If you can’t live longer, live Spiritual - ODISHA

Odisha (formerly Orissa), an eastern Indian state on the Bay of Bengal, is known for its tribal cultures and its many ancient Hindu temples. The capital, Bhubaneswar, is home to hundreds of temples, notably the intricately-carved Mukteshvara The state can be divided broadly into four natural divisions: the northern plateau, the Eastern Ghats. The long list of beaches, biosphere reserves, temples, museums, and other tourist places in Odisha make the state a must-visit destination.

A favourite destination for adventurous travelers, Odisha (Orissa) rewards those who make the effort to stray off the beaten track with an intricate patchwork of archaeological wonders, fascinating tribal culture, and natural beauty, along with an old-fashioned sprinkling of sun and sand. Odisha is that destination of India which gives you those memories which are hard to forget.

MAJOR ATTRACTION

Odisha is famous for its heritage sites and enthralling views. From beaches to pilgrimage sites, Odisha offers a lot of sightseeing opportunities to travellers from across the globe. Moreover, Puri Beach Festival and the Jagannath Rath Yatra attracts tons of tourists to Odisha yearly.

Forests elsewhere – both inland and along the coast – are home to some of Odisha’s wonderful nature reserves, where you might spy 19.5ft-long crocs (6m), rare dolphins, endangered sea turtles and thousands of nesting birds.

BEST SEASON TO VISIT ODISHA

The best time to visit Odisha is the October–March period – especially November, December and January. The pleasant weather during the winter season. It gets uncomfortably hot in April–May, and the monsoon generally hits in June and lasts until the end of September.

GUIDELINES FOR TOURISTS FOR VISITING ODISHA

the Odisha government has made it mandatory for people coming to the state to produce RT-PCR negative report, news agency PTI reported. This is applicable to all models of travel. People entering the state by train, bus, aeroplane, waterways or in private vehicles will have to produce RT-PCR negative report obtained within 72 hours of the entry or the final vaccination certificate.

COVID-19 alert: Travel requirements are changing rapidly, including need for pre-travel COVID-19 testing and quarantine on arrival.

HOW TO REACH

BY AIRWAYS: Odisha has that one airport which is well connected to various nations of the world. Biju Patnaik International Airport is located in the capital city of Odisha and a world-based connectivity. Other than this, the Indian state has domestic as well as private airports. The state also has a domestic airport which is used for commercial purpose also, popularly known as Jharsuguda Airport. Airways is actually the best alternative to reach anywhere and reaching Odisha on time gives you rather more time to explore the gorgeous state.

BY RAILWAYS: Travelling by trains gives one the advantage of witnessing the actual rustic India and enjoy the beauty. Odisha homes the highest-revenue earning railway station- Bhubaneswar Railway Station which is connected to various other Indian states. Also the major trains which ply on this route are Konark Express, Rajdhani and Coromandel Express make it rather very convenient for the travellers as the railway station is based in the capital city of Odisha.

BY ROADWAYS: Reaching Odisha by road is quite a challenge yet an interesting one. The one who loves long drives surely will enjoy the national highways, long drives and beautiful roads. Also reaching Odisha is quite easy as the state has well road connectivity and access to various nearby cities. But for those who do not drive or don’t want to drive, the next best alternative is to board the buses which ply from various cities of India. These buses could be private or run by the government for establishing and maintaining a good connectivity with various states.

INTERCONNECTIVITY

BY BUSES: A blessing in disguise for the tourist and locals, is Bhubaneshwar’s numbered bus system. The city’s buses function between 7 am and 9 pm. Head to the master canteen and you will find a line of buses waiting, ready to take you to your preferred destination. Before you get in the bus, do check its route since some buses run along more than one course. Odisha State Board Transportation Corporation runs buses across 45 cities in Odisha.

By Cab: Ola and Uber services in and around Bhubaneshwar. If you want a full-fledged tour, then Odisha Tourism Development Corporation provides car and driver services to facilitate tours around the area.

BEST TOURIST PLACES IN ODISHA

For a place rich in heritage tourist places and culturally enriching locales, it is sad that not many know about these things or about what a fine trip a travel plan to Odisha would make. Be it the long list of excellent and untouched beaches or the plenty of temples, Odisha does come with the beauty and serenity of a traveller's dreams.

