Orissa, One of the most prominent coastal states along the Bay of Bengal, Orissa stands as a captivating state with its ancient glory and modern endeavour. Endowed with nature's bounty,vibrant living culture and an spectacular architectural legacy, a 482 km stretch of coastline with virgin beaches, serpentine rivers, mighty waterfalls, forest-clad blue hills of Eastern Ghats with rich wild life, Orissa occupies a strong position among ‘must visit’ circuits in India. Dotted with exquisite temples, historic monuments as well as pieces of modern engineering feat the land, while retaining its pristine glory, also offers the visitors modern amenities.
Orissa boasts of a long and rich cultural heritage. Due to the reigns of many different rulers in the past, the culture, arts and crafts of the state underwent many changes, imitations, assimilations and new creations, from time to time.
Not only does the bracing and invigorating climate of Orissa add freshness to the soul, its beaches too add a slice of serenity in environs. Orissa has such beaches where the waves speak volumes. One can spend hours soaking in the sun, surfing or just frolicking in the lovely blue waters.
Orissa being a land of ancient and sacred temples, and a state where three religions flourished, is thronged by pilgrims throughout the year. There are festivals relating to each religion, tribal festivals, festivals relating to Lord Jagannath, the presiding deity of the Puri Temple, and many seasonal exhibitions and fairs as well as special festivals such as the Konark Dance Festival, the Rajarani Music Festival, the Puri Beach Festival etc.
Orissa is also celebrated for its natural heritage; one of the greatest benefits of Orissa ‘s vast expanses of unspoilt natural landscape has been its ability to offer a protected yet natural habitat to the state’s incredible wildlife. There are many wildlife sancturies which are home to a wide variety of flora and fauna ,bird life reptiles and water creatures. Some of the most important experiments of wildlife conservation are taking place in these natural habitat, giving the tourists an excellent opportunity to see nature’s bounty, propagated.
Bhubaneswar is the capital city of the state.
BHUBANESWAR
Bhubaneswar, is also popularly known as the "Temple City of India". Hundreds of temples dot the landscape of the Old Town. The twin hills of Khandagiri and Udaygiri contain varieties of rock-cut caves, built mainly for the jain monks around 1st - 2nd century B.C.The thirteen years lithic record of King Kharavela engraved in Hatigumpha (elephant cave) is a magnificent specimen of Pali records so far found in India.
PURI
One of the four celebrated religious centers of India, Puri, the abode of Lord Jagannath needs no introduction. The temple of Lord Jagannath at Puri is one of the most sacred pilgrimage spots in India, one of the four abodes (dhamas) of the divine that lie on the four directions of the compass. The present temple structure was built in the twelfth century by the Ganga king, Chodagangadeva, replacing an earlier structure which probably dated to the tenth century.
CHILIKA
Queen of natural beauty, Chilika, the largest brackish water lake in Asia covering an area of over 1,100 sq. km is a great attraction for the tourists for fishing, bird watching and boating. In winter Chilika aflutters with thousands of indigenous and migratory birds of many varieties from far and near - even from the distant Siberia. One can view the dolphins at Chilika mouth near Satpara.
KONARK
The magnificent Sun Temple at Konark is the culmination of Orissan temple architecture, and one of the most stunning monuments of religious architecture in the world. The massive structure, now in ruins, sits in solitary splendour surrounded by drifting sand. Today it is located two kilometers from the sea, but originally the ocean used to reach almost up to its base.
RAGHURAJPUR
A small artist village famous for its Patta Chitra painting, is located at 14 kms from Puri.The village is involved in preserving India's priceless skills the country is proud of.
CHANDIPUR
The sea beach at Chandipur, 16 km from Balasore is surely one among the finest beaches of the country, but with a plus. Here the waters recede five kilometres offshore and proceed rhythmically after a regular interval everyday. The sand-dunes green with wild creepers and the casuarina whistling with the breeze create a fantastic moment for a visitor absorbed in observing the play of the tide.
PANCHALINGESWAR
30 kms from Balasore situated on a hillock near Nilagiri, Panchalingeswar is a place with beautiful surroundings and serves as a picnic spot for the visitors. The five lingams known as Panchalingeswar with the perennial spring flowing over them are the added attraction of this place.
Gopalpur-on-sea
16 km from Berhampur the sea shore town of Gopalpur with her blue beach attracts visitors round the globe and offers 'Sun - Sand - Surf' to them. The back waters of the Blue Bay enhances the beauty of the quiet beach.
TAPTAPANI
50 km from Berhampur, amidst lush green forests is Taptapani where there is a hot water spring. The hot water is channelised to a pond nearby to facilitate fascinating baths.
