Ushakothi / Ushakuthi is a Rock Shelter situated near Rajbahal in Lephripada Tehsil. Lephripara is a Tehsil in Sundargarh District of Odisha State, India. Lephripara Tehsil Head Quarters is Lephiripara town. It is located 26 KM towards west from District head quarters Sundargarh. 343 KM from State capital Bhubaneswar towards East. It is 47 KMs from Sundargarh, 124 KMs from Sambalpur and 143 KMs from Rourkela.
Ushakothi is situated in the district of Sundergarh at a distance of about 40 km in the west of Sundergarh city near Rajbahal in Lephripada Tehsil. It is a tribal-dominated area. It is famous for its ancient caves and cave paintings. The cave paintings of this place trace to the Neolithic period. There are two hills where the paintings could be found. The hills are about 2 km apart from each other. The paintings on both hills are liner and different from each other. It is an important site for archeology. The path between Sundergarh and Ushakothi is partly laid on gravel and tar and the rest path is through the twist and turns of the forest. It is an ideal place for trekking. The nearest railhead is Himagiri Railway Station. 45 kilometer from Sambalpur town.
Ushakothi, a tribal-dominated area famed for ancient rock-cut caves and cave paintings, is located in Sambalpur district, about 47 km from Sundargarh and 157 km from Rourkela. The cave measuring, 46m in height and 61m in width is situated at the foot of Maheswar hill in the middle of a deep forest. The paintings inside the cave range from small geometrical and floral patterns to animal motifs and human figures date back to the Neolithic period.
A picturesque wildlife sanctuary named Ushakothi or Badrama Sanctuary is located at a distance of 45km to the east of Sambalpur town. Established in 1957-58, the sanctuary sprawls over an area of about 285sq km is the home to animals like bison, sambar, panthers, tigers, chital, nilgai, wolves, leopards, spotted deers, etc. The flora species in the sanctuary include Arjun, Acacia, Neem, Sal, Sandalwood, and Casuarinas. The sanctuary contains two masonry watchtowers each measuring a height of 30 feet. From this tower, visitors can have a good view of the surroundings and can watch the animals roaming in their natural habitat.
