Bhubaneswar: With an aim to offer tourists a flexible, private and immersive travel experience, the State Government has introduced Tourism Caravans as a new component of Odisha’s tourism offerings. Three such caravans were flagged off at Dhauli on Wednesday by Deputy Chief Minister Parvati Parida.
The caravans are designed to enable visitors to explore Odisha’s scenic and serene destinations at their own pace, while enjoying well-equipped amenities that combine comfort, convenience and sustainability. The initiative seeks to provide greater freedom of movement for tourists, making travel more personalized and experience-driven.
Speaking on the occasion, Parida said caravan tourism, which is popular in several European countries, opens up new possibilities for nature-based and offbeat travel in Odisha. She noted that the State’s foray into this segment is expected to attract young travellers, adventure seekers and those looking for unique, experiential journeys across lesser-known destinations.
Bhubaneswar–Ekamra MLA Babu Singh said the introduction of caravans would allow tourists to explore new locations with enhanced comfort and safety, while also boosting tourism activities in emerging destinations. He lauded the Government for adopting innovative approaches to tourism development.
Director of the Tourism Department Deepankar Mohapatra said caravan tourism would play a key role in dispersing tourist footfall beyond conventional hotspots. This, he said, would contribute to balanced regional development and help reduce pressure on traditional tourism hubs.
The caravan tourism initiative has been launched by the Department of Tourism under the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) mode and is being operated and managed by Sand and Pebble Tours. Destinations identified for caravan-based tourism experiences include Hirakud, Similipal, Daringbadi, Deomali, Talsari, Pentha, Mangalajodi, Jiranga and other pristine locations across the State.
The inaugural caravan journey was flagged off to Talsari in Balasore district. A couple, Annada Prasad Padhy and Archana Padhy, became the first customers to embark on the caravan tour and received the first tickets for the journey.
