Mountain Trekking Competition Held at Kalia Mali Hill in Koraput

Koraput | Dec 14, 2025 - As part of the ongoing Parab 2025 celebrations, the Koraput district administration on Saturday organised a mountain trekking competition at the scenic Kalia Mali Hill near Jhadipadar under Bijaghati Panchayat in Narayanpatna block. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from youths and students from across the district, highlighting the region’s growing interest in adventure sports and eco-tourism.

District Collector Manoj Satyawan Mahajan arrived at the venue ahead of schedule and formally flagged off the trekking competition from Bijaghati, inaugurating the programme. Participants, wearing specially designed Parab T-shirts, undertook a challenging three-kilometre trek through rugged and hilly terrain.

The Collector remained present throughout the event, motivating participants and interacting with them at various points along the route. The programme was attended by Block Chairman Goladi Trinath, Vice Chairman Rinudas, Sarpanch Piliba Shirika and other local representatives, who appreciated the initiative aimed at promoting youth engagement and tourism.

Addressing the gathering, the Collector thanked the block administration, youth groups and volunteers for their cooperation in successfully organising the event. He said the district administration has initiated several development measures to transform Kalia Mali Hill into a prominent tourist destination. A detailed development blueprint has been prepared with special emphasis on empowering local youth groups, women and improving infrastructure in the surrounding areas.

Highlighting the increasing popularity of the site, the Collector noted that Kalia Mali Hill has already emerged as a preferred location for album shoots and Tollywood film projects. He expressed confidence that big-budget filmmakers would explore the area in the near future, adding that the hill would soon feature prominently on Koraput’s tourism map.

Despite the biting cold, youths and students from Semiliguda, Koraput, Sunabeda and Bijaghati Panchayat participated with great enthusiasm. At the end of the competition, successful participants were felicitated with medals and certificates, while Koraput Superintendent of Police Rohit Verma delivered the vote of thanks.

The trekking competition forms part of Parab 2025, Odisha’s flagship tribal cultural festival, which will culminate in a grand finale from December 18 to 22, 2025.