Sambalpur serves as the gateway to the bewitching western part of Orissa. It is the Divisional Head Quarters of the Western administrative division and a very important commercial center. There are direct trains connecting Sambalpur to Calcutta, New Delhi, Allepey through Chennai. It is linked to Mumbai and Ahmedabad through the Jharsuguda junction. The state capital Bhubaneswar is connected through NH-42.The near by airports are at Bhubaneswar and Raipur. Places like the world famous Hirakud Dam and its lake with winter visitors from Siberia, the leaning Temple of Huma and the wild life Sanctuary of Badrama water fall, Ghanteswari Temple attract hordes of tourists.