by Odisha, not just one of the largest but also the most diverse states in the country is known for its culture, tradition, and scenic beauty. The land of Adivasis, Odisha is home to tribes with their rich traditional culture and beautiful handicrafts.
Here are a few best places to visit in Odisha that offer you a glimpse into this rich culture with beautiful natural settings.
The Kalinga Rock Edicts
These ancient edicts are carved on rocks at Dhauli Hill near Bhubaneswar. These edicts explain the history of the Kalinga dynasty. It is said that Ashoka, who was a great ruler of India and founder of the Mauryan Dynasty made these stone edicts. The inscriptions also describe in detail the benefits which could be gained by visiting Shiva temples. This place also has various other rock-cut caves which have been used for various purposes over years.
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Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Kumud Bhairav: This is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. During the last week of the month of Bhadrapada (the second week of January), a huge chariot festival is organized here. This festival is known as Kumud bhairav and this temple marks the end of winter. Thousands of people gather here at this venue every year to witness and participate in this unique event.
Best time to visit – October to mid-March
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Puri, Odisha
Puri is a beautiful beach city in the Bay of Bengal. Beautiful beaches and white sand are some of its main attractions. You can relax here and spend some quality time away from regular office routine. Other popular attractions in this city include the Chandrabhaga Ghat which has a spectacular view of the sea.
Best time to visit – July to March
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Konark, Odisha
Konark is another popular tourist destination. This city is home to the famous Sun temple which is built in the shape of a huge chariot. The beautiful sculptures in the area are worth seeing. This place also has ancient temples of various hindu gods and goddesses. Apart from these, this place also offers many tourist spots where you can explore nature and enjoy a few water activities as well.
Best time to visit – November to February
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Baripada, Odisha
Baripada is a perfect place for those who want to get an opportunity to visit the beaches of India and also enjoy the beautiful food. This place is famous for its many seafood restaurants which are spread across the small town. The riverside area here is also known for its scenic beauty with lush green vegetation and spectacular views of the sea.
Best time to visit – October to April and June-July for Rath Yatra
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Gopalpur, Odisha
This place is considered as a heaven for the ship lovers. This place has a beautiful beach which is famous for its scenic beauty and calm surroundings. The Gopalpur Beach has many shipwreck remains which have been rotting here since the Second World War. This place also has various other tourist attractions such as the Snake Park, and Kalijai Island.
Best time to visit – November to February
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Berhampur, Odisha
Berhampur is a beautiful historical town which has its foundation in the 17th century. This place has many historical sites to visit such as the Chatrapati Sahu Smriti Van, Chakrakshya Danda, Buxi Jagabandhu Smriti Van and the Shri Kanaka Durga Temple. Apart from these, there are various other places of interest located in and around Berhampur.
Best time to visit – November to February
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Dhauli, Odisha
Dhauli is a very famous place in Odisha. It is situated at a distance of 5 km from Bhubaneswar on the way to Konark temple. Dhauli has many ancient temples and old monuments which are supposed to be built by the great ruler of Kalinga, Kharavela. This place is also home to one of the oldest rock edicts of Ashoka and also one of the most complete and well-preserved stone inscriptions in India.
Best time to visit – November to March
How To Reach Odisha
By Road:
Odisha is well connected by road with all major cities in India. It is very easy to reach the cities of Odisha through trains and buses. The National Highway no.5, NH 5 passes through the state of Odisha which connects it with all major cities in India. You can easily get buses or trains from other states to reach Odisha.
By Air:
The important airports in Odisha are Bhubaneshwar, Kolkata, Visakhapatnam, Raipur and Delhi. These four airports are the major airports from where you can easily reach Odisha by Air. The journey from these four airports to Bhubaneswar is very easy and you will not have to face any difficulties while travelling by air. From other cities of the country, you can take regular buses or trains to reach Odisha.
By Railways:
Baripada, Berhampur and Puri are the major railway junctions from where trains to Odisha originate. From all these three railway stations, you can take trains or buses to reach Odisha. You can also take train or bus from other major cities of the country such as Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai etc. to reach Odisha. The journey by rail is easy and inexpensive as well.
By Road:
You can get buses to reach Odisha from all major cities of India. It is very easy to get buses from all major cities to Odisha and you will not have any problems while travelling by road. There are many private and public buses which depart from Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Purusottampur and other nearby areas on a daily basis. From these four places you can easily reach out various parts of the state of Odisha.
Final Words
Odisha is a wonderful state and it can be termed as one of the most beautiful and attractive states in India. It has many tourist attractions which are worth visiting. The main attractions include the Sun Temple, Konark, Bhubaneshwar etc. You can also check directions from your home to reach those places easily from anywhere in the country.
