If you’re making last-minute plans to spend your vacation away from the hustle bustle of the Puja days at the scenic Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary, there is bad news.

The sanctuary, 30km from the steel city, is buzzing with tourists who have booked all the accommodations there.

The AC cottages and non-AC rooms at Makulakocha near the foothills and the non-AC rooms atop the hills near Pinderbera forest guesthouse are all booked till Vijaya Dashami on October 8.

Most of the tourists are from Calcutta, while a few are from Bhubaneswar.

With accommodations out of bounds for now, those wishing to spend quality time in the hills are in for disappointment.

Dalma range officer (West) Dinesh Chandra said not a single room was available.

“It’s Durga Puja and there are people who want to spend time in the hills. Most of the tourists are from Calcutta. They are enjoying their time amid the flora and fauna,” he added.

According to him, the four AC cottages and three non-AC rooms at Makulakocha are bursting at the seams.

“Same is the case with the three non-AC rooms near Pinderbera forest guesthouse,” Chandra said.

While the tariff for each of the cottages is Rs 1,100 per night, it is Rs 700 per night for the non-AC rooms at Makulakocha and near Pinderbera forest guest house.

A forest guard said: “Adequate water is available and the electricity supply is also not erratic in the cottages and rooms. Tourists can have a comfortable stay.

“Trackers (village youths recruited on daily wages to keep a tab on movement of elephants and other animals) are also available to take tourists to scenic spots across the sprawling 192sq km sanctuary, including the Shiva temple atop the hills,” the guard added.