Deomali, the highest peak of Odisha, has become a hot weekend destination

Located at 1,672 metres above sea level, Deomali is drawing nature lovers from Andhra and Chhattisgarh who drive down here to enjoy the lush greenery and its rich flora and fauna

A quaint mountain peak in Odisha has caught the attention of nature lovers and photographers for its spectacular bird’s eye view of the Eastern Ghats. Said to be the highest peak in Odisha, Deomali is a hidden unexplored gem in the Chandragiri-Pottangi sub-range of the Eastern Ghats. Situated near Koraput town in the Koraput district of southern Odisha, Deomali is located at an elevation of 1,672 metres above sea level. Surrounded by a lush green forest, the peak is rich in flora and fauna. Unlike the popular Araku which can be crowded with tourists for the most part of the year, Deomali offers solitude in Nature’s lap. Alternating between hilly ranges and green plains, this place offers an ideal temperature for travellers, neither too cold nor too hot. It was during one of his trips to Jagdalpur that Visakhapatnam-based dentist and photographer Suresh Gorantla chanced upon a diversion towards Deomali. “When I reached there, I was greeted with an unhindered view of the clouds hanging down an endless green plateau ahead of me. I can say that this was easily one of the best peaks in Andhra and Odisha to capture the splendour of the Eastern Ghats,” says Suresh. He along with a team of photographers and birders recently returned from a trip to Deomali.