At 1,672 m Deomali is the highest point in Odisha, and unusually for a peak you can drive almost to the top. What you get is space: grassland, wind, and valleys folding away on every side.
- Height
- 1,672 m
- From Koraput
- 53 km, 1 h 45 min
- Best months
- October to February
- Carry
- Jacket, water, cash
The drive
From Koraput the road runs through Semiliguda towards Pottangi and then climbs. The final stretch is steep and tarred; the Traveller takes it slowly and the view opens with every bend. Google Maps puts it at 53 km and about 1 hour 45 minutes from Koraput town, 32 km from Semiliguda; allow two hours with a breakfast stop.
Sunrise or sunset
Sunrise is the famous one and needs a 4:30 am start from Koraput, warm clothes and a group that will not mind the dark drive. Sunset is easier: leave after lunch, spend the golden hour on top, and be back in Koraput by 8 pm. Both are good; the mist is more likely at dawn.
On top
Open grassland with a viewing tower and a few amenities. Walk a little away from the parking to find your own edge. The wind is constant; in winter the temperature on top can be ten degrees below the town.
Sunrise and sunset times at Deomali
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|
| Turn on JavaScript to see the next 7 days; the monthly table below works without it. | ||
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|
| 15 JanuaryDaylight: 11 h 7 min | 6:33 AM | 5:40 PM |
| 15 FebruaryDaylight: 11 h 31 min | 6:27 AM | 5:58 PM |
| 15 MarchDaylight: 12 h 1 min | 6:07 AM | 6:08 PM |
| 15 AprilDaylight: 12 h 33 min | 5:42 AM | 6:15 PM |
| 15 MayDaylight: 13 h 0 min | 5:24 AM | 6:24 PM |
| 15 JuneDaylight: 13 h 14 min | 5:21 AM | 6:35 PM |
| 15 JulyDaylight: 13 h 10 min | 5:29 AM | 6:39 PM |
| 15 AugustDaylight: 12 h 46 min | 5:40 AM | 6:26 PM |
| 15 SeptemberDaylight: 12 h 16 min | 5:45 AM | 6:01 PM |
| 15 OctoberDaylight: 11 h 45 min | 5:51 AM | 5:36 PM |
| 15 NovemberDaylight: 11 h 16 min | 6:05 AM | 5:21 PM |
| 15 DecemberDaylight: 11 h 1 min | 6:23 AM | 5:24 PM |
Calculated for the Deomali hilltop (18.6756 N, 82.9817 E), in India time. Cloud, haze and the hills can hide the sun at these times. The hilltop is open from 5 am to 8 pm, so aim to be on top about 30 minutes before sunset, or as soon as it opens for sunrise.
Rules on the hill
- Open 5 am to 8 pm: since April 2025, a district order keeps the hilltop closed to visitors from 8 pm to 5 am, except for guests booked into the government eco-cottages and tent sites.
- No single-use plastic: it is banned on the hill, and littering brings a ₹1,000 fine. Carry water in your own bottles and bring your rubbish back down.
- No outside tents: since October 2025, you can't pitch your own tent for a night stay (₹5,000 fine). The Kotia panchayat rents out tents instead.
Combine it with
- Putsil valley, part of the same range, for a quieter viewpoint on the way back.
- Nandapur and Rani Duduma on a full day, as in the 3-day plan.
- Upper Kolab if you did sunrise and want an easy evening.
