Enthralling ancient temples on the one hand and the rest of Odisha attractions including beaches, wildlife reserves, natural parks, lakes, rivers, caves, and museums on the other — this sums up the best tourist places in Odisha, formerly known as Orissa.
Odisha’s cultural heritage, captivating art and dance forms, vibrant festivals and fairs in addition to its great mix of historical, religious, and natural sites make this state situated on the Bay of Bengal coast one of the fascinating places to visit in India. Come, visit the ‘Soul of India’ and enrich your travel memories of this beautiful country! Here are some of the best attractions in Odisha you couldn’t afford to miss!
Puri:
Puri, along with Bhubaneswar and Konark, constitutes the Golden Triangle of Odisha! Jagannath Temple, one of the four pilgrimage sites that form the holy Char Dham Yatra, is the main attraction in Puri due to its obvious religious significance. Rath Yatra must not be missed if you are traveling to this city during the months of June/July. Puri’s sparkling beaches and bustling local markets that sell cultural artifacts are as famous as its religious sites, and so this coastal city that appeals to all kinds of travelers is on top of the list of best places to visit in Odisha. aliağa escort kızlar
Top tourist places to visit in and around Puri:
- Sri Jagannath Temple
- Puri Beach
- Chilika Lake & Bird Sanctuary
- Gundicha Temple
- Markandeshwar temple
- Raghurajpur Artist Village
- Pipili
- Sudarshan Crafts Museum
- Narendra Tank
Bhubaneswar:
Bhubaneswar, the Temple City of India, is an important center for religious tourism and is one of the most visited tourist places in Odisha. It is home to several ancient temples whose architecture is unbelievably exquisite! Acquainting yourself with these architectural marvels built some centuries ago is the most common thing to do in Odisha. Also check out the historic caves, serene dams, lakes, parks, as well as museums and archaeological sites on your trip to Bhubaneswar. The most intriguing aspect of Odisha’s capital city is that it strikes the right balance between heritage and modernity!
Top tourist places to visit in Bhubaneshwar:
- Mukteshwar Temple
- Lingaraj temple
- Parasurameswara temple
- Rajarani Temple
- Ananta Vasudeva Temple
- Udayagiri & Khandagiri Caves
- Ratnagiri Buddhist Excavation
- Ashoka Rock Edict
- Dhauli Hill
- Odisha State Museum
- Museum of Tribal Arts & Artifacts
- Bindu Sagar
- Nandankanan Zoological Park
Konark:
Konark Sun Temple needs no introduction! This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a well-known tourist attraction in Odisha and also the main reason why architecture enthusiasts across the world flock to this place. Constructed in the traditional style of Kalinga architecture, the temple represents the mythical chariot of Sun God with twelve pairs of colossal wheels drawn by seven horses. The fine carvings and sculptures on the temple walls are breathtakingly beautiful! Apart from the temples, Konark is also known for its sandy beaches, cultural events, and museums.
Top tourist places to visit in Konark:
- Konark Sun Temple
- Chandrabhaga Beach
- Archaeological Survey of India Museum
- Astaranga Beach
- Konark Dance Festival
- Ramachandi Temple and Beach
Cuttack:
Boasting a rich history of over 1000 years, this erstwhile capital city of Odisha is loved for its vintage charm. While Cuttack’s age-old history gave it the moniker Millennium City of Odisha, its famous silver filigree work led to calling Cuttack the Silver City. Bordered by the Mahanadi River to the north and the Kathajodi River to the south, this city is filled with beautiful attractions like temples, forts, monuments, lakes, ponds, islands, beaches, and museums among others. Among the noteworthy attractions in Odisha are Cuttack’s vibrant cultural events, fairs, festivals such as Baliyatra, Durga Puja, Kite Festival, etc.
Top tourist places to visit in Cuttack:
- Bhitarkanika National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary
- Barabati Fort
- Chandi Temple
- Stone Revetment
- Dhabaleshwar temple
- Paradeep Beach
- Ansupa Lake
- Singanatha Temple
- Odisha Maritime Museum
Sambalpur:
Sambalpur, situated along the banks of the Mahanadi River, is among those tourist places in Odisha that are rich in nature, history, and culture. An entry point to Western Orissa, Sambalpur is a must-visit, especially for nature, wildlife, and photography lovers! The diverse landscape of this place is blessed with majestic hills, dense forests, beautiful waterfalls, and gorgeous valleys crisscrossed with streaming rivers. This is also the best place to buy souvenirs—yes, we are talking about the internationally acclaimed Sambalpuri textiles!
Top tourist places to visit in and around Sambalpur:
- Samaleswari Temple
- Hirakud Dam
- Leaning Temple of Huma
- Ushakothi Wildlife Sanctuary
- Ghanteswari Temple
- Budharaja temple
- Gudguda Waterfalls
- Khalasuni Wildlife Sanctuary
- Dadhibaman temple
If you are planning a long holiday in Odisha, do visit the popular attractions in Rourkela, Gopalpur, Baripada, Jeypore, Berhampur, Bargarh, Barbil, and Chandipur. Biju Patnaik International Airport or Bhubaneswar Airport (BBI) is the nearest airport to most of these tourist places in Odisha. Indian Eagle is the best online travel booking site that offers cheap air tickets to India throughout the year.
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