Odisha – Number 1 Coastal and Most Popular Destination in Eastern India
Nestled amidst the lush green mountains of the Eastern Ghats, Odisha is one amazing place to discover. Odisha is the home to the most famous temples of India - namely Jagannath Temple in Puri, Sun Temple in Konark and Kingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar. But beauty of Odisha is not just restricted to temples. It has beautiful beaches, sparkling rivers, cascading waterfalls and shimmering lakes to lure travelers from all over India and rest of the world. Odisha boasts of amazing cultural landscape as it is home to Odissi and Gotipua dance forms, have artisan villages, produce some unique tribal art works and was once the area of unique and own architectural style, the Kalinga Style. Odisha is also rich in exquisite wildlife; Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary being the most different one from most other national parks. It is home to the largest breed of crocodiles - the salt water crocodiles - and a large variety of wetland birds.
Puri can be clubbed together in a package with a visit to Konark. However, it can also be visited independently or can be clubbed with other places in Odisha like a visit to Bhitarkanika National Park and Bhubaneswar. You can mail us at [email protected] for discussing and arranging tour packages to Odisha. Or, feel free to call us on 9163580464 or WhatsApp at 9875310291.
Day 1
Bhubaneswar – Puri: Arrive at Bhubaneswar Airport/Railway Station. Our representative will receive you and transfer to Puri, a drive of nearly an hour and half. Check into our property on arrival in Puri.
Rest of the day at leisure. You can do whatever you feel like. You can visit Jagannath Temple, and have a look at the architectural beauty of the monument. Foreigners are not allowed inside the temple complex though. You can take a walk on the streets of Puri or go to the beach and enjoy a nice walk along it. You can have fun and frolic at the beach, and watch people enjoying. Feel free to taste food items from the many snack selling vendors.
Return to the hotel, have dinner and retire to your room. Overnight at Cherry's Puri.
Day 2
Puri – Chilika lake – Puri: After a sumptuous breakfast go to Satapada to explore the beauty of Chilika Lake, largest lagoon in India. Satapada is a drive of a little more than an hour from Puri. Take a boat and go and see dolphins, birds and also the beach. You are free to taste some delicious seafood. Return to Puri. Rest of the day at leisure. You can choose to go and visit a few important temples in Puri and enjoy the evening at the beach. Have dinner at one of the restaurants. Overnight at Cherry's Puri.
Day 3
Puri – Konark – Bhitarkanika: Check out early in the morning and drive to Konark – a drive of nearly an hour or so. Konark is famous for its Sun Temple. The temple is partially ruined but one can easily see the grandeur of it. The temple has several intricate carvings done all over the exterior wall.
After a guided tour of the Temple, drive to Dhauli. Check the Mauryan period art form and see the Ashokan rock edicts written in Brahmi script. Have lunch somewhere and start for Bhitarkanika, a drive of around four hours.
Bhitarkanika: After an early breakfast set out to explore Bhitarkanika National Park and Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary. Safari is done on the boat. Keep looking for the large Estuarine crocodiles on the banks of the river channels. You can also see a large number of birds. Of particular interest are different varieties of kingfisher birds, darters, cormorants, mangrove Petta, parakeets, lapwings, godwits, and a number of stork birds. There are chances of sighting wild boars and deer and outside chances of even sighting pythons and some snake varieties like king cobra and banded krait.
Have lunch in the afternoon and set out to visit Interpretation-cum-Museum at Dangamal. Afterwards, visit different villages and look at how people live in these rural areas. Look at the village temples, schools and markets. Visit some rural houses and understand how village economies are managed in the interior villages of Odisha.
Bhitarkanika – Bhubaneswar: Check out after breakfast and drive to Bhubaneswar. Check into a hotel on arrival in Bhubaneswar. Afterwards, go and visit Khandgiri caves dating back to Kharavela Period.
After a guided tour of the caves at Khandgiri, go and visit Lingaraja Temple, a temple built in the 11th century. Foreigners are not allowed inside the temple’s precincts though. The temple complex is huge with several temples within the complex. Take a walk around the temple area and look at Bindusar, the lake which precedes even Lingaraja Temple.
Have dinner at one of the city restaurants. Overnight in Bhubaneswar.
Day 6
Bhubaneswar – Onward Destination: Check out and drive to airport/railway station to proceed for your onward destination.
Odisha – Most Popular Destination in Eastern India
Annual Rath Yatra, Puri, Odisha
If you wish to enjoy the best of Odisha, it is best to choose our all-inclusive Odisha Tour packages.
With an amazing combination of lush green mountains, unique wildlife, vibrant bird population, sparkling rivers, stunning beaches, architectural wonders, shimmering lakes and beautiful waterfalls, Odisha is the best and most popular destination in eastern India.
Planning a vacation to this magical land is certainly going to be a soothing time in anyone’s life. Be it a honeymoon tour, a family vacation or a trip with friends – our affordable Odisha Tour programs are ideally designed to maximize your experiences.
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A salt water crocodile basking on the bank in Bhitarkanika, Odisha
Day 1: Bhubaneshwar – Bhitarkanika: Arrive in Bhubaneswar and drive straight to Bhitarkanika, a wildlife sanctuary and national park in Odisha. Check into Estuarine Village Resort. Have a nice dinner. Overnight in Bhitarkanika.
Day 2 : Bhitarkanika: Set out to explore Bhitarkanika National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary after an early breakfast. Safari is done on boat in Bhitarkanika.
Keep an eye on large estuarine crocodiles which may be basking in sun on the banks of the river channels. You can also spot a large number of birds. Of particular interest are different varieties of kingfisher birds, darters, cormorants, mangrove Petta, parakeets, lapwings, godwits, and a number of stork birds.
Take the permitted trek inside the forest. There are good chances of sighting wild pigs and deer on this trek. There are outside chances of even sighting pythons and snake varieties like a king cobra and banded viper. Visit Interpretation-cum-Museum at Dangamal.
Village Resort, Bhitarkanika, Odisha
Have your lunch in the afternoon set out to visit different villages and look at how people live in these rural areas. Look at the village temples, schools and markets. You can also visit some rural houses and understand how village economies function in the interior villages.
Day 3 : Bhitarkanika – Pentha – Lalitgiri – Bhubaneshwar: Check out after breakfast. First of all, visit Pentha beach, a small detour of around 10km from the main route to Bhubaneswar. Have fun and frolic on the beach, which forms a small part of Gahirmata Marine Sanctuary.
Resume the journey back on the highway towards Bhubaneswar. Visit Lalitgiri Buddhist site, another detour of around 5km from the main highway. Chaitayas and Viharas, along with stupas, as recovered by archeologists at the site is a testimony of the heights Buddhism reached in this area.
The remnants are from a period between 3rd Century BC to 7th Century AD. The importance of these Buddhist universities declined after the ascendency of Muslim rulers in India.
Check into a hotel on arrival in Bhubaneswar. Overnight in Bhubaneswar.
Day 4: Bhubaneshwar – Lingaraj – Nandankanan – Khandagiri – Dhauli – Konark – Puri: Start the day after an early breakfast. Visit the famous Lingaraj Temple. Afterwards, you can go on to visit Nandankanan Zoo, one of the most famous Zoo in India. A visit to Khandagiri caves will give you glimpses of the glorious past of Odisha.
Start the journey towards Konark afterwards. On the way, pay a quick visit to Dhauli. This is said to be the site where the Great Mauryan Emperor Ashoka defeated Kalinga. It is said that seeing bloodshed he was full of remorse and reverted to Buddhism. He erected rock edicts here as well.
Rock Edict of Ashoka, Dhauli, Bhubaneswar
Resume the journey to Konark, famous for the Sun Temple. It is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage. Have an elaborate sightseeing of the Temple with a knowledgeable monument guide.
After a tiring day, drive to Puri in the end and check into Cherry’s Puri. Overnight in Puri.
Day 5 : Puri: Take a leisure day in Puri. You can chill out on the beach. You can visit the famous Jagannath Temple. You can also visit some other temples for religious reasons. Enjoy some nice sea food staff and relax. Overnight in Puri.
Day 6 : Puri – Chilika – Puri: After a sumptuous breakfast go to Satpada to explore the beauty of Chilika Lake, largest lagoon in India.
Stapada is a drive of a little more than an hour from Puri. Take a boat and go and see dolphins, birds and also the beach. You are free to taste some delicious seafood.
Return to Puri. Rest of the day at leisure. You can enjoy strolls on the beach or go and visit a few temples. Savour some nice food in dinner. Overnight in Puri.
Day 7 : Puri – Bhubaneshwar (Departure): After breakfast check out from the hotel. Drive to Bhubaneswar and catch flight for your onward desired destination.
