TOP 10 PLACES TO VISIT IN ODISHA

 

In this blog, we are going to know the best places to visit in Odisha. There are many beautiful states in India, but Odisha has a different charm. Odisha is very underrated in terms of visits in comparison to the other states. It is located on the eastern coast of India. It is known for its rich cultural heritage, ancient temples, beautiful beaches, and diverse wildlife. So come with us and know the top 10 places to visit in Odisha.

 

Best places to visit in Odisha

 

1. Bhubaneswar, Odisha

 

Bhubaneswar occupies the status of the capital city of Odisha, the state of India situated on the eastern coastline. It has a respectful history that has wonderful stories. One of the common characterizations of it is “The Temple City of India” because of its huge number of ancient temples as well as historical monuments.

Bhubanewar which is situated within the greenary and is known for its gardens and parks lies nearby. The Botanical Gardens and the Nandankanan Zoological Park are the most sought venues of nature lovers which have lush green forestry, spreading greens and bio-diversity.

Places to visit: Odisha State Museum, Rajarani Temple, Bindu Sarovara, Khandagiri and Udayagiri Caves etc.

Best time to visit: October to March

Entry fee: N/A

Check out: Orissa Tribal Tour 

 

2. Puri, Odisha

 

Puri , an East Indian state capital Odisha , has become a tourist hotspot having some of the richest heritage, ancient temples, and beautiful sea shores. It is famous for a visit to Jagannath Temple – one of the four dham sacred places – that the Hindus honor.

The city hosts different festivals where each has its own custom rituals and unicity of culture. Rath Yatra is the main festival but other such as Chandan Yatra and even Kartik Purnima also provide the Festival with an amazing experience.

Places to visit: Jagannath Temple, Puri Beach, Cultural Heritage, Lingaraj Market etc.

Best time to visit: October to February

Entry fee: N/A

 

3. Konark, Odisha

 

The other important one is Konarak also is a town of Puri district in the state of Odisha. It is very famous places to visit in Odisha. The Sun Temple is a cultural heritage site that has been included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We can also name it as one of the most prominent and distinct temples in India.

Places to visit: Konark Sun Temple, Chandrabhaga Beach, ASI Museum, Konark, Konark Dance Festival etc.

Best time to visit: October to March

Entry fee: Rs 40 Indians and Rs 600 Foreigners

 

4. Chilika Lake, Odisha

 

It is a salty-sweet water lagoon in the Odisha State, on the east coast of India. India has got the Biggest Coastal Lagoon in the country and it is the second biggest in the world. The lake is an isolated ecosystem and its vent to the Bay of Bengal is the thin sandbar that sets it apart. It is for this reason, that it is ecologically important.

Places to visit: Rambha, Kalijai Island, Nalabana Island, Chourbar Shiva Temple etc.

Best time to visit: November to February

Entry fee: N/A

 

5. Raghurajpur, Odisha

 

It is famed for its Pattachitra paintings, which is an ancient technique of depicting images on muslin cloths and palm leaves, using natural mineral colors. The village is equally known for having Gotipua dance troupes which are traditional dance gangs that use young boys dressed as girls for performance of classical Bharatanatyam.

Places to visit: Pattachitra Galleries, Artisan Homes, Heritage Crafts Village, Harishankar Temple etc.

Best time to visit: October to February

Entry fee: N/A

Check out: Places to visit in Gangtok

 

6. Simlipal National Park, Odisha

 

It is ranked among the biggest and oldest national parks of the country, and it spans an area of around 2,750 square kilometers. The park lies in the Simlipal-Kuldiha-Hadgarh Elephant Reserve, one of the nine reserves in the state of Odisha, which belongs to the Mahanati tiger reserve.

There is a great deal that is associated with the area such as its natural beauty seen by the numerous waterfalls including Joranda and Barehipani. The beautiful landscape with the diversity of its terrain makes it a lovely area in which nature lovers and amateur photographers would love to spend their time.

Places to visit: Barehipani Waterfall, Joranda Waterfall, Chahala, Gurguria etc.

Best time to visit: October to February

Entry fee: Rs 100 Indians and Rs 100 Foreigners

 

7. Dhauli, Odisha

 

Shri Dhauli is an ancient monument in Odisha, that is located at a distance of 8 km from the state capital, Bhubaneswar. This is a crucial region because it is the site of the oldest rock edicts and other archaeological remains that go back to the 3rd century BCE. The Dhauli stands out as an important landmark to understanding the course of Indian civilization and Buddhism.

Dhauli is not only a historical and archaeological site. Instead, it is a center of Buddhist worship for the Buddhists as well as a place visited by tourists interested in the history of Indian culture and spiritual life.

Places to visit: Ashokan Rock Edicts, Shanti Stupa, Dhauli Giri Hills, Dhauli Museum, etc.

Best time to visit: November to March

Entry fee: Free / For Light & Sound show Rs 25

 

8. Lingaraj Temple, Odisha

 

The Lingaraj Temple, a Hindu temple, is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and is found in the city of Bhubaneswar, in Odisha, a state in the south-eastern region of India. It is one of the outstanding temples of the region and is the most important place to visit in Odisha for people who consider Lord Shiva as their divinity.

Places to visit: Bhairavi Temple, Mukteshwar Temple, Bindusagar Tank etc.

Best time to visit: October to March

Entry fee: N/A

Check out: Bike Tour in Odisha

 

9. Hirakud Dam, Odisha

 

The dam spans across the Mahanadi River, one of the major rivers of the subcontinent. The dam lies near the junction of the river near Swimambpur town and performs many functions such as flood control, irrigation, and hydroelectric energy production, among others.

Dam built between 1948 and 1957 and is thus one of the oldest large-scale river valley schemes of India.

Places to visit: Hirakud Dam Reservoir, Gandhi Minar, Hirakud Wildlife Sanctuary, Sambalpur etc.

Best time to visit: October to March

Entry fee: N/A

 

10. Gopalpur-on-Sea, Odisha

 

It is one of the Seven Sisters, on the Bay of Bengal, has the talk-of-the-town beaches and hosts historical sites. The small town was once the pulse of trade in the British era and it was the key shipping point and a center of commercial activities.

Visitors can look around the remnants of the old walls and warehouses reflecting the local’s sea-based history.

Places to visit: Gopalpur Beach, Gopalpur Light House, Ruins of Old Jetty etc.

Best time to visit: November to February

Entry fee: N/A