BHUBANESWAR

Bhubaneswar, the temple city of India, once known for its architecture and grand temples, is presently a thriving centre for commerce and business. The city is a mix of both old and modern world. While you can visit caves and forts here, you can also visit some of the best parks with modern facilities in the city.Temples and trees live in perfect harmony in this city. Bhubaneswar is known for its religious heritage, but it also contains a blooming bouquet of diverse wildlife and vegetation. The Nandankanan Botanical Garden features a medicinal plant garden, rose and bougainvillea gardens and a glass house for succulents. The park also features a diverse range of wildlife. Take a Lion Safari, visit the Reptile Park, or a White Tiger Safari, here.

BEST TIME TO VISIT: October to March

MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS:

· Lingaraj Temple

· Hirakud Dam

· Udayagiri And Khandagiri Caves

· Nandankanan Zoological Park

· Dhauli Hills

· Ratnagiri Buddhist Excavations

· Bindu Sarovara

· Satkosia Tiger Reserve

· Temples Of Mukteswar Lingaraj, Rajrani Temple,Brahmeswara, & Parasurameswara Etc

· Tikarpada Wildlife Sanctuary

· Ekamra Kanan

· Deras Dam

HOW TO REACH

BY AIR: Located around 6 km away from the city-centre, the Bhubaneswar Airport or Biju Patnaik International Airport connects the city with rest of the country by air. From the airport, taxi/bus services are available to reach any part of the city.

BY ROAD: Baramunda bus stand, located around 5 km away from the city centre connects Bhubaneswar to all other major India cities by road.

BY RAIL:Bhubaneswar Railway Station is the main railhead connecting the city with several Indian cities.

PURI

Puri is a beach city located on the coast of Bay of Bengal which is one of the favourites among people of West Bengal for a short trip.Puri is proudly included in the list of four Dhams of Hinduism, according to which any pilgrimage tour won't be completed without the visit of Puri temple at last. It is believe to be an important spiritual destination for attaining salvation.

Apart from tourism attraction the prominent religious attraction at Puri is its Jagannath temple, which is built in the 12th century by the Ganga dynasty. Other prominent attractions are its all festivals. Among all celebrations Puri Rath Yatra or Chariot festival is the most pious one.

BEST TIME: July to March

Things to Do: Visit Temples and Explore Beaches

HOW TO REACH PURI

BY AIR: nearly 56 km from the heart of the Puri city. The airport is connected to Delhi and Mumbai.

BY TRAIN: Puri is a major railway junction.

BY ROAD: Puri is connected with the neighbouring cities through well constructed roads.

MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

· Sri Jagannath Temple

· Gundicha Temple

· Golden Beach

· Puri Beach

· Puri Beach Festival

· Puri Jagannath temple

· Chilika Lake

· Bird Sanctuary

KONARK

Konark is a medium town in the Puri district in the state of Odisha, India. It lies on the coast by the Bay of Bengal, 60 kilometres from the capital of the state, Bhubaneswar. It is the site of the 13th-century Sun Temple, also known as the Black Pagoda, built in black granite during the reign of Narasimhadeva-I. The temple is a World Heritage Site. The carvings of the Konark Sun Temple, one of the seven wonders of India, attract large flocks of tourists throughout the year. The Sun Festival is festival here, which attracts lots of people. Devotees offer their homage to the Sun God by taking a dip in the sea.

BEST TIME TO VISIT: September to March

HOW TO REACH

BY AIR: Nearest Airport to Konark Sun Temple is Bhubaneswar Airport or Biju Patnaik International Airport is 65 km and around an hour-long drive from the Konark Sun Temple. You can easily get taxis on hire to reach Konark from the airport.

BY TRAIN: You can book Bhubaneswar to Puri trains and then take a taxi to reach the temple.

BY ROAD: The orissa development corporation or otdc run by the government,has servreal buses regularly connecting konark to other town and citis within orisha. Private buses are also available.

MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

· Archeological Museum

· temple of Sun God & Ramchandi

· Chandrabhaga Beach

CUTTACK

Cuttack, situated at a distance of 28 km from the present capital city of Bhubaneswar. Cuttack, city, eastern Odisha (Orissa) state, eastern India. It is situated at the apex of the Mahanadi River delta. One of the most popular places to visit in Odisha is the vintage city of Cuttack. Referred to as the cultural capital of Odisha. Ancient pilgrim centers, wildlife sanctuary, forts; there are so many things to see in Cuttack. You can also indulge into shopping of the local handicrafts.

