Odisha with its exotic beaches, rich flora and fauna, abundant wildlife and exquisite temples, is a traveler’s delight. The magnificent cities of this quaint state rightly speaks of its cultural past. Whether it is strolling around the majestic temple of Jagannath, lingering around the Konark Sun Temple, or exploring the ancient jain caves in Khandagiri, one can never have enough of the best tourist places of Orissa.
Located on the eastern coast of India with a coastline of about 485 km, Odisha is home to mesmerising exotic beaches. The beaches of Odisha truly justifies its tourism tagline, ‘scenic, serene and sublime’. The colourful sunsets at the pristine Astaranga Beach, the surreal beach of Bhitarkanika lined with coconut and palm trees, hypnotic paradeep beach and disappearing sea of the Chandipur Beach is a splendid retreat for the lovers of sun, sand and sea.
The traditional Oriya dishes satiates the taste buds with its exotic and rich local flavours. Whether it is the tried and tested age old Rasgulla, the local kora khai of Bhubaneshwar, or fresh seafood delicacies from the coastal areas, the local fare of Odisha leaves you asking for more.
For someone who loves festivals and fairs. Odisha doesn’t disappoint you a bit. The year in Odisha is lined up with festivals like Konark Dance and Music Festival in December, Baliyatra in November- December, Makar-Sankranti in January, the world famous Rathyatra in June-July and Puri Beach Festival in October.
The tropical climate complements your travel itinerary almost any time of the year. Whether it is shopping for appliqué craft at Pipli, Exploring Udayagiri caves, picnicking across the pristine Oriya beaches, trekking to Dhauli Giri Hills, Camping alongside the tranquil Chilika Lake, or spotting white tigers at the Nandankanan Zoological Park, you just cannot get enough of the soul of Incredible India. Visiting the tourist places in Orissa will give you an experience of a lifetime.
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Recommendations for Orissa
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People Also Ask About Orissa
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Travel advice:
You can reach Odisha by rail, and air. Carry casual clothes when you travel here and avoid wearing skimpy or tight fitted clothes.
Wear ethnic or traditional clothes when you visit temples in Odisha.
Carry bottled water, sunscreen, emergency travel kit, torch lights, and travel documents along with you.
When taking a boating tour, use a licensed boat.
Before entering any national park or reserve, always take a permit for entry.
Maintain silence when taking wildlife tours inside the sanctuaries and wear clothes that blend with the foliage in the forest. Do not wear perfume or bright coloured clothes.
Do not beckon the attention of wild animals by making sounds. View them from a safe distance.
Adhere to all the rules when you visit parks, reserves, sanctuaries, and temples.
Do not get into any discussions inside the temple. Maintain peace and let the devotees pray in peace.
Do not use plastic or polythene bags inside the reserve or parks. Do not carry food inside the parks.
Do not venture out in the night, and avoid visiting isolated places.
Do not carry meat or meat products when visiting parks, and taking wildlife tours.
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Drinking laws
You must be 21 years or above of age to purchase and drink alcohol. Do not drink in public or religious places. Do not carry alcohol bottles on streets or take them inside parks or reserves.
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Our Recommendations: What You Can’t Afford To Miss?
Beaches and lakesThere are three beaches that you can visit in Odisha. You can visit the Chandipur beach thas a sea side resort and a breathtaking view. Its coastline has Casuarina trees and creepers. You can stay at this beach and take a beach walking trail. Puri beach has white sand and is the coastline of the sacred Puri Jagannath temple. This beach has sand sculptures, food stalls, and kiosks, where you can relish the street food. You can visit this beach at the dawn and take a stroll here. You can also visit the Gopalpur on Sea which is a town that has coconut grooves and sand dunes.
Kanija is a fresh water lake in Khurda district. You can take a look at many migratory birds at the Hirakud reservoir. At the foothills of Saranda hills is lake Anushpa that is in the horseshoe shape. You can get a view of flora and fauna, and wild animals at the Chilika Lake and enjoy the nature walks at this lake.
Temple toursTourists visit Odisha for pilgrimage. You can visit the Puri Jagannath temple, which is one of the most sacred temples in India. It is an 11th century temple located in Puri. You can visit the Sun temple at Konark, also known as the Konark temple. It is 65 kilometres away from Bhubaneswar. There are more than 500 temples in Bhubaneswar alone. The Parasuramesvara and Vaital Deul are one of the oldest temples built in the 10-11th century. The Muktesvara temple is also one of the popular temples in Bhubaneswar. The Brahmeswara Temple in the capital city is an 11th century temple.
