Orchids of Odisha & Its Enormous Tourism Potential
Orchids of Odisha are roughly 133 to 137 different kinds of native species. Orchids are those flowering plants which are found almost everywhere except Antarctica. Orchids belong to the family Orchidaceae, a diverse flowering plant with blooms that are very colourful and fragrant too.Orchids of Odisha spread across 41 genera, primarily split between epiphytic and terrestrial forms. The highest concentration is found in the Similipal Biosphere Reserve which hosts over 90 species of orchids. That includes highly specialized, delicate blooms growing on Sal and Asan trees. Next to Similipal, a good variety of orchids are also found in Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary. Their incredible biodiversity drives substantial eco-tourism, botanical research, and sustainable floriculture potential across Odisha.
Notable Orchid Species of Odisha:
The diverse topography of the Eastern Ghats creates unique microclimates that support a rich variety of orchids of Odisha. The added advantage is the supportive climatic conditions( tropical and humid) where the temperature remains within 20 deg to 40 deg celsius and the humidity hovering around 70% to 75% year round .
- Endemic & Rare: Eria meghasaniensis, Bulbophyllum panigrahium, and Oberonia similipalense are exclusive to the Similipal hills.
- Odisha Cleistantha: A highly threatened terrestrial orchid named specifically for the state, which produces green flowers that never open.
- Medicinal Orchids: Species like Vanda tessellata, Acampe carinata, and Rhynchostylis retusa are traditionally used by local communities to treat ailments such as rheumatism, arthritis, and asthma. Tribal communities in Odisha, such as the Bonda, Juang, and Soura, utilize over 25 orchid species for traditional remedies, including treating malaria and respiratory issues.
Where to see them:
- Similipal Biosphere Reserve: Often spotted in moist valleys and hilly terrains around Gudgudia, Barehipani, and Joranda waterfall inside Similipal.
- Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary: A key transition zone harboring a diverse range of orchid flora.
- Regional Plant Resource Centre (RPRC), Bhubaneswar: Features a specialized Orchidarium maintaining a vast collection of native species, rare endemics, and commercially important hybrids.
Orchids of Odisha As Tourism Products
Orchids of Odisha are excellent tourism products. They drive specialized ecotourism, agro-tourism, and cultural events. Destinations use thematic trails, conservation centers, and large-scale exhibitions to attract tourists, which supports local livelihoods and helps conserve endangered species in their natural habitats. Orchids can be developed into several distinct tourism products:
- Botanical Ecotourism: Guided treks through forests or natural habitats where tourists can observe and photograph wild orchids in their natural ecosystem. For example, eco-tourism circuits in Simlipal can be developed where tourists can trek through valleys blanketed with wild orchids around Gudgudia, Barehipani, and Joranda.
- Mega-Exhibitions & Festivals: Large-scale events, such as the International Orchid Festival, Annual Flower Exhibition etc. can be conducted which draw massive crowds of domestic and international enthusiasts.
- Orchidariums & Glasshouses: Permanent, state-of-the-art indoor exhibits—such as the world’s largest Cool House Orchidarium in Gangtok, Sikkim, which houses 30,000 orchids.
- Agro-tourism & Nurseries: Interactive tours of community-run nurseries where visitors learn about tissue culture, breeding, and can purchase sustainably grown varieties.
- Volunteer Conservation Programs: Opportunities for tourists to actively participate in habitat restoration and the replanting of rescued species
Orchid Cultivation As A Lucrative Business :
Orchid cultivation can emerge as a highly lucrative business opportunity. Due to high demand in the premium floriculture and gifting markets, commercial orchid farming can yield net annual returns between ₹25 Lakh to ₹50 Lakh per acre, with revenue potentials scaling to over ₹1 Crore on larger plots.Unlike traditional crops, orchids are high-value products. Success heavily depends on establishing a local supply chain. One can sell directly to florists, event planners, hotels, and retail plant enthusiasts.With a highly humid coastline, Odisha is recognized as a prime location for commercial orchid farming. The state government as well as central government occasionally offer subsidies to boost commercial production to meet growing domestic and international market demands. Only 5% of the regular demand for orchids in Odisha is being met by the agri-entrepreneurs located inside Odisha.
You can go through the following link to have a glance on different kinds of orchids of Odisha recently displayed in the annual flower exhibition in the Ekamra Kanan, Bhubaneswar. That is held every year, usually in the month of January.
https://youtu.be/H14VvfeL71w?feature=shared
Dr Manoj Mishra
lunarsecstasy@gmail.com
