I am doing some research on Orissa, and I am considering visiting the destination first to know more about it, secondly so I get an excuse for a holiday. It is an entirely different part of India from where I live, and something to guide me would be to find out the places to visit in Orissa. At least this way I would know where I am heading and get some idea of the place.
Hello, @Ekta! Welcome to the forum. Orissa or Odisha is one of the lesser travelled to states in the country. But despite this, it has plenty of attractions to boast of. From its wonderfully designed temples, sandy beaches and dense forests, you won't find it short of places to explore. The rich culture and hospitality of the people are also great features of the city. Her are some of the best places to visit in Orissa: 1. Bhubaneswar - Although this is the capital of Odisha, it's unlike the other capitals of other cities. The combination of the ancient temples, along with the modernities that a city can offer is one of the unique features of the city. It is best known as Temple City, owing to the almost 500 temples that are found in it. But back then, during the ancient era, when the Mauryans ruled the region, there were even over 2,000 temples in the city. Bhubaneswar is also a very ancient city, with its history that can be traced back to the 4th century BC. The classical dance of Odisha, called Odissi, also finds some reference as sculptures and carvings in some of the temples in Bhubaneswar. The residents of Bhubaneswar have embraced the culture and religion well. It's one of the few cities in which residents display a form of art to represent the city in the walls of their home. Religion is embraced dearly here as well. It has less of the hustle and bustle that most cities have, but still effects of progress, like traffic and slums, are still evident. Life here is a little bit slower though and you get to enjoy the rich history of Bhubaneswar because of that. Must visit places - Lingaraja Temple, Mukteswara Temple, Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves, Ekamra Kanan, Chandaka Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary and many more. Related thread - Places to visit in Bhubaneswar. 2. Puri - This city is best known as an important pilgrimage site for the Hindus. The main attraction here is the Jagannath Temple, which is only open for visits for Hindus. Along with Lord Jagannath, his brother, Balabhadra and his sister, Subhadra are also worshipped in the temple. Most people associate Puri with this temple and rightfully so, since it is very much a part of the city. But more than that, Puri is rich in other attractions, like beaches and wildlife sanctuaries. Perhaps one of the most popular beaches here is the Puri Beach, where it's common to see throngs of tourists and locals alike everyday. The Chilika Wildlife Sanctuary is also another attraction, wherein you can ride a boat and if you're lucky, you might be able to spot dolphins swimming in the water. If not though, just relish in the beauty of the surroundings and the flocks of birds around the lake. Oh, and were else can you find an art village? Only in Puri, the Raghurajpur Artist Village is a line of homes displaying art pieces like paintings and handicrafts. The ancient technique of using indigenous materials for paintings is also practiced here, known as Pattachitra. Do visit this village and you'd be amazed by the craftwork of the men here. You can even buy their paintings and handicrafts. As you can see, Puri is more than a pilgrimage site and it has many things to offer to tourists. Must visit places - Jagannath Temple, Puri Beach, Raghurajpur Artist Village, Chilika Wildlife Sanctuary, Swargadwar Beach, Balukhand Wildlife Sanctuary and many more. Related thread - Char Dham Yatra Tour Puri - Rameshwaram - Dwarka - Badrinath & Kolkata to Puri Trip. 3. Cuttack - An ancient city trying to keep up with the modern times, that is Cuttack. Even until now, the city is lined with narrow roads and lanes. It can be a bit frustrating at first, but that's a part of the personality of the city. If you look beyond the chaotic traffic and narrow lanes, you'd find that Cuttack has many more attractions to be explored. First of all, Cuttack is surrounded by the Mahanadi River, and seeing this river while you're driving around the city can be quite relaxing. The Mahanadi Bridge is the longest of its kind in Cuttack and connects the city to Dhabaleswar, an island in the river which is home to a Shiva temple. There are also numerous temples that can be visited in Cuttack. An ancient fort called the Barabarti Fort is also a famous attraction of the city, although it is in ruins now. Do visit the Cuttack Railway Station, which was designed to look like the Barabarti Fort, definitely a must visit modern attraction of the city. Cuttack is also known for its beautiful silver accessories and it's a must to bring one home as a souvenir from the city. Must visit places - Barabarti Fort, Cuttack Chandi Temple, Mahanadi River and Bridge, Dhabaleswar Island, Netaji Birthplace Museum and many more. Related thread - Places to visit near Bhubaneswar. 4. Konark - This city is just 35 kilometres away from Puri. The city itself only has a few attractions, the main one being the Konark Sun Temple. Many of the structures within the temple already fell in ruins. But you can still see the main feature of it, being a chariot for the Sun God, Surya. Most of the inner parts of the temple are sealed off from the public. Thus, you can only view its brilliance from the outside. The beautiful and intricate sculptures of the temple have earned it a spot in the UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites. Konark also has other attractions like temples, an ASI Museum and beach. Since it's located very near Puri, you can easily squeeze in a day trip into the city. Must visit places - Konark Sun Temple, Chandrabhaga Sea Beach, Ramachandi Temple and ASI Museum. Related thread - Places to visit near Puri. 5. Chandipur - This is one of the lesser explored places in Orissa. The sleepy little town is fairly quiet and untouched by commercialism. The Jhandipur Beach is its main attraction. A unique phenomenon of this beach is that the water here recedes for about five to six kilometres, twice a day. Thus, you can walk in the sea area or even ride a bicycle along it. When the beach water is back to its normal levels, you can enjoy swimming as the water here is very clean, unlike the other beaches in Orissa. Bring a camera along and photograph the uncommon horseshoe crabs that can be seen in the shores of the beach. Another attraction here is the Chandi Temple, which is about five kilometres away from the beach. These are the main attractions of the town so it's not a lot. But if you'd like a place to relax and just be away from the busy cities, then it's one of the best destinations in Orissa for that. Must visit places - Chandipur Beach and Chandi Temple. Related thread - 20 Weekend Getaways From Kolkata. There you go. I hope this helps you.
