, Balasore, Puri and Berhampur, Jeypore is one of the prominent places of Orissa. It is encompassed by hills of the Eastern Ghats and the more famous Araku hills on three sides like a horse shoe with the western side opening up to Chattisgarh in central India. It is the business hub for the district and South Orissa.
Overview
Jeypore is an ancient town with a niche in the history of Orissa. A small town in the hills ,it is endowed with some of nature's best work in the form of it's greenery and beauty. The town has ancient forts, palaces, and temples. The major language spoken in this region is Oriya. Though Oriya is predominantly spoken in Jeypore, this town has a diverse cultural mix with a significant population speaking Telugu andHindi. This town is an amalgamation of the culture and traditions of the East and the south of India. It is this blend of different languages and cultures that gives Jeypore its unique shade in cuisine, language and lifestyle.
Places of Interest
Jeypore and its surrounding areas are a nature lover's delight. Owing to its geographical position among the hills it is endowed with scenic beauty. The green hills, fresh water lakes and springs make it a treat of nature. There is an enormous untapped tourism industry that the place has to offer. Some of the prominent tourist attractions are:
Deomali- 50 km from Jeypore, this is the highest mountain peak in Orissa. The path to the top is as breathtaking as the view at the peak. It is not only a marvel for the tourists but also to the adventurous sports lovers for hang gliding, mountaineering and trekking.
Gupteshwar - Devotees from all over the country visit this cave shrine of Lord shiva the year around. It's scenic beauty makes it a double delight for visitors. It is famous for the stalactite that is worshipped as the lingam.
[edit]Getting There
Jeypore has an airport, which was made non-operational a few years after its inauguration. The nearest functional airport is at Vishakapatnam, 221 km away. One can reach Jeypore from Visakhapatnam by boarding the Kirandul passenger train or take one of the numerous taxis/cabs. The 221 km ride takes approximately seven hours, and is an enthralling experience, covering approximately 150 km of the scenic hills of Araku Valley. It is also possible to reach Jeypore by buses available at the Vishakapatnam and Vizianagaram RTC bus-stations. Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa, is 520 km from Jeypore. From Bhubaneswar, apart from the regular bus service, the Hirakhand Express train takes you to Jeypore in about 14 hours. The train runs daily to and from - Koraput (~22 km from Jeypore) to Bhubaneswar.
Info Source
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeypore
