Samaleswari Temple, on the bank of the Mahanadi, is dedicated to Maa Samaleswari, the presiding goddess of Sambalpur and western Odisha. The stone temple was built in the 16th century by the Chauhan king Balaram Dev. The Nuakhai harvest festival and Navratri are celebrated here on a grand scale. The famous Sambalpuri textiles take their name from the same region.

Hirakud Dam, across the Mahanadi near Sambalpur, was completed in 1957 and is one of the longest dams in the world, about 26 km including its earthen dykes. Its reservoir is the largest artificial lake in India by some measures. Two towers, Gandhi Minar and Jawahar Minar, give panoramic views. Migratory birds visit in winter.

Nrusinghanath Temple stands at the foot of the Gandhamardan hills in Bargarh district. Built in the early 15th century, it is dedicated to Vishnu in a cat-headed form. A stream with several waterfalls flows down beside it, and steps climb the hill past rock carvings. The Harishankar temple lies on the opposite slope of the same range.

Harishankar Temple lies on the southern slope of the Gandhamardan hills in Balangir district. Dedicated jointly to Vishnu and Shiva, it was built in the 14th century. A perennial stream flows over granite beds beside it, forming cascades where pilgrims bathe. The hills are known for medicinal plants, and a deer park is nearby.