The city of Rourkela is a famous industrial township situated in the Sundergarh district of northern Orissa. While it is most well-known as the Steel City of India for being one of the leading manufacturers of steel and steel products, it is also a city teeming with temples and religious celebrations, along with beautiful vistas of hilly slopes and tranquil riverside locations that make Rourkela a great holiday destination. Rourkela also has a rich tribal history; even the name of the city translates to ‘Our Village’ in the local Sadri language. With a number of local attractions that bring in a lot of tourists each year, here are some of the top things to do and explore while in Rourkela.

Darjing is a beautiful small village on the banks of the river Brahmani, around 45 km away from Rourkela. Surrounded by lush greenery and the peaceful sounds of the river flowing alongside it, this place is one of the most popular picnic spots in the region. Deoghar is located 3 km ahead of Darjing and is equally lovely a place to enjoy a fun excursion with family and friends.

Hockey has always been an important sport in India, and the Biju Patnaik Hockey Stadium of Rourkela plays a significant role in promoting the game by organizing multiple friendly matches and tournaments all year. Like a lot of other establishments in the city, this stadium was also constructed by SAIL; the maintenance of the stadium is managed by the officials of SAIL.

The Indira Gandhi Park is spread over 42 acres of land and consists of various attractions within the park that includes a zoo, an aquarium and a doll museum. The park itself is a beautiful place with colourful meadows and gardens with numerous floral varieties, with vast spaces to enjoy walks and picnics. While the zoo is home to a number of species like deer, bear, peacocks and crocodiles, the aquarium offers a treat to the eyes with its wide array of fish species. There is also a lake here where boating activities can be enjoyed, in addition to a view tower that offers brilliant views of the city. The doll museum is one of the most fascinating features of the park, and displays a wide range of dolls belonging to countries from all over the world.

The Mandira Dam is located on the River Sankh and was constructed in 1959 by the Hirakund Project Authority. It is situated around 28 km away from Rourkela and is situated in a beautiful location surrounded by green forests and spectacular hills. There is also a lake here where boating activities can be enjoyed. Prior permission is required to both visit the dam area and also explore the boating option here.

The Khandadhar Waterfall is located around 100 km away from Rourkela and is an attractive spot that is one of the most frequented places in the city by locals and tourists alike. A lot of travellers visiting the city choose to undertake a trekking excursion to the waterfall and combine a wonderful sightseeing trip with an adventurous hike. The post monsoon season is the best time to go on such a hike, when the receding rains leave the surroundings fresh and green.

Ambagan Market, also known as Ispat Market, is a centrally located market that is also one of the oldest shopping destinations in the city. It receives a huge crowd of locals and tourists all days of the week, and is a great place to shop for traditional Orissan handicraft items like silver filigree jewellery, carved wood and stone decorative articles, shell ornaments and handloom textiles etc.

The VIP market is another one of the top shopping spots in the city and derives its name from the kind of customers that normally frequent this place. It was established in 1960 and consists of more than 60 small and big shops, with almost all fancy brands being a part of the marketplace.