The charm of Cuttack lies in its celebration of life. All festivals of all religions are celebrated in this city with equal enthusiasm.

BEST TIME TO VISIT: July to March

HOW TO REACH

BY AIR: The nearest airport is Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar, 32 km away from Cuttack.

BY RAILWAY: Cuttack Junction is the major railway station of the city. It is connected to most of the cities in India through the trains run by the Indian Railways.

BY ROAD: Several bus services, both government operated and private, connect you to Cuttack from different parts of the country. Dolphin Tours and Travels, Galaxy Travels and Reliance Travels are some of the popular private operators.

MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

· Mahanadi Barrage,

· Fort of Barabati,

· Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary,

· Ansupa Lake,

· Temples of Singanatha & Bhattarika

· Cuttack chandi temple

· Netaji museum

SAMBALPUR

Sambalpur is an entry point to Western Odisha and is home to abundant greenery.The famous Hirakud Dam is also here in Sambalpur. As with other places to see in Odisha, temples constitute an important part of Sambalpur and lots of devotees visit the different temples here. Devi Samaleshwari is the reigning goddess here. Sambalpur, known for natural splendor & cultural sites, is one of the important tourist places in Odisha. The landscape is dotted with numerous waterfalls and plush green forests that allure photography buffs, nature lovers, and adventure enthusiasts.

Best Time To Visit: The months from September to March is the best time to visit Sambalpur.

HOW TO REACH

By Air: The Nearest airports are Swami Vivekananda International Airport, Raipur (265 K.M) and Biju Pattnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar (300 K.M). A new airport is being constructed at the industrial township of Jharsuguda (50 K.M) & Nearest Air strip is at Jamadarpali (10 K.M).

By Rail: Sambalpur is one of the Divisional headquarters of East Coast Railways. There are four Railway stations namely Sambalpur (Khetrajpur), Sambalpur Road (Fatak), Hirakud and Sambalpur City in Sambalpur.

By Road: National Highway 6 connecting Mumbai to kolkata passes through Sambalpur & Sambalpur is Connected to Bhubaneswar through Natinal Highway 42. There are also two bus stands (Govt. and the private),Govt Bus stand is situated at Laxmi Talkies Chhaka and Private Bus stand is located at Ainthapali, about 3 km from Govt Bus stand. The private stand has more regular services to major towns in the area. Taxis and auto rickshaws are available for visiting the places of interest and for excursions.

MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS:

· Hirakud Dam

· Cattle Island

· Chiplima

· Huma

· Samaleswari Temple

· Vikramkhol

· Hatibari

· Debrigarh

· Ushakothi wildlife sanctuaries

· DEER PARK

ROURKELA

Rourkela is one of the other largest cities of the state and has plenty of tourist attractions in Odisha. Although much of the city's popularity comes from the steel plant and industrial sector, you would be thrilled to see some of the cool vintage parks, waterfalls and dams that bring about a fun spin to the otherwise serious city. Plus, with opportunities of pilgrimage, trekking and shopping, you would surely have a great time exploring Rourkela. Life seems to take a more relaxed road when one starts visiting the many tourism places like temples, forts and natural wonders of the city. Visit Rourkela when monsoon leaves the city and enjoy not only the extravagant festivals but also shopping, delightful delicacies and other things to do.

BEST TIME TO VISIT the best time to visit rourkela is august to December.

HOW TO REACH

BY AIR It does not have its own airport and the nearest airport is located in Ranchi, 250 km away.

BY TRAIN The most convenient way of travelling to Rourkela is by train, as it is connected to most parts of the country by super fast trains.

BY ROAD If you wish to travel by road, you can get to Rourkela from Bhubaneshwar.

MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTION

· Darjeeng

· Nehru Traffic Park

· temples of Vedavyas & Vaishno Devi

· Hanuman Vatika

· Mandira Dam & Pitamahal Dam

· Badaghagra Falls & Khandadhar Falls

BERHAMPUR

Berhampur also known as Brahmapur is a city on the eastern coastline of Ganjam district of the Indian state of Odisha in East India.At one time Brahmapur was the 1st municipality of Odisha. It was established as Municipality in 1867.Afterwards Berhampur was awarded many times as cleanest city in India. On the eastern coastline of Odisha lies the town of Berhampur, also known as Brahmapur. The city has some temples that one can go to on their visit here. If you are in a spiritual spree, you can head to Berhampur. There are various temples here that you can visit and spend some time at peace.

