The district around Balangir rewards a day or two of exploration. The star attraction is Ranipur Jharial, about 100 km away, one of only four circular 64-yogini temples in India. The site consists of a ring of carved female figures open to the sky, surrounded by around 50 other temples in various states of preservation. It is haunting in a way that the more-visited sites rarely are.
Patnagarh, about 70 km from Balangir, was the old capital of the Patna kingdom. The town has a concentration of Chalukyan-style temples dating to the 12th century, including the notable Pataneswari Temple. It is a quieter, less-visited alternative to the better-known temple towns of coastal Odisha.
Turekela, about 98 km northeast, sits at the edge of a forest reserve and offers simple accommodation for wildlife enthusiasts. Sightings of tigers, leopards, and deer are possible, though the facilities are basic and advance arrangement is advisable.