Orissa
Orissa- With Lord jagannath in his temple at Puri as the patron deity, innumerable temples and an intensely religious lifestyle dominate the State. The ancient city of Bhubaneswar has 500 temples, many of which are jewels of the 8th to 11th century architecture and stand testimony to the glory of the prosperous kingdoms that emerged here. Konark’s stupendous sun temple is the crowning glory of Orissan temple art. Puri is where the famous annula Rath Yatra takes its most spectacular form. The fascinating rock cut caves of khandagiri and Udaigiri date back to as 2nd century BC.
Ratnagiri and Lalitgiri are remains of an immense Buddhist university. Beautiful natural beaches and wildlife reserves are the State’s other tourist attractions. Orissa echoes with the graceful rendition of its famous dance forms. Or popular among them are the Odissi and Chhau. Orissa’s dexterous craftsmen, famous for their nimble arts and crafts, weave beautiful into age old traditional handicrafts like the internationally famous ikat textiles, gay appliqué work, patachitra cloth paintings, silver filigree and dhokra metal carvings.
Tourist Places in Orissa
Bhubaneswar – the capital, famed for centuries as the city of thousands temples. The Lingaraj Sisirewara, parasurameswara, Mukteswara, Rajarani are gems among the temples. Orissa state Museum, Hondicrafts Museum, Tribal Tesearch Museum. Khandogiri and Udaigiri caves ( abandagiri jain monasteries). Emperor shoka’s rock edict at Dhaulagiri with the Japanese peace pagoda nearby. Airport: Bhubaneswar.
Lalitgiri, Udaigiri, Ratnagiri – 90 km from Bhubaneswar, these three hills are the site of a cluster of Buddhist monasteries dating back to at least 7th century. The University of Pushpagiri flourished here once.
Puri- Jagannath temple, one of the holiest in India, with its famous chariot or ‘Rath Yatra’ Festival. One of the most beautiful beaches in India and most popular in the east. Airport: Bhubaneswar.
Konark – rising majestically on the Shoreline this magnificent black stone temple dedicated to the sun god had been a coastal landmark to the ancient international maritime traders since medieval times – they called it the Black Pagoda. The main temple is sculpted in the form of the chariot of the sun god drown by seven horses and the entire stricture is carved exquisitely. It is also a beach resort.
Cuttack – Medieval and British capital Blue granite ruins of the Barabati Maratha Fort, Qadam-i- Rasoon, the 18th century mosques within a walled compound and some shaped building inside which is the footprints of prophet Mohammed. Exquisite silver filigree works.
Chilika Lake –an enormous inland brackish water lake. Bird sanctuary, water sports.
Gopalpur –on –sea Chandipur- beach resorts.
Tikarapara, Simlipal, Nandankanan, Ushakothi – wildlife sanctuaries.