Odisha Travel Guide

The northern and western parts of the state are covered by the Chhota Nagpur plateau. The highest peak in the Eastern Ghats, called as Deomali is also located in the state.

Where is Odisha

Odisha is an Indian state towards the eastern coastal region of India. The state is ranked as the ninth largest in terms of area and eleventh largest in population. It is bounded by states such as Jharkhand, PaschimBanga and Chhattisgarh. The Bay of Bengal passes through the coastal areas of Odisha and rivers such as Brahmani, Mahanadi and Baitarani empty into it.

About Odisha

The state of Odisha is embedded with temples throughout its length and breadth, which have a mention in ancient scriptures. The state has a coastline of more than 480 km. Its capital city is Bhubaneshwar and it an important religious and economic hub of the state. Puri, Bhubaneshwar and Konark complete the “Golden Triangle”, in the state.

Exploring the State

Puri is home the Jagannath Temple, which is an important place in the Hindu pilgrimage circuit. Nearly 6-7 lakh devotees throng the temple during the RathYatra or the car festival. The temple is located on a sprawling area of nearly 4, 20, 000 sq. ft. The temple comes under the “Char Dham”, which refers to the four sacred pilgrimage sites in the state. Many tourists come to visit the beach at Puri, which is regarded to be one of the best beaches in the country.

Oriya is the language spoken by majority of people in Odisha. It belongs to the Indo-Aryan subdivision of the Indo-European family of languages and bears resemblance to Assamese and Bengali. Odisha has one of the most richest and opulent cultural heritages. Its cultural significance is embedded with instances from Jainism, Hinduism and Buddhism.

The Chilika Lake is a must-see destination in India. It is the second biggest coastal lake in the country. You can take a boat ride in the lake amidst dolphins. Chilika is also home to a bird sanctuary and it is a major destination in the eco-tourist circuit.

The Similipal National Park, the BhitaraKanika National Park and the Ghariyal Sanctuary are some of the most popular destinations visited by eco tourists. NandanKanan and Chandaka are some of the famous wildlife sanctuaries. Ramachandi Beach, Chandipur Beach Paradeep Beach, and Astarang Beach are some of the beaches in Orissa. The Hirakud Dam at Cuttack is the largest earthen dam in India.

Getting There

Odisha is home to some of the best heritage sites and beaches. The perfect time to visit the state is from December to March. Women are advised to wear formal and decent clothes to the temples. Nudity is a major offence on beaches. The climate is very humid hence, cotton clothes are a preferable option.