Orissa

Advertisement

Farmers cultivating land, Orissa

Introducing Orissa

Orissa is a captivating state with diverse, vibrant living cultures and an unrivalled architectural legacy. It’s where mighty temple chariots carrying powerful deities are pulled through city streets by a heaving throng of devotees, where serene stone carvings of exceptional beauty continue to be excavated from early Buddhist sites and where Adivasis (tribal people) maintain remarkable traditions that predate many of the great empires of the subcontinent.

Advertisement

Orissa is also celebrated for its natural heritage: elephants and tigers crash and prowl through the Eastern Ghats at Similipal National Park, a key tiger reserve. Chilika Lake, Asia’s largest lagoon, hosts the rare Irrawaddy dolphin as well as millions of migratory birds, including pink flamingos. Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary has dolphins, a surfeit of birdlife and monster crocodiles. In January masses of olive ridley turtles pull themselves up onto Orissa’s long beaches to lay their eggs; two months later, thousands of tiny hatchlings crawl to the sea.

Ancient civilisations and tradition resonate through contemporary Orissa. Witness the grand Sun Temple of Konark, a dream of genius adorned with a storyboard of Orissan life. Modern artistry is no less adept with stone carving, painting, silverwork and textiles in abundance.

Many of Orissa’s attractions are clustered along the coast where weary travellers can also find inexpensive seaside retreats. Inland there’s a different India, where tribes live precariously on the edge of mainstream society, yet manage to retain their colourful, fascinating traditions.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009

Tips & articles

  1. Flamingo-spotting made easy

    13 January 2010

    The flamingo, with its sunrise plumage and dancer’s moves, is the kind of bird that travellers cross the world to...

    Read more

See all tips & articles for Orissa

Thorn Tree forum discussion

Recent posts

  1. ronaldjkantor avatar
    Re: Getting around Orissa / Car rental

    by ronaldjkantor 13 September 2011

    Is this discussion still active? I'm planning to go this way myself. Has anyone crossed over from Orrissa into Chhattisgarh? Many thank…
  2. piratexpress avatar
    RE: Dance lessons in India - which,where and for how much?

    by piratexpress 29 August 2011

    Assuming you are talking about classical Indian dance, you have to understand that different regions have different types of dances -…
  3. lastdon avatar
    RE: Orissa

    by lastdon 28 August 2011

    try this link for patachitra: http://www.craftandartisans.com/pata-chitra-icon-painting-of-orissa.html they are truly interesting ..…

See all Thorn Tree forum discussions for Orissa

In our shop

Bags feeling light?
Coffee table looking bare?
Get your guidebooks, travel goods, even individual chapters, right here.

See all books in our shop

Travel Insurance

Going to India? Make sure you're covered.

Get a quote

See all travel services

Advertisement