Our Identity
Centre for Rural
Tourism Development
Connecting tourism, conservation, and community development to preserve the natural and cultural heritage of Odisha.
The Genesis
How It All Started
2013: The Academic Spark
The Centre for Rural Tourism Development (CRTD) is a tourism-based organization in Odisha dedicated to promoting sustainable tourism and improving rural livelihoods through tourism related activities. The idea of this organization originated in 2013, when a group of tourism professionals qualified as Eco Guides from the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM). After completing their training, the team conducted a tourism survey across different parts of Odisha and identified many ground-level challenges at tourism destinations, particularly in rural and tribal areas.
Grassroots Awareness
To address these challenges, the team began forming small local groups across the state to raise awareness about sustainable livelihoods through tourism and to promote responsible and community-based tourism practices. The initiative was guided by Lalit Mohan Panda, a National Level Tourist Guide, who advised the team to establish an organization dedicated to promoting tourism in rural and tribal regions of Odisha. Following this vision, the Centre for Rural Tourism Development (CRTD) was formally registered in 2019 under IGR Registration as a Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
2019: Formal Establishment
Guided by National Level Tourist Guide Lalit Mohan Panda, the Centre for Rural Tourism Development (CRTD) was formally registered under IGR Registration (Societies Registration Act, 1860).
Lalit Mohan Panda
Founder & Secretary
11+
Years of Impact
From IITTM Eco-Guides to
Rural Tourism
Pioneers
PARTNERS
Sister Organizations
CRTD works in close collaboration with four specialized organizations to drive grassroots impact across Odisha, integrating tourism, conservation, and development.
Tourist Guide Club
Tourism Promotion
Arachandi Pakhi Surakhya
Wildlife Conservation
Odisha Jagannath Darshan
Cultural Heritage
Odisha Snake Helpline
Community Awareness
The Unexplored
Unrecognized Tourism Destinations
CRTD is an emerging organization committed to developing unrecognized tourism destinations in Odisha, many of which have high tourism potential but remain unexplored. So far, we have documented several sites previously unknown or overlooked:
Prehistoric Site
Pandav Bhakara Rock Shelter
Banki, Cuttack
Prehistoric Cave
Anahyata Cave
Banki, Cuttack
Wildlife Habitat
Arachandi Wetland
Banki, Cuttack
Nature
Dabarkhole Waterfall
Badamba, Cuttack
Pioneering Conservation
CRTD has pioneered several conservation and awareness programs, including:
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Flying Fox Monitoring Program – the first of its kind in India, conducted in Banki.
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Weaver Bird Census – Banki.
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Migratory Bird Census at nine wetlands in and around Banki.
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Common Bird Monitoring Program – Banki.
Community Development
Sustainable Tourism & Livelihoods
Sustainable tourism plays a vital role in creating opportunities for local communities to earn livelihoods through tourism-related activities. It serves as an alternative livelihood option, especially for people living in rural and tribal areas.
Experimental Training & Capacity Building:
We have already started programs for local residents in Arachandi, Ansupa, and Pandav Bhakara, enabling them to participate in and benefit from tourism development.