Set astride the confluence of the Mahanadi and Tel rivers, Sonepur, 48 km from Balangir, is an antique land with the recovery of ancient gold coins and gold lanams from different parts of the town underscoring its antiquity.

Amongst the numerous temples breaking the town's skyline, the shrine of Suvarnameru Lingam holds presiclence over all. The Nrusinghanath temple is the highest among them which is 24.38 metres high. Sonepur is also called 'The City of Gold'.

Another temple of interest for visitors is the doorless temple of Gnyanaclei Maluni, with slightly Tantric overtones which indicates that Tantrism flourished in this region for sometime.

There are numerous villages around Sonepur where scores of weavers work on no less than 23,000 looms to produce exquisite textiles.