NEW DELHI: The 2022 women's edition was the first time a hockey World Cup was hosted at two venues, and it was not just two different cities but two neighbouring countries as well -- Terrassa in Spain and Amstelveen in the Netherlands. In 2023, the men's tournament is set to join International Hockey Federation's (FIH) new twin-city formula for hosting World Cups -- in the cities of Bhubaneswar and Rourkela in Odisha.
Odisha will be extending its presence on the international hockey map with Rourkela's brand new Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium joining Bhubaneswar's Kalinga Stadium for the January 13 to 29 tournament.
Despite being part of India's traditional hockey nursery the Sundergarh district, Rourkela is not a territory very often travelled by international visitors to India, who are expected to flock in from 16 nations to support their respective teams.
1/10:Men's Hockey World Cup 2023: MEET TEAM INDIA
TIMESOFINDIA.COM
2/10:PR Sreejesh
<p>Age: 34; Position: Goalkeeper; Caps: 274</p>TIMESOFINDIA.COM
3/10:Krishan B Pathak
<p>Age: 25; Position: Goalkeeper; Caps: 80</p>TIMESOFINDIA.COM
4/10:Jarmanpreet Singh
<p>Age: 26; Position: Defender; Caps: 50; Goals: 6</p>Getty Images
5/10:Surender Kumar
<p>Age: 29; Position: Defender; Caps: 172; Goals: 4</p>Getty Images
6/10:Harmanpreet Singh, Captain
<p> Age: 26; Position: Defender; Caps: 164; Goals: 126</p>Getty Images
7/10:Varun Kumar
<p>Age: 27; Position: Defender; Caps: 118; Goals: 29</p>Getty Images
8/10:Amit Rohidas, vice-captain
<p>Age: 29; Position: Defender; Caps: 131; Goals: 19</p>Getty Images
9/10:Nilam Sanjeep Xess
<p>Age: 24; Position: Defender; Caps: 34; Goals: 5</p>Getty Images
10/10:Manpreet Singh
<p>Age: 30; Position: Midfielder; Caps: 314; Goals: 24</p>Getty ImagesOn the other hand, since hosting the 2014 Champions League, Bhubaneswar has organised many international tournaments, including the last men's World Cup in 2018, and thus is now a familiar destination for international hockey teams and their fans.
With inputs from a local travel expert in Sundergarh and to make the travelling decisions and itineraries a little less complicated, Timesofindia.com narrows it down to the best options available -- right from flying into India to shuttling between Bhubaneswar and Rourkela during the 44 matches in the 17-day tournament.
Image credit: Hockey India
WHERE TO LAND IN INDIA
The international airport most suited to land and make onward travel to Odisha easier is Delhi, from where direct flights operate to Bhubaneswar, Ranchi as well as the nearest airport to Rourkela, which is in Jharsuguda.
ONWARD JOURNEY FROM DELHI TO BHUBANESWAR, JHARSUGUDA OR RANCHI
While there are multiple direct flights to Bhubaneswar through the day from Delhi, there is just one direct flight to Jharsuguda, which departs at 1305 IST.
The alternate route to reach Rourkela from Delhi is by flying to Ranchi in Jharkhand.
A train journey from Delhi to Bhubaneswar takes 24 hours or more, and Delhi to Rourkela travel time by train is in excess of 27 hours. But that's not advisable because trains in North India invariably get delayed in winter because of fog.
REACHING ROURKELA FROM BHUBANESWAR, JHARSUGUDA AND RANCHI
Bhubaneswar to Rourkela: You can take either a train, which takes nine or more hours to reach Rourkela, or opt for a road trip of close to eight hours. To travel by road, which is a distance of about 335 km, tourist buses and inter-city taxis are the available options.
"If you go from Bhubaneswar to Rourkela by road, then you will have to endure a 15 km stretch of under-construction road," taxi driver Purna Chandra Rout, who is from Sundergarh district, told Timesofindia.com.
In all probability, a 55-minute commercial flight between Rourkela and Bhubaneswar will also become operational from January 7. The test flight for the route has been successfully conducted.
Image credit: Hockey India
Jharsuguda to Rourkela: The best way to travel the 125 km to Rourkela from the airport in Jharsuguda is by road. Taxis are easily available and charge approximately Rs 4000 one way. But train timings from Jharsuguda to Rourkela may not suit the only flight in a day that takes off from Delhi.
"If you don't find heavy traffic, it will take two hours to reach Rourkela from Jharsuguda," said Rout. "Please be mindful that the fare taxi charges you will include the toll ticket of Rs 220.
"Before 2017, it was a single-road highway, but now it's two lanes on either side. Last year, the road to enter Rourkela town was also turned into four lanes," Rout added.
Ranchi to Rourkela: This is a distance of about 230 km and a road trip of around 4-1/2 hours on a well-maintained highway. But Rout attaches a rider for those opting to come by road.
"It runs through a jungle area and there are often reports of mischief by locals after dark," said Rout without elaborating on it further. "So it's not advisable to take that route in the late evening or night."
Ranchi is well connected to Rourkela by multiple trains that run through the day. It's a journey of about 3-1/2 hours.