BEST TIME TO VISIT October to June

BY AIR: As Berhampur doesn’t have its own airport, the nearest would be Bhubaneswar Airport which is located at the distance of 165.9 km and is well connected with the other major cities of India. Once you reach, you can avail various bus and taxi services that would take you straight to the main city.

BY RAIL: Berhampur has its own railway station and is well connected to all major cities of the country. Getting down at the station you would find local transportation including buses and taxi/cab facilities that would take you to your final destination.

BY ROAD: Getting to Berhampur via road would also be an easy way as regular bus services are connected to the major cities and towns of Odisha.

MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

· Potagarh

· Panchama

· Sri Siddhi Binayak Pitha

· Kedareswar Temple

· Thakurani Temple

· Bhairabi Temple

· Biju Patnaik Park Brahmapur

GOPALPUR

Gopalpur is a coastal town and a Notified Area Council on the Bay of Bengal coast in Ganjam district in the southern part of Odisha, India. Today it is a commercial port, a famous sea beach, a tourist destination. Gopalpur is around 15 km from Berhampur.The port town of Gopalpur is the apt place to relax. Once a bustling port city today this is one of the best beaches in Eastern India. This is the tourist place you head to when you want to relax and do nothing. The Gopalpur Beach is a beautiful beach whose beauty increases due to its remoteness, the lack of huge crowds there and the consequent peace and silence. The seafood here is also worth tasting as numerous shacks along the beach provide lip-smacking delights.

BEST TIME TO VISIT between the months of September and February.

HOW TO REACH

BY Airport: The nearest airport from Gopalpur is the Bhubaneswar airport, which is 180 km from the beach town.

BY RAILWAYS: Gopalpur does not have a railway station and the nearest railway station is the Berhampur railway station which is 16 km from the town.

BY ROADWAYS: There are no direct long distance buses to Gopalpur, but tourists can take a bus to the nearest town of Berhampur, which is 15 km from Gopalpur.

MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

· Gopalpur Sea Beach

· Dhabaleshwar Beach

PARADIP

Paradip or Paradeep, the famous sea port of India, finds its place in the list of popular tourist destinations of Odisha. It is located at the confluence of Bay of Bengal and Mahanadi. In addition to the busy dockyard, the city also has some amazing beaches that offer mesmerizing views of the surroundings. The most famous seaport of India, Paradip as mentioned earlier has a busy international seaport and the city has amazing beaches that offer spectacular views of the areas around. The Paradip Beach itself is another place where you spend a day doing nothing and just feasting on the delightful seafood available on the beach. The famous Paradip Lassi is also known as Gaveskar Lassi. It is made out of coconut and is a must-try.

BEST TIME TO VISIT: October to February

HOW TO REACH

BY AIRWAY: The nearest airport is Bhubaneswar just 125km away from

Paradeep; from there you can easily fetch a vehicle or a bus.

BY RAILWAYS: The nearest rail station is Cuttack, 94 km away from Paradeep. From here you can pick a bus to Paradeep.

BY ROAD: NH-5A links Paradeep, so any one can easily come to Paradeep from major cities of Odisha, it also connect 3 major tourist towns of Udayagiri, Lalitgiri and Ratnagiri, all within a 100km.

MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

· Paradip Port

· Gahirmatha Sanctuary & beach

· Bhitarkanina National Park

· Lighthouse

· Jhankad

CHANDIPUR

you are looking for a sea resort, then this has to be the top pick from all the places to visit in Odisha.It is a quaint seaside town which offers complete serenity and tranquility. Head here to spend some quality time with your loved ones. Popular for the disappearing sea, which is a result of high and low tides, Chandipur is a heaven for foodies. When you are here, do not forget to try prawns and pomphrets. One of the most interesting things about Chandipur is the numbers of turtles that you will be able to see on the beach.

BEST TIME TO VISIT November to March

HOW TO REACH

By Air: You can take a flight to Bhubaneswar airport and then from there you can hire a cab or catch a bus to Chandipur, which is located at a distance of around 210 km from the airport.

By Rail: Balasore, a nearby city, is well connected to Kolkata and other cities by rail. You can catch a train from Kolkata to Balasore. Once you have reached the station, you can hire a cab to Chandipur, which is located at a distance of around 10 km from Balasore.

