Orissa Travel Guide
About Orissa:
Orissa, the lush green state, girdled by the Bay of Bengal, has seen
some of the best fusion of traditional Indian art in its many temples
and monuments, and has been able to preserve much of it, in an
environment natural to its wonder and attractions. It was in Orissa,
that Buddhism found some of its strongest exposure, and cult following.
However, it was Hindu art that dominated the landscape, eventually, and
resulted in the profusion of temple traditions, that have endured till
now.Most of the state's attractions are close to each other, and
convenient access is provided out of the state capital, Bhubaneshwar.
The capital itself is an intriguing amalgam of the old and the new, an
emerging modern Indian city, that is steeped in the roots of the
traditions of its glorious past, without being overwhelmed by it.
Getting There:
By Air : Bhubaneswar is the only civil airport in the
state. It is well connected by regular flights to different parts of the
country.
By Rail : Bhubaneswar and Puri are the major railway
junctions for Orissa. There is an extensive railway network connecting
Orissa to the other parts of the country.
By Road : The National Highways 5, 6, 23, 42, and 43
pass through Orissa. The good road network connects well with the other
parts of the country as well as different places within the state.
Facts File
Area: 155,707 sq km
Population: 34.2 million
Capital: Bhubaneswar
Languages spoken: Oriya, Bengali, Hindi, English etc.
Best Time to visit: November to March
Major Cities: Bhubhneshwar, Puri, Konark
Tourist Attractions:
Bhubaneshwar:
Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa, is also popularly known as the "Temple
City of India". Being the seat of Tribhubaneswar or 'Lord
Lingaraj', Bhubaneswar is an important Hindu pilgrimage centre. Hundreds
of temples dot the landscape of the Old Town, which once boasted of more
than 2000 temples. Bhubaneswar is the place where temple building
activities of Orissan style flowered from its very inception to its
fullest culmination extending over a period of over one thousand years.
Jagannath Temple
The temple has contributed the word ‘Juggernaut’ to the
English language. The fame of Puri is mainly due to this 12th century
temple. The annual Rath Yatra is a considerable tourist attraction.
Within its precincts are the smaller temples of Vimala, Lakshmi, Vishnu
and of innumerable gods and godde
Rajarani Temple
The Rajarani temple, dating back to the eleventh century, is set in
open paddy fields, and the entire structure exudes grace and elegance.
The name of the temple has been the subject of much debate. The most
likely explanation is that the name is related to the lovely red-and-
gold sandstone used in its construction, a stone which is known locally
as rajarani.
Puri
Other than the attraction of its glorious beach, this city by the sea
is a major pilgrim centre in India. Adi Shankara founded one of the
Peethas here. Puri’s beach, a major draw, is ideal for swimming and
surfing.
Konark
Temple:
The Sun Temple is an extant example of Indian devotion to the Sun-the
God of all Gods, the very source of life itself. Built as an
architectural morvel in the 13th century, here a colossal image of the
chariot of the sun, drawn by seven horses and 24 wheels symbolizes the
divisions of time.The Sun Temple of Narasimhadeva is a depiction in
stone of the life of those times – Royal, Social, Religious and
Military. The sun temple according to the world famous poet Rabindranath
Tagore, “The language of stone, defeats the language of Man.
Mukteswara Temple was built in the 10th century. It is well known for
its stone arch at the entrance and is richly sculpted. With tales from
the Panchatantra carved on it, the temple is a magnificent example of
Orissan architecture.
