Odisha
Conceived as the cosmic chariot of the sun god Surya, this massive, breathtakingly splendid temple was constructed in the mid-13th century, probably by…
Must-see attractions in Odisha
Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary
Odisha
Three rivers flow out to sea at Bhitarkanika, forming a tidal maze of muddy creeks and mangroves. This is India’s second-largest mangrove region, and most…
Puri
This mighty temple is home to Jagannath (Lord of the Universe), an incarnation of Vishnu. Built in its present form in 1198, the temple – closed to non…
Odisha
Ratnagiri is the most interesting and extensive among the three Pusphagiri sites. Two large monasteries flourished here from the 5th to 13th centuries…
Odisha
Udayagiri's two monastery complexes were active between the 10th and 12th centuries AD. At the first one, there’s a large pyramidal brick stupa with a…
Odisha
The weekly Chatikona market takes place at Bissamcuttack (about 40km north) and is mostly attended by the Dongria Kondh and Desia Kondh villagers from the…
Odisha
Onkadelli is a particularly popular tribal produce market, with Bonda, Mali, Kondh and Paraja people attending to buy and sell fruit, vegetables, dried…
Odisha
Many of Chilika Lake's million-plus migratory birds — including grey-legged geese, herons, cranes and pink flamingos — spend the winter months (November…
Odisha
Made up of the Satkosia and Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuaries, this 964-sq-km forested tiger reserve, 125km northwest of Bhubaneswar, is straddled by a…
Odisha
In about 260 BC, 11 of of Ashoka’s 14 famous edicts were carved onto a rock at Dhauli, 8km south of Bhubaneswar. Above the edicts, the earliest Buddhist…
Odisha
Jagannath Temple, whose whitewashed sikhara (temple spire) overlooks Koraput town, is well worth visiting. The courtyard around the sikhara contains…
Odisha
Hidden among rice fields 15km south of Bhubaneswar, this small but serene 9th-century open-roofed temple is dedicated to yoginis (female tantric mystics)…
Odisha
Famous for its white tigers, Odisha's premier zoological park was founded in 1960 and is known to run India's best captive-breeding program for the big…
Odisha
In northeastern Odisha, 40km west of Sambalpur, the 347-sq-km Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary is a good spot for wildlife-spotting. It comprises the…
Odisha
This excellent museum, overlooking the Mahanadi River, focuses on Odisha's centuries-old maritime history of boat-building and trade (particularly with…
Puri
Puri is no palm-fringed paradise – the beach is wide, shelves quickly with a nasty shore break and is shadeless. But Model Beach, part of a sustainable,…
Odisha
This colourful village, 16km southeast of Bhubaneswar, is notable for its locally made brilliant appliqué craft, which incorporates small mirrors and is…
Odisha
Several monastery ruins (some dating back to 200 BC) consisting of brick foundations line a gentle incline on Lalitgiri hill. One is surrounded by several…
Odisha
The 2750-sq-km Similipal National Park is famous for its tigers, though sightings are relatively rare. Wild elephants on the other hand are far easier to…
Odisha
There’s a smaller market here every day, but it’s Koraput’s big Sunday Market that’s worth exploring. Tribespeople and local traders alike buy and sell…
Odisha
The four galleries at this fine museum tell the story of the Pusphagiri ruins. Two of them display beautifully preserved sculpture from all three…
Odisha
Rayagada’s daily market is between the train station and the bus stand; turn right out of the bus stand, take the second right and it’s on your left. Here…
Odisha
This museum contains many impressive sculptures and carvings found during excavations of the Sun Temple.
Odisha
Around 7km east of the Onkadelli Market, this beautiful waterfall plunges down the side of a gorge from a height of 175m. During rainy season (July to…
Odisha
This is the region's largest produce market, taking place from Thursday afternoon until Friday afternoon. Homemade alcohol brewed from the mahua flower is…
Odisha
A produce market attended by Kondh and Paraja people, Laxmipur is located 56km northeast of Koraput and is reachable on any Rayagada-bound bus.
Odisha
This is a tribal textile market, featuring yarn coloured with natural dyes, located 63km northwest of Koraput.
Puri
These hallowed cremation grounds are the final earthly stop for some 40 deceased Hindus who are cremated here daily. You can watch or walk among the open…
Puri
The world's saddest library — featuring a few rows of dusty, locked bookcases — does a lucrative trade by offering great views of Jagannath Mandir for non…
Chandaka-Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary
Odisha
Only 20km west of Bhubaneswar, the 175-sq-km Chandaka-Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary was created to preserve wild elephants and their habitat. If you’re lucky…
Puri
This bathing place, where Vishnu is said to have resided as a neem tree, is particularly interesting in the mornings, when locals come here for their…
Puri
The largest of Puri's holy tanks, this is where locals bathe on a daily basis. It's also where a replica deity of Jagannath is brought on an annual basis…
Odisha
The Ushakothi Wildlife Sanctuary, 45km east of Sambalpur, shelters elephants, tigers, panthers and bears. It can be closed with no notice in the event of…
Odisha
The sea at Chandipur remains busy with splashing Bengali holidaymakers pretty much throughout the year. It's notable because of its extreme tides — during…
Odisha
The grandly named Chilika Ecopark is a small but pleasant palm-tree-shaded park by the jetty. On display is a 12m-long skeleton of a baleen whale that was…
Odisha
Paraja and Mali people attend this produce market, situated 18km northeast of Koraput.
Odisha
Closest to Barkul, this island temple really comes to life when innumerable pilgrims travel there during the Makar Mela festival in January.