National parks and wildlifeYou can visit the Bhitarkanika National Park in Cuttack, take a walk in the mango groves, and witness from amongst more than 200 species of migratory birds, salt water crocodiles, and other animals. This park has estuaries, rivers, forests, and backwaters. The Simlipal National Park is a home to tigers, wild elephants, and gaurs. You can also spot porcupine, sambar, bison, leopard, flying squirrel, and more wild animals. In Bhubaneshwar, you can visit the Nandankanan Zoological Park and Satkosia Tiger Reserve.
Other places to seeIn Cuttack, You can visit the Barabati Fort, Odisha Maritime Museum, and Dhabaleswar Island. In Sambalpur, you can visit the Hirakud Dam, Hatibari, Cattle Island, Ushakothi Wildlife Sanctuary, Badarama Wildlife Sanctuary, and Samaleswari Temple. In Puri you can visit the Daya River and Chilika Wildlife Sanctuary. You can visit the Badaghagra Falls, Pitamahal Dam, Khandadhar Falls, and Vaishno Devi Temple in Rourkela. In Konark you can visit the sun temple and the Archaeological Site Museum. Visit the Uliburu Reserved Forest, Murga Mahadev Waterfalls, and Uliburu Reserved Forest in Barbil. Visit the Gupteshwar Caves, Duduma Falls, and Kolab Botanical Gardens in Jeypore. Take a boat safari and visit the marine aquarium in Paradeep, which is located at the confluence of Mahanadi River.
Pilgrimage and nature walksThere are rivers, lakes, dams, and umpteen temples that you can visit in different cities in Odisha. Odisha has one of the oldest temples with stunning architectures. You can get a glimpse of nature and wild life when you visit wildlife sanctuaries that are spread across the state.
Arts and cultureYou can visit Odisha during festivals and get an insight into the rituals and tradition of the folk and tribal sects in Odisha. You can also visit state museums and art galleries that have artifats, sculptures from ancient historical eras. This is not a place for partying or having a night-life. There are not too many options for water sports or adventure activities either. You can only enjoy sightseeing the natural beauty at most of these places.
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Recommended Reads For The Destination
Website
Forum
Books
People of India Odisha by K.S. Singh
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When is the best time to visit Orissa?
Orissa has a tropical climate with scorching summers and intolerably cold winters. The best time to visit Orissa is from October to February when the weather is warm, dry and pleasant. It is foggy and green during these months and excellent for enjoying the sea shores and beaches along with wildlife. If you want to witness the Jagannath Temple-Chariot Festival or Rath Yatra then June-July are the best months although the temperatures goes as high as 46 degrees during summers.
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How to reach Orissa?
By Air: The Biju Patnaik Airport at Bhubaneswar connects Orissa to all the major cities of India. Flights from most of the popular Airlines fly between Biju Patnaik Airport and cities including Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Vishakhapatnam and Raipur.
By Train: Located in the capital city of Odisha, the Bhubaneswar Railway Station is the major rail head of odisha. It is served by major train networks that connects it to other parts of Odisha and other cities in the country. Famous train like Rajdhani, Konark Express and Coromandal Express serves the station.
By Road: Several buses ply from neighboring states to Odisha. It can be easily accessed by National Highway number 5,6, 23, 42 and 43.
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What are the things to do in Orissa?
Here is a list of things to do in Odisha.
Visit Dhauli Giri Hills
Swim in Solitude at the Puri Beach
Witness a fascinating wildlife at Nandankanan Zoological Park
Take a tour of the World Heritage Site of Konark Sun Temple.
Explore Udayagiri Caves, one of the oldest cave temples in India.
Go birding and dolphin watching at Chilika Lake.
Shop local Applique craft at pipli village.
Seek blessings at Jagannath Temple.
Explore the ancient Jain caves in Khandagiri.
Take a peaceful stroll along Chandrabhaga Beach.
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What is the local food of Orissa? Which are the best places to taste this food?
The traditional food of Odisha are the Oriya dishes which includes delicacies like Pakhala, Khechidi, Palau, Kanika and Ghee Rice. Here is a list of best places to taste this food.
Bara of Dhenkanal
Rasgulla at Salepur
Kora Khai at Bhubaneswar
Dahibara Aloodum at Cuttack
Badi at Keonjhar
Mudhi-Mansa at Baripada
Khaja at Puri
Chhena Jhili at Nimapara
Chenna Poda at Nayagarh
Rasabali at Kendrapara
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What is the best public transport to commute around Orissa?
Public transport in odisha is largely supplied by Auto. There are private and Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) buses available across various routes. OSRTC has now introduced AC bus services in Puri and Bhubaneshwar that are efficient, comfortable and economical. The Dream Team Sahara or DTS also ply between Puri and Bhubaneshwar on a regular basis.
