Places to visit in Orissa

Known famously as the “City of Temples”, Bhubaneswar has a strong foothold in the history of India. Better known as the capital city of the state of Odisha, this place was under the rule of King Sisupala for a long period of time. The remains of Sisupalgarh found near Bhubaneswar city imply that they predate even the Mauryan empire. Holding a 2000-year old rich history, this place presents the perfect amalgamation of a rustic world that features grand temples and brilliant architecture and a modern era that features flourishing business and commerce.

The city of Bhubaneswar exhibits timeless beauty with its iconic monuments dating back to more than 3000 years. The colourful temples, serene dams, breathtaking parks, ancient caves, picturesque lakes, and renowned museums add to the charm of this city and cater to its rich tourism industry.

It goes without saying that Bhubaneswar is home to some of the most important attractions and exciting places to visit in Orissa that attract travelers of all moods to the city. Important religious sites like Parasurameswara Temple, Mukteshwar Temple, Lingaraj Temple, Peace Pagoda, Rajarani Temple, and Ananta Vasudeva Temple propel a heavy influx of devotees and pilgrims to this place. While Udayagiri & Khandagiri, Ashoka Rock Edict, Odisha State Museum and Ratnagiri Buddhist Excavation attracts history buffs, Nandankanan Zoo, Indira Gandhi Park, Atri, Bindu Sagar, and Ekamra Kanan form a paradise for nature lovers.

If you are an action-living holidaymaker, be sure that Bhubaneswar won’t disappoint you. While you can explore the state’s culture at Odisha Modern Art Gallery and Museum of Tribal Arts & Artifacts, you can interact with wildlife at Chandaka Elephant Sanctuary and Nandankanan Zoological Park. While you can seek blessings at ISKON Temple, you can go boating at Nicco Park. Bhubaneswar has a tropical savanna climate with summers experiencing high temperatures and humidity and monsoons bringing in torrential downpours. The winters make for the most ideal time to visit this city, when the weather is soothingly cold.

This historic town, one of the best places to visit in Orissa, lies on the Bay of Bengal coastline in the District of Puri. Konark is an important cultural and heritage landmark in India making it one of the most-visited places in East India. The beauty of Konark lies in its diverse landscape. Dotted with several temples, museums, and beaches, with silhouettes of the Eastern Ghats in the background, make it one of the best places in the country for a deeply spiritual and unconventional getaway.

Konark houses one of the most extraordinary architectures in the country- the 13th-century Sun Temple. This UNESCO protected site depicts a chariot of Sun God with 12 pairs of intricately carved wheels pulled by 7 horses. Built in traditional Kalinga architecture, one can still see the remains of the vimana, shikara, audience hall, dance hall, etc. Another popular attraction here is the pristine Chandrabhaga Beach, one of the cleanest beaches in the country, famous for its crystal clear waters, expanses of soft powdery sands, and tree-lined shores.

Another great beach to visit is Astaranga Beach, which is famous for offering stunning sunset views. Visit the ASI Museum, the oldest in Konark, to trace the unique culture and see hundreds of antique sculptures like a sandstone Surya image, Kandolite wheels, etc. that were recovered from the Konark Temple.

One of the best things to do at Konark is to enjoy watersports at the beautiful Chandrabhaga Beach. You can spend hours surfing, snorkelling, and swimming and round off the day with a beachside bonfire. No trip to Konark is complete without experiencing the surrealism and the beauty of the Konark Dance Festival to see classical dance performances, listen to traditional music, and admire the beauty of stunning handicrafts displayed with the Sun Temple in the background.

Konark experiences extremely hot summers during March-June with temperatures reaching 43°C. Monsoon months of July-September see heavy rainfalls accompanied by sporadic cyclones. Winter months of October-February are the best to visit when the temperatures drop to as low as 12°C.