Situated on the east coast of the Indian subcontinent, the state of Orissa is one of the major tourist attracted states in India. The state has one of the oldest cultures and a wide variety of tourist attractions including ancient temples, historical monuments, wildlife sanctuaries, fascinating beaches, enormous mountains, beautiful waterfalls, and delicious cuisines. All the above things hardly stop anyone from visiting this magnificent place. Not only people in India but all over the world praise Orissa’s natural beauty and describe it as “The Soul of Incredible India”.
Ruled by King Ashoka, Orissa has a history spanning over a period of over 5000 years. Orissa was inhabited by various people since pre-historic times and several archaeological sites including the Kaliakata, Similikhol, Yogimath, Vikramkhol, and Gudahandi have been excavated since the British era. These sites are other major attractions in this state, making it a major attraction for researchers and archaeologists all over the world.
Major Cities in Orissa
Bhubaneswar: The city is the capital of Orissa and has a history of over three thousand years. Bhubaneswar, which means the “Lord of Universe”, is also commonly known as “The Temple City of India”. The city is rich with the most beautiful Kalinga Architecture, well known for its magnificent sculptures; Hindu Temples and planned cities. Bhubaneswar possesses over six hundred temples, each with unique architecture. The city is a major pilgrim destination for Hindus and is considered one amongst the Golden Triangle (other including Puri and Konark). The major tourist attractions of this city include Khandagiri and Udayagiri, which are the famous Jain Heritages; Lingaraj Temple and Dhuli Giri. The other attractions of Bhubaneswar include Muktesvara Temple, Lakshmanesvara group of temples, Ananta Vasudeva Temple, Sari Temple, Kapilesvara Temple, Yamesvara Temple, Sisiresvara Temple, and the Vaital Temple. Apart from tourist attractions, Bhubaneswar is also famous for its wide variety of seafood and sweets. Some of the must-taste sweets here include Pahala Rasagolla, Chhena Poda, Rasabali, and Chennajhilli.
Cuttack:Â This city served as the capital of Orissa for around a thousand years before Bhubaneswar was declared the new capital city in 1948. Cuttak was a strong military base since olden times and is rich with cultural as well as religious aspects. One still gets to see the stone revetment constructed in the 11th Century AD which played an important role in the protection of this city. The major attractions of this city include Barabati fort, Cuttack Chandi temple, Qadam-i-Rasool mosque, Shahi mosque, the birthplace of freedom fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Choudwar, Chandikhol, Chhatia, Naraj, Dhabaleshwar, Ansupa, Niali-Madhava, Bhattarika, Kendrapara, Paradeep, Jaipur, Ratnagiri, Lalitgiri, Udayagiri, and Bhattarika Temple. The city is worth visiting during the festivals of Dusshera and Kali Puja when one gets to see the prosperous and rich culture, tradition, and beauty of Cuttack.
Puri:Â Famously known as Jagannath Puri, the city is famous for its 11th century Jagannath temple. The temple is one of the most auspicious temples amongst the Hindu pilgrim centres and one amongst the Char Dham pilgrimages. Various myths in the Hindu literature depict that a pilgrimage of temples in India is not considered complete without including the Jagannath Puri temple in it. Thus, this temple is highly religious and one of the most important pilgrim destinations in India. The other attractive tourist’s places near Puri include Sri Yukteswar Samadhi Temple, Dakshina Kali Temple, Konark Sun Temple, Hati Gumpha, Chandrabhaga, Rani Gumpha, Ramaachandi, Dhauli, Beleswar, Satpada, Chilika lake, Pipili, Kenduli Sasan, Alarnatha Mandir, Sakshigopal temple, and the Puri Beach.
Beaches, Lakes and Waterfalls in Orissa
Gopalpur Beach:Â This is one of the most fascinating tourist destinations in the Ganjam district and is around 15 kilometres from Brahmapur. The deep and clear blue waters of this beach often provoke a huge number of tourists and have become a major tourist attraction in Orissa. One often gets a glimpse of the sea-side lifestyle on this beach, where the fishermen are pulling their catch or mending their nets, which add a special effect to the overall scene.