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What is the local language in Orissa and which are the most commonly used greetings? (mention at least 4) (Hello, Thank you, Good morning/night, What is the price of ____?, How far is _____?)
The local language of Odisha is Oriya. Here are some of the common phrases in Oriya
Hello- (namascara)
(sunibe?)
(h??)
Good morning- (suprabhata)
Good night- (shubharaatra)
Thank you- (dhanyabaad)
(tumbhangku dhanyabaad)
Do you Speak English? - (?pa?a inr?j? kuhanti ki)
Excuse me- (kyam? karibe) - to get past
(kyam? karantu) - to get attention
What is your name?- Tumoro Naamo
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Which are the best shopping places in Orissa and what are they famous for?
The myriad art and craft of Odisha are available in abundance in the local streets and markets. Here is a list of places in Orissa to help you while you go on a shopping spree.
- Pipli, Puri famous for Applique art and craft
- Orissa State Handloom cooperative, Rajpath, Bhubaneshwar famous for fine applique work and ikkat fabric.
- Raghurajpur, Puri Famous For Pattachitra, the traditional, cloth-based scroll paintings.
- Patachitra Centre, Puri famous for Patachitra and palm leaf paintings
- Choudhary Bazaar, Cuttack famous for unique silver filigree works (Tarakasi), woven textiles and local food joints.
- Surajpur chowk, Chandipur famous for odisha arts and crafts.
- Naya Sarak or Balu Bazar, Cuttack famous for jewellery carved out by the filigree artists.
- Rajpath Road, Bhubaneswar famous for its epic architecture and local food.
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Which are the best camping sites in Orissa?
Here is a list of some of the best camping sites in Odisha
Chilika Lake
Chhotkei Nature Camp, Purunakote
Kalahandi Area, Koratpur
Balangir and Nawapara Area
Kandhamal, (Phulbani)
Sambalpur Area
Keonjhar- Mayurbhanj
Sundargarh
Puri-Jagatsinghpur
Khurda District, Bhubaneshwar
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Which are some famous beaches in Orissa?
Odisha is home to abundant of mesmerising shorelines which calls for a beautiful beach holiday. Have a look at this list of Famous Beaches in Odisha.
- Chandipur Beach, Chandipur
- Bhitarkanika Beach, Kendrapara district
- Chandrabhaga Beach, Konark
- Puri Beach, Puri
- Gopalpur Beach, Ganjam District
- Balighai Beach, Beldal
- Rushikulya Beach, Ganjam District
- Aryapalli Beach, Berhampur
- Balaramgadi Beach, Puri
- Konark Beach, Konark
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Which are famous wildlife sanctuaries in Orissa?
Odisha is rich in a variety of flora and fauna and the host of wildlife sanctuaries in Odisha is a nature lover’s delight. Here is a list of some of the famous wildlife sanctuaries in Odisha.
Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary
Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary
Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary
Chilika Wildlife Sanctuary
Simlipal National Park
Satkosia Tiger Reserve
Bhitarkanika National Park
Ushakothi (Badrama) Wildlife Sanctuary
Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary
Kotagarh Wildlife Sanctuary
Hadagarh Wildlife Sanctuary
Nandankanan Zoological Park
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Orissa Top Attractions
Places To Visit In Orissa
The best beach with numerous food stalls that offer the best seafood in Puri. Puri beach is known for its roaring waves and fine golden sands. It offers opportunities to the daring souls to challenge the sea waves. It is one of the places to see in Puri since you can't miss the views of the sunrise and sunset.It is on the shore of the Bay of Bengal. To reach Puri beach, one can take the train, which is 2kms from the beach or travel by air from the nearby airport, which is 60kms away. It is the largest in the country and stretches up to seven kilometers. The beach hosts sand art displays by international award-winning local sand artists and camel and horse riders. There are no restrictions on visiting the beach except it's not visited at night.Location: Puri, Odisha 752001, India.Timing: 24-hrs.
The best time to visit the beach is from October to march. The beach boasts serenity and good experience in the city. Swargadwar means Door to Heaven and thus holds religious significance. It is believed in Hinduism that those who take a dip gain salvation to reach heaven after death.Hence, devotees visit the nearby Mahanadi bathing spot to take a dip in the holy waters. The beach is near the Swargadwar market and Jagannath Temple. Nearby is Swargadwar cremation ground, for it is believed to be holy. One of the places to visit in Puri in two days for a picnic and learn its religious significance and enjoy the beach’s breeze.Location: Puri, Odisha 752001.Timings: 12:00 AM - 12:00 PM.
It was built by the Hoysala Empire king and inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in dedication to Laxmi Narayana. The temple was built inside a seven-foot-tall stone wall enclosure with an entrance through a porch with a roof supported by circular lathe-turned pillars.Lakshmi means the goddess of wealth, love, prosperity, and fortune. It is one of the earliest temples built in the Hoysala style, and it was made with soapstone material. Lakshmi temple is one of the places to visit in Puri in two days and explore all the architectural styles used in designing it. The best time to visit the temple is early in the morning when there is a minimal rush.Location: Near Jagannath Temple Behind Sri Jagannath Temple,on the left hand side, Puri 752001 India.
It is located in Khandagiri Digamber Jain temple and is one of the places to see in Puri. It is six kilometers west of the city and topped with a temple. It is believed to be over 2000 years and inhabited by Jain scholars. Khandagiri has other 15caves like; to the entrance curved as a tiger mouth is Bough Gumpha, to the tiny door is Sarpa Gumpha and Pavana Gumpha.The furthermost entry is Chota Hathi Gumpha with elephant carvings and Jaya Vijava cave with a Bodhi tree curved in the central area. To the right path goes Anatha cave curled with figures of athletes, women, and geese carrying flowers. There is no charged fee to visit the place. Khandagiri offers exceptional views over Bhubaneswar from its pinnacle. The best time to visit is from 9 am or 10 am and take about 4hours to see Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves.Location: Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751030.Timings: 9 AM to 6 PM.
The temple is located on Bada Danda, three kilometers from Jagannath temple. The temple is named after the queen of Indradyumna Gundicha. The temple serves as a temporary home of Lord Jagannath during Rath Yatra.The temple also houses a seat called Ratnavali. It remains vacant most of the year, and it is occupied by images of Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra and their sister Subhadra for seven days during the festival of Rath Yatra. The temple is built using light grey sandstone, and its architectural style is Kalinga.It has two gates; the western entrance, which is the main gate through which deities enter during Rath Yatra and the eastern gate, which is used by gods for departure after the festival. The temple remains empty for the rest of the year. It is when foreigners are allowed inside after paying an entry fee.Location: Gundicha temple, Puri, Odisha 752001.
The name of the two caves, comes mainly from their location on the hills with the respective names. Located across a road, the two caves literally stand facing each other. They are believed to have been carved out as residential accommodation for Jain monks during the reign of King Kharavela. Udaygiri, popular as the sunrise hill, has 18 caves, while Khandagiri has 15. These caves mingle between religious and historical relevance in their time, with many of them depicting deities and idols of different gods. These caves, which date back to the first century, provide visible evidence and insight into the Jain aesthetics. More precisely, these caves depict epic court scenes, royal processions and leisure of the era, through motifs and engravings, which are stark and unique in every sense, which is why it is one of the most popular Places to visit in Bhubaneshwar. Location: Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751030Price: Indians – Rs 20; Foreigners – Rs 200Timing: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PMBest Time to Visit: October to March
Located on the confluence of River Kushabhadra and the Bay of Bengal, Ramachandi Beach is one of the best tourist places in Bhubaneswar for nature lovers. It is named after Goddess Ramchandi, the main deity in Konark and also known as the consort of Sun God. Believed to be one of the most beautiful beaches in India, it offers some gorgeous sunsets and sunrise views for the tourists. The beach offers many tranquil moments for the tourists to soak in the sunshine and appreciate the glittering sands all around you. When you are here, you will forget all the worries hovering over your mind and enjoy the little moments of peace all by yourself.The splendid beach attracts many couples, college goers and regular tourists to admire its shining blue waters, white sand on the beach fringed by long palm trees. The pristine beach has the advantage of being away from the knowledge of many tourists and blessed with gentle waves of the ocean. Located 65 kms away from Bhubaneswar, this beach calls everyone to take a break and admire the ferocious beauty of nature. The major activities which you can enjoy here are water activities like motorboating, scuba diving, jet skiing, water skiing, etc.Location: Ramachandi Beach, Odisha Best time to visit: September and October
Perpetually, one of the most renowned temples in Bhubaneshwar, the Lingaraj temple happens to be one of the largest temples in the city. Built in the 7th century, the temple is religiously dedicated to Lord Shiva, and is the only one to display the phallic form of Lord Shiva, believed to have appeared naturally at this spot. The linga stands as high as 8 inches, unlike any other lingas that are known to exist in temples around India. The temple gives an insight into the Odissi style of architecture, built precariously with stone vaults that mount over the main structure. Following the rituals and cultures handed down over the years, the temple allows entry only to Hindus. During the festival of Mahashivratri, the entire temple precinct is adorned with flowers and lights to commemorate the occasion. While the temple receives a footfall of almost 6000 visitors on a daily basis, it can go up to 2 lakh during major events. Location: Lingaraj Nagar, Old Town, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751002Price: No entry feeTiming: 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM Best Time to Visit: October to March
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