TIKARPADA
The tiny village of Tikarpada (120 km from Dhenkanal and 58 km from anugul) has one of the splendid setting in the world. It offers some of the most exciting visuals of the satkosia gorge, India's mightiest gorge, into which the turbulent Mahanadi river crashes with amazing ferocity through 22 km of emerlad forests, that seem to change their hues with every bend of the river's meanderings. Apart from offering gorgeous views from the pinnacles of the surrounding hills, there is an excellent potential for angling, boating and trekking around these parts.
The Gharial crocodile population obviously enjoys these exotic environs and has an excellent breeding place in this sanctuary created to protect them.
SAMBALPUR
Sambalpur, the gateway to the bewitching western zone of Orissa abounding in lush green forests, colourful wild life, captivating waterfalls; rich tribal culture, folk songs and dances and a variety of monuments finds mention in the works of Ptolemy (2nd century A.D.) as "Sambalaka". Associated with the celebrated name of its ruler Indrabhuti , the teacher-propounder of the Vajrayana Buddhism, Sambalpur has earned a place in the cultural history of India. Here, one can visit the temples of Samaleswari, Patneswari, Budha Raja, Brahmapura and the Gopaljee monastery.
SIMLIPAL NATIONAL PARK
Thick and green forests, extensive grassy lands and meadows, cloud kissing peaks, precipitous and sparkling waterfalls, meandering rivers, roaring tigers and trumpeting tuskers, fleeing deer and flying squirrels, talking myna and dancing peacocks et al make Similipal a dreamland of Nature in the wilderness and an irresistible destination.
Covering a vast are of 2750 sq. km out of which 303 sq. km form the core area, thick biosphere reserve is a sanctuary and one of the Tiger Projects and National parks of India. With wide range of rain falls and edaphic variations, range from dry deciduous to moist green forests, it is suitable to different species of flora and fauna. About 1076 species of mammals, 29 types of reptiles and 231 species of birds are the proud possession of this plateau.
Average mean elevation of Similipal is 900 meters. Tall and luxuriant Sal Trees in large numbers stand like sentries. The beautiful peaks of Khairiburu (1178 meters), Meghasani (1158 meters) and others welcome the visitors from the emerald heights. Sweet scented Champak flowers freshen the air. The richly hued orchids on the green foliage are soothing to the eyes. In the midst of the dense forests, the summer stands humbled and the sun gets lost. The silence of Similipal is occasionally broken by the chirping of the birds to an avian delight. The crocodile rearing centre at Ramtirtha near Jashipur is an additional attraction.
PARADEEP
94 km from Cuttack, Paradeep is a major sea port of India for trade activities with a fine sea beach and a marine drive with an enjoyable tourist resort attracting large number of visitors from far and wide.
Ratnagiri, Lalitgiri, Udayagiri
These three hills comprise a remarkable buddhist complex. Hieun-T'sang, the Chinese pilgrim found it to be the seat of a flourishing Buddhist University called "Puspagiri". Extensive ruins of brick pagodas, sculptured stone portals and esoteric Buddhist images testifying its ancient glory have been unearthed.
Ratnagiri is the gem of this complex. The magnificently carved door jambs of the Vihar and superbly finished Buddha images form perhaps the greatest concentration of Buddhist sculpture of the post-Gupta period.
Ratnagiri is 70 km, Lalitgiri is 55 km and Udayagiri is 60 km from Cuttack
Bhitarkanika & Gahirmatha WLS
Widely acclaimed for its biodiversity in flora and fauna, it is the second largest compact mangrove ecosystem in India. It is also a Sanctuary and National Park. Extending over more than six hundred square kilometres, it is one of the very few evergreen repository of most luxuriant mangrove vegetation in the world. More than sixty varieties of mangrove plants are found here which provide home to a variety of rare and endangered species. With Dangmal at the centre stage (the others being Ekakula, Habalikhati etc), Bhitarakanika is a natural habitat of a lot of wild creatures like Crocodiles, King Cobra, Pythons, Wild Pigs, Rhesus Monkey, Sambars, Spotted Deer etc. There. is a Crocodile Breeding Farm at Dangmal.
Close to the Bhitar Kanika Sanctuary is another of Orissa's special sanctuaries - the Gahirmatha Turtle Sanctuary. This stretch of beach is the breeding ground for the giant Olive Ridley Turtles, who travel all the way from the Pacific Ocean to mate and lay their eggs here. Every year, thousands of these wonderous creatures can be seen here.
Average Raifall : 1800 mm
Average Temperature: 25° - 40º C
Population of State : 26,655,528
Best Time to Visit : Round The Year
Raihead : Bhubeneswar,Puri,Behrampur/Sambalpur
Nearest Airport : Bhubaneswar
Tourist Circuit
Puri, Konarak, Satpara(Chilika), Bhubeneshwar,Raghurajpur
Chandipur,Panchalingeshwer
Gopalpur On Sea, Chilika (Rambha, Barkul ),Bhubeneshwar,Puri
Bhitarkanika, Simlipal
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