Puri Beach:Â As this place is one of the important pilgrim destinations for Hindus, taking a bath at the Puri beach is considered a traditional purification method. Thus, this beach is full of pilgrims from all over India who come here to worship the sea and to carry out their traditional rituals. However, this beach is also a major attraction for tourists outside India. Puri beach has some of the best hotels that offer sea-facing rooms, thus making your holiday an ideal one.
Chilika Lake:Â This is the largest brackish water lake in the Asian continent and is spread across 1100 sq. km. The lake is one of the major tourist attractions in Orissa and consists of varied flora and fauna and several small islands. The major attractions of this lake include a wide range of fish species, thousands of migratory birds, the Chilika sanctuary, Kalijai Island with the temple of Goddess Kalijai, and the culture of fisher folks living here.
Barehipani and Joranda Falls: These waterfalls are part of the Simlipal National Park, which is situated in the Mayurbhanj district of Orissa. These waterfalls are formed out of the Badhabalanga river flowing over the Maghasan Mountain. The Barehipani and Joranda falls are at a height of 399 meters and 150 meters respectively. These waterfalls are worth seeing and one can often enjoy them on their tour to the Simlipal National Park.
Temples and Monuments in Orissa
Konark Sun Temple: Also commonly known as the “Black Pagoda”, the temple is one of the UNESCO declared World Heritage Sites in Orissa. The temple was built in the 13th Century by King Narasimhadeva, who was from the Eastern Ganga Dynasty. The temple is well known for its immensely beautiful architecture, sculptures, carvings, and idols. Some of the major attractions of this place include the Nata Mandir, Chariot Wheel, and the idol of the Sun god. Visiting this place will make you realize the proficiency of architecture during the old periods.
Lingaraja Temple:Â Another ancient and beautiful temple situated in Bhubaneswar is dedicated to Hindu God, Lord Shiva. The temple was built by Jajati Keshari in the 11th Century and is the largest temple present in Bhubaneswar. The temple is divided into four major parts including the main temple, Yajna Shala, Bhoga Mandap, and the Natya Shala. Each of these sections is beautifully structured and have the best architecture and carvings. The temple reaches up to a height of fifty-five meters and is one of the major pilgrim destinations for Hindus all over the world.
Mukteshvara Temple:Â This temple is dedicated to the Hindu God, Lord Shiva and dates back to 970 AD. The Mukteshwara temple is located in Bhubaneswar and has the same pattern as that of the Lingaraja Temple. The temple is magnificently carved and has several pictures depicting bears, peacocks, monkeys. The temple also possesses several idols of women with well-carved ornaments on them. The temple is said to be derived from the Nagara architecture which is a branch of Kalinga architecture.
Wildlife Sanctuaries and Safaris in Orissa
Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary:Â This is the second-largest compact mangrove ecosystem in India and is well known for its crocodile breeding farm. The other attractions of this wildlife sanctuary include King Cobra, monkeys, spotted deer, wild pigs, rhesus, pythons, sea eagles, sandpipers, whistling teals, seagulls, and many more. The sanctuary is one of the best places to visit in Orissa and can only be viewed through the water routes inside. Some of the convenient entry points to visit Bhitar Kanika sanctuary are Dhamara, Rajnagar, Chandbali, and Gupti.
Nandan Kanan: This name literary means “Garden of Pleasure”. Nandan Kanan is a combination of the sanctuary, zoo, and botanical garden. The sanctuary is situated about 20 kilometres from Bhubaneshwar and is one of the worth visiting wildlife sanctuaries in Orissa. Some of the major attractions of this sanctuary include tigers, crocodiles, white tigers, Asiatic lions, Nilgiri Langurs, Indian Pangolin, mouse deer, Black Panther, and several birds and aquatic creatures. One must definitely pay a visit to this wildlife sanctuary on their trip to Orissa.
Orissa is a really magnificent place to visit in India. Its wide variety of tourist places attracts tourists all over the world.
