10 Places to visit in Orissa

Orissa is known for its numerous religious temples. It is one of the most popular pilgrimage centers in India. Besides the temples found at this place, there are many other tourist attractions in this state. Here is a list of the top 10 tourist places in the state.

Jagannath Temple- The temple is one of the most prominent tourist attractions. The reason behind the popularity of this place is the offerings made to the main deity that is distributed among the devotees. The structure is believed to have been established during the 12^th century and it comprises of a height of about 65 m. The temple is an important pilgrimage destination of Hindu and is expected that one and all make it to this temple, one’s in lifetime. The temple is also famous for its annual Rath Yatra.

Konark Temple- It is another popular religious site in Orissa. One of the main attractions of the temple is the chariot of Sun Go, which has been declared as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The chariot of Sun God is a perfect example of skilful architectural style of India. Konark festival, which is celebrated annually during the winter season, attracts a large number of devotees as well tourist to this place.

Gundicha Ghar Temple- The temple is a popular tourist attraction of the state, which is located in the town of Puri. The temple is associated with a very important Hindu ceremony, which is related to the celebrations of Rathyatra. The mythical figures of Jaganath, Subhadra, and Balabhadra, who are considered to be siblings are taken out in procession from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Ghar Temple, during this event. