Key hubs
Dhenkanal airport and railway station
- Airport
- Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar (BBI), about 75-90 km by road depending on route and traffic
- Railway station
- Dhenkanal (DNKL), on the Cuttack-Sambalpur line, East Coast Railway; Cuttack (CTC) is the nearest major junction
- Getting around
- Hire a car with driver or use local taxis and autos; Kapilash, Saptasajya and Joranda are all road trips of about 11-26 km
How to reach Dhenkanal by air
Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar (BBI), is the nearest airport, about 75-90 km from Dhenkanal by road depending on route and traffic.
How to reach Dhenkanal by train
Dhenkanal (DNKL) is on the East Coast Railway's Cuttack-Sambalpur line. Cuttack (CTC), about 55 km away, is the nearest major junction with many more trains.
How to reach Dhenkanal by road
Dhenkanal lies about 75 km northwest of Bhubaneswar on NH55, and NH42 links it with Sambalpur and Rourkela. State and private buses run from Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.
Getting around Dhenkanal
Hire a car with driver for Kapilash (about 20-26 km), Saptasajya (about 11 km) and Joranda (about 24 km). Autos and shared transport are available in town but limited to the outlying sights.
For parents and senior travellers
Easy transfers to and in Dhenkanal
- Take the ghat road to Kapilash instead of the 1,351 steps unless you are confident on stairs.
- Carry water, snacks and medicines; facilities on the hills are basic.
- Book a car with driver for the day; roads to the outlying sights are short but have limited transport.
- Ask the airline or railway for wheelchair or porter assistance when you book, not on the day.
- Pre-book the pickup from the airport or station, so nobody has to negotiate with drivers after a long journey.
- Choose arrivals in daylight where you can, and keep the first afternoon free to rest.