By Road: As the roads are in good condition, Chandipur, located at a distance of around 260 km from Kolkata, is easily accessible by road.

MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

· Chandipur Beach- Chandipur Beach, where the sea recedes up to 5 km providing the scope to walk on the sea bed see collect sea shells, red crabs, turtles, and other underwater marine particles

· Similipal Forest Reserve

· Panchalingeshwar Shrine

JEYPORE

Jeypore, the city of victory is the largest town in the district and home to royal family is steeped in history. The old fort is encircled by high masonany wall with an imposing gateway. Towards the eastern part of the town is a big tank called Jagannath sagar attracts for water sports. It is 22 Kms away from Koraput. Jeypore, considered to be one of the most scenic places in the state of Orissa has natural offerings in the form of the Duduma Waterfall and the Sunabeda Valley which are perfect for a weekend family picnic. The Kolab Dam is also an attraction that is frequented in large number of people sharing the progressive experience of the civilisation.

BEST TIME TO VISIT Jeypore is best experienced between the months of October and March.

HOW TO REACH

By Air: As the nearest airport to Jeypore is located in Visakhapatnam itself, there is no option available of reaching Jeypore by air. The best way is to either catch a bus or a train if you are looking forward to reaching Jeypore comfortably.

By Rail: Jeypore has well-maintained rail network. Therefore, you can catch a direct train from Visakhapatnam to Jeypore. The entire rail journey takes an average time of 6 h 30 min.

By Road: Being one of the significant cities in Odisha, Jeypore has a commendable road system and is easily approachable by road.

M AJOR TOURIST ATTRACTION

· Kolab Botanical Garden

· Kolab Dam

· Rajamahal

· Deomali

· Gupetswar Cave

· Duduma Falls

· Sunabeda

· Hatipathar and Jagannath Sagar

BARBIL

Known for being a home to iron and manganese ore in India, Barbil is a small semi-urban town of Orissa.Located by the bank of Karo River in Keonjhar, Barbil is a lesser known tourist spot in Odisha. The place, surrounded by luxuriant forests, offers breathtaking beauty and a break away from the maddening city crowd. the city of Barbil along with its vicinity is richly blessed cultural heritage too. The Keonjhar district is known for rocks dating back about 38000 years ago and has been of major attraction by the geologists and the archaeological surveyors around the globe.

BEST TIME TO VISIT: October to March

HOW TO REACH

BY AIR nearest airport is birsa munda Ranchi airport.

BY TRAIN The train journey time between Bhubaneshwar and Barbil is around 4h 19m and covers a distance of around 215 km.Operated by Indian Railways, the Bhubaneshwar to Barbil train service departs from Bhubaneswar and arrives in Kendujhar.

BY ROAD The journey from Bhubaneswar to Barbil is smoothly covered by a bus in 9 hours. The time to travel is dependent on India’s traffic, roads and climatic conditions.

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS

Hawa Mahal

Gonasika

Thakurani Hill

Murga Mahadev, Badaghagara, khandadhar Waterfall

Uliburu Reserved Forest

temples of Hanuman & Shiva

TAPTAPANI - The Hot Water Spring

Taptapani is famous for its hot sulfur water spring.nearest town Mohana, which about 16 km away in Gajapati district.

Taptapani is famous in Odisha for its hot water spring. This spring is supposed to have medicinal attributes, making it a tourist attraction amidst people. There is a pond next to the hot spring where people can bathe and make use of the medicinal properties of the hot water spring. Being surrounded by a cluster of hills and thick forests, the serenity of nature at Taptapani is added by wonderful sights of sun rise, sun set moon lit night, tribal dance and music, chirps of birds and sight of wild animals.

The place as such attracts large numbers of tourists of all category. Poets, writers, scholars, picnickers, holiday makers and newly weds can best exploit the place through all season.

BEST TIME TO VISIT: October to March

HOW TO REACH

By Air: Nearest Airport is Bhubaneswar

By Train: Nearest Railway Station is Berhampur

By Road: On Road it is 50 k.m. away from Berhampur.

MAJOR ATTRACTION

· Tampara Lake.

· Nature & Wildlife Areas.

· Kalijai Island.

· Taptapani Hot Water Springs.

· Hot Springs & Geysers.

· Birds Island.

· Breakfast Island.

· Mahendragiri Hills.

· Godhahada Dam.