Odisha, the land of paddy fields and silver palm-fringed beaches, temples, ponds, waterfalls and tribal people, is packed with significant attractions such as Bhubaneshwar and Puri temples, miles of clean beaches and Konark’s majestic Sun Temple. Hundreds of temples can be found in the capital, Bhubaneswar. Odisha is always well-deserved in the state of India because of its amazing architecture, culture, dialects, vibrant music and dance. Odisha, once known as Orissa, is an architectural location with many marvels. Odisha is renowned for its legacy and amazing panoramas. Odisha has many sights for travelers from beaches to pilgrimages from all over the world.
Odisha is a place where you can rest on the beaches, visit the famous temples and discover the beauty and abundance of nature and wildlife, also known as the soul of India. For visitors who want to see colors and want to enjoy life to the fullest, Odisha’s art and culture, fairs and festivals, dances and music are a treat. Visit India’s soul state and come back with a bag full of memories that will linger for a long time engraved in your memory. Odisha offers you to several historical and beautiful sites. In this article we are going to share top 10 best places to visit in Odisha.
What is the Best time to visit in Odisha?
The best time to visit Odisha is from October to March (winter). In these months the sky stays bright, making it suitable for outdoor activities and sightseeing. In February the popular Konark Dance festival will be held and the visit to the state will be all the more exciting.The summers are quite warm from April to June with some rainfall, making sightseeing quite uncomfortable.
How To Reach Odisha?
By Air: The most comfortable and easy way to get to Odisha is by air. As not only a popular film shooting location, but also a popular tourism destination, Odisha is home to 17 airports consisting of commercial, military, private and flying planes. However, the main airport is Biju Patnaik International Airport, situated in Bhubaneshwar, the capital city. One should take advantage of the car, taxi and bus services lined up outside the airport upon arrival.
By Rail: Major towns and regions are linked by rail with Odisha and some of its cities. In Bhubaneshwar lies the most famous railway in Odisha. The Bhubaneshwar Railway station also connects you via Express and Super Express trains to Kolkata, Puri, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Tirupati and Trivandrum. As per schedule, these run daily. As soon as you walk out of the train station, buses, cabs and taxis are available.
By Road: With its open national and state highways, Odisha is well connected with all the major cities in the region. Multiple bus lines from neighboring states can also be used. To ride to and from Odisha, you have access to local buses and luxurious Volvos. These two-lane and four-lane highways are a joy to travel on if you are fond of road trips. You can either rent a car or a taxi, or you can ride either of the local or private buses to Odisha.
Here are the Best Places to Visit in Odisha
1. Puri
Puri in Odisha, because of Jagannath Temple that is one of the four Hindus pilgrimage sites in India, is a must visit. Puri is a beach town on Bay of Bengal and one of the most favourite destinations for a short trip among the people of Western Bengal.
Many sites in the vicinity of Puri must be visited, such as Chilika Lake, Puri Beach, Gundicha Ghar and the very famous Konark Sun Temple.
2. Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar, known as Indian Temple City, is one of Odisha’s main tourist attractions. This is a classic example of tradition, patrimony and residential growth. The place contains wonderful temples with wonderful works of art, wildlife and interesting caves.
Several places to visit are Dhauli Hills, Satkosia Tiger Reserve, Ratnagiri Cellars, Bindu Sarovara, Nandan Kanan Zoosy Reserve and temples of Mukteswar, Lingaraj, Brahmeswara, & Parasurameswara.
Check Out – Top 10 Best Places to Visit in Bhubaneswar
3. Cuttack
Cuttack is Odisha’s second-largest town and is also recognised as the state’s cultural capital. This is not to a limited degree because of the variety of cultural events that continues here. The Bali Yatra is the prime of these. This festival considers the glorious heritage of the city and its commercial relations with places like Bali, Java and Sumatra.
The Bhitarkanika Sanctuary of Wildlife, the endangered Olive Ridley tortoises, the famous seaport and Paradip Beach, the 14-style Barabati fort, the Mahanadi dam, and the temples of Singanatha and Bhattarika are some of the places to be on each of the tourists’ lists.
4. Konark
Konark’s Sun Temple is famous worldwide in the State of Orissa for its Sun Temple, also a UNESCO World Heritage site, annual dance festival and beautiful sandy beaches. It’s a marvellous building and is one of the most beautiful monuments in India. The annual dance festival is a cultural extravagance that lasts five days and provides unique dance talent from all over the world.
Konark also organises the Sun Festival, where devoted people give their sun-god prayers by dipping in the sea. There is also a Mela crafts festival, where one can buy unique and exquisitely handmade pieces that represent the Oriya form of art beautifully.
5. Jeypore
For nature lovers, Jeypore is one of Odisha’s delightful tourist sites. It offers fantastic views of rocky outcrops, picturesque waterfalls and luxuriant green biosphere reserves. Deomali is a popular picnic spot and is located in Odisha not too far from Jeypore. The highest peak is Odisha.
There are places like Sunabeda, Deomali, Duduma Falls, Jagannath Sagar, Hatipatar and Kolab Falls to visit.
6. Baripada
The town of Baripada is renowned for its wonderful culture and its essence of nature purity. Its Rath Yatra is regarded as the largest and oldest in Puri, so Baripada is referred to as Dwitiya Srikhetra.
The Rathyatra Festival, which is renowned worldwide for having only women to pull the Maa Subhadra rhythm and gather massive crowds. One also finds here temple, considered to be one of the oldest in Odisha and which has a deep sense of faith and devotion to devotees from all over. Baripada is also known for its “tusser” fabric of Bangripori, which you can find on local markets everywhere.
7. Sambalpur
Sambalpur has a large greenery and is a gateway to western Odisha.. Some of Sambalpur’s specialities are rivers, forests and majestic hills full of wildlife.
Sambalpur’s famous Hirakud Dam is also here. Temples are an important part of Sambalpur, as in other places in Odisha and many devotees visit the various temples here. The ruling goddess here is Devi Samaleshwari from whom Sambalpur also derives its name. Sambalpur is also known for its handlifts and textile industry, and the sarees of Sambalpuri are renowned for their crafting and finesse throughout India.
8. Rourkela
Rourkela is one of Odisha’s biggest cities. The site is mainly known for the stainless steel industry and related industrial development. However, it also attracts visitors to Odisha with its vintage temples, parks, barracks and cascades. Trekking, picnic and shopping are some of the wonderful things to do in Rourkela.
There are many places to visit including Darjeeng, Nehru Traffic Park, the Vedavyas & Vaisno Devi Temple, Mandira Dam, Pitamahal Dam, Badaghagra Falls and Khandadhar Falls. There is an excellent place for visiting.
9. Berhampur
Berhampur, also known as Brahmapur is known to be Lord Brahma’s home and widely referred to as the silk town – the town famous for the brilliant silk ikkat sarees in various colours and proprietary designs.
The Bomokei patta is also an attraction for tourists in the town of Bomokei, where excellent work is made from brass and metal. In reality, this town offers some of the best papades, pickles, badis and fruit particularly mangoe besides these magnificent crafts, handlooms and jewellery. The Parishad Ganjam Kala and the Hall Prakasam are one of the city’s oldest halls. Except in the surrounding area for theists, temples and festivals.
10. Gopalpur
This once a vibrant harbour town is one of Eastern India’s best beaches today. You’re going to this tourist place to rest and do nothing.
The beach of Gopalpur is a wonderful beach with a greater elegance, owing to its remoteness, the absence of large numbers and the resulting calm and quiet. Meat here should also be sampled, since several shacks on the beach sell flavorful delights. Between September and February is the best time to visit this location. The Gopalpur Lighthouse and Chilika Lake are both worth visiting.
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