Top 10 Places To Visit In Orissa

Orissa, now known as Odisha, is an ancient land with a rich history. Monuments that reflect amazing architecture compete with the limitless beauty of the land to attract tourists from all parts of the world. The ancient temples are more than an association with religious beliefs; their architectural splendor reflects the skills possessed by the artisans of the land in the bygone era. Here are the top 10 attractions in Orissa.

1. Bhubaneswar

Lingraj Temple

Temple city of India – This is howBhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa is famously called. The land, which is over 2500 years old, is a blend of ancient monuments and modern constructions. It is believed that Bhubaneswar had over 2000 temples in the past. Here are the top places to visit in Bhubaneswar.

• Parasurameswara Temple
• Mukteswar Temple
• Lingaraja Temple
• Odisha State Museum
• Museum of Tribal Arts and Artifacts
• Nandankanan Zoological Park
• Ekamra Kanan
• Udayagiri Caves
• Dhauli Hill
• Satkosia Tiger Reserve
• Brahmeshwara Temple
• Bindu Sarovara
• Regional Museum of Natural History
• Biju Patnaik Park
• Kalinga Stadium
• Pathani Samanta Planetarium
• Ratnagiri Buddhist Excavation

2. Cuttack

Former capital of Orissa and now its business capital, Cuttack, is also one of the ancient cities of the state. Ancient monuments apart, Cuttack has a wide range of tourist attractions as it is home to picturesque destinations and pilgrim centers. It is famous for handicrafts too. Here are the leading attractions in Cuttack.

• Barabati Fort
• Stone Revetment of Cuttack
• Mahanadi Barrage
• Netaji Birth Place Museum
• Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary
• Singanatha Temple
• Dhabaleswar Island
• Qadam-I-Rasool
• Bhattarika Temple
• Gurudwara Daatan Sahib
• Odisha Maritime Museum
• Ansupa Lake

3. Sambalpur

Sambalpur, the land rich in culture and natural beauty, is one of the most important tourist destinations in Orissa. Gateway to western Orissa, the land has some of the best gifts of nature thanks to the lush forests and picturesque waterfalls. Given below are the top tourist places to visit in Sambalpur.

• Hirakud Dam
• Ushakothi Wildlife Sanctuary
• Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary
• Cattle Island
• Badarama Wildlife Sanctuary
• Khalasuni Wildlife Sanctuary
• Chiplima
• Huma
• Pradhanpat
• Vikramkhol
• Bells Galore
• Hatibari
• Nrusimhanath
• Samaleswari Temple

4. Puri

Jaganath Temple

For those with a particular religious faith, Puri might bring to mind the famous Jagannath Temple and the Sun Temple. For nature lovers, the beautiful beaches in the land may hold attraction. The vibrant land is famous for many festivals being a temple-rich place and it enjoys heavy footprints from all parts of the world. Here are the top attractions in Puri.

• Jagannath Temple
• Puri Beach
• Swargadwar Beach
• Chilika Lake
• Chilika Wildlife Sanctuary
• Daya River
• Gundicha Ghar Temple
• Raghurajpur
• Atharnala Bridge
• Pipili

5. Rourkela

Rourkela, the second largest city in Orissa, is immediately recalled at the mention of steel plants. Home to largest steel plants in India, the place gives you an insight into its rich cultural past through some of its wonderful tourist destinations. Here are the top places to visit in Rourkela.

• Vedavyas Temple
• Green Park
• Vaishno Devi Temple
• Badaghagra Falls
• Khandadhar Falls
• Ushakothi
• Darjeeng
• Nehru Traffic Park
• Ghogar
• Mandira Dam
• Pitamahal Dam
• Barehipani Falls
• Joranda Falls

6. Konark

Bird Park

It is natural that your mind races to Sun Temple when you think of Konark. The 13th century temple stands tall in the minds of tourists in spite of the fact that it is now in ruins. Konark has a few other ancient temples on its land for both history lovers and religious minds. Here are the top attractions in Konark.

• Sun Temple
• Archaeological Site Museum
• Ramachandi Temple
• Ramchandi Beach
• Kuruma
• Astranga
• Chandrabhaga Beach

7. Barbil

Located on Karo River banks and amidst lush green hills, Barbil has spectacular views to offer. It owns the credit of possessing the world’s 5th largest iron and manganese deposits. Keonjhar district, in which Barbil is situated, has a 38000 million year old rock, which is one of the oldest in the world. Given below are the top attractions in Barbil.

• Uliburu Reserved Forest
• Thakurani Hills
• Hawa Mahal
• Murga Mahadev Waterfalls
• Gonasika
• Kendujhargarh
• Hanuman Mandir
• Shiva Mandir
• Ghatgaon
• Sanaghagara
• Badaghagara
• Khandadhar

8. Jeypore

Jeypore is just the place to be if you would like to enjoy some of the best works of nature. This beautiful land is picturesquely set amidst hills. With scenic waterfalls and amazing natural parks, you are sure to love Jeypore, which has a rich history too. Here are the leading destinations in Jeypore.

• Gupteshwar Caves
• Sunabeda
• Deomali
• Duduma Falls
• Hatipathar
• Nandapur
• Kolab Falls
• Kolab Botanical Garden
• Jagannath Sagar
• Patroput
• Minna Jhola

9. Bargarh

Located on the western border of the state, the place was earlier a part of Sambalpur. Though limited in number, the tourist attractions gain value by the importance attached to it. Gandhamardan, one of the destinations here is associated with the period of Ramayana and it finds mention in the notes of Hieun Tsang, the famous Chinese traveler. Scenic, ancient Bargarh makes your visit memorable. Here are some tourist destinations to visit in Bargarh.

• Kedarnath Temple
• Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary
• Gandhamardan
• Nrusinghnath Temple
• Nrusimhanath Waterfalls
• Chaldhar Waterfall
• Papaharini
• Papanga Hill

10. Paradeep

Location of Paradeep or Paradip, as it is also called, is in itself beautiful. In the confluence of river Mahanadi and Bay of Bengal, the land stuns you with its amazing views. Be it the sunrise or the sunset, you would not want to miss a moment of it. Here are the leading attractions in Paradeep.

• Paradip Port
• Gahirmatha Beach
• Gahirmatha Sanctuary
• Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary
• Paradip Port
• Light House
• Udayagiri and Ratnagiri Caves
• Boat Safari
• Jhankad
• Marine Aquarium
• Baladeva Temple
• Hanuman Temple
• Jagannath Temple

Though Orissa has acquired a modern face to it, the land has retained its ancient charm. A visit to the place makes you feel a part of the world of the bygone era. You cannot possibly hope to cover all the tourist destinations in one go, but knowing more about them would ensure that you visit them during your subsequent tour to the land. So am I, looking for more of Orissa; every tourist spot you could suggest is welcome.

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