OTDC Panthaniwas Taptapani: a thermal retreat in the Eastern Ghats

The Panthaniwas of Taptapani is one of the properties managed by the Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC), a public enterprise of Odisha State. The establishment belongs to the Panthanivas chain, the region's principal state-run hotel network, which connects Odisha's natural and cultural sites with simple, functional accommodations. Here, you stay just steps from Taptapani's sulfurous springs, in a forested setting that is rare in India.

Why stay here

• A direct location in Taptapani, a thermal station renowned for its natural hot springs, in Ganjam district.
• A setting of wooded hills on the foothills of the Eastern Ghats, conducive to walks and disconnecting from the everyday.
• An accommodation managed by Odisha's public operator, ensuring consistency with an itinerary covering Bhubaneswar, Puri, and the tribal sites of southern Odisha.
• An intimate format of just 8 rooms, away from major tourist flows.

The atmosphere of the place

Taptapani — literally « hot water » in Odia — is a rural village perched around 50 km from Berhampur. The site's main draw remains its sulfurous basin, visited for the healing properties attributed to it by local tradition. The Panthaniwas fits this context: no ostentatious luxury, but a modest stop suited to travelers seeking calm, nature, and authentic regional character. The property remains true to the Panthanivas mission in Odisha: solid comfort, local cuisine, and a gateway to a heritage rarely visited by international tourism.

The rooms

The accommodation features 8 rooms, divided into three categories:

• Suites — the most spacious, ideal for longer stays.
• Air-conditioned luxury rooms (AC) — appreciated during hot months.
• Non-air-conditioned luxury rooms (non-AC) — suitable for the cool season, from October to February, when Eastern Ghats night temperatures remain mild.

24-hour room service is provided. The property's modest size fosters personalized attention.

Location

The Panthaniwas is situated in Taptapani, in Ganjam district, in southern Odisha. The station is accessible from Berhampur, the nearest town with a railway station well served by trains from Bhubaneswar and Visakhapatnam. Allow approximately 1.5 hours by road from Berhampur, passing through rice paddies and then forests. The nearest airport is Bhubaneswar, about half a day's drive away.

What to see and do nearby

• The hot springs of Taptapani, a few minutes' walk away — the main basin is open to the public.
• Lakhari Valley Sanctuary, about an hour's drive away, a refuge for elephants and diverse forest wildlife.
• The Saora and Kondh tribal villages in Rayagada district, accessible for guided ethnographic excursions.
• Chandragiri, a Tibetan settlement established in the 1960s, with its Padmasambhava monastery.
• Berhampur and its textile craftsmanship (tussar silk pattu saris).

Weaving Taptapani into your Odisha journey

This thermal stopover fits naturally into an itinerary connecting the temples of Bhubaneswar, the seaside of Puri, and the tribal valleys of the south. To design a custom itinerary including Panthaniwas Taptapani, explore our India travel suggestions. You can also compare this property with other Indian accommodations such as Red Earth, the Woodville Palace Hotel, or the Ranthambore Heritage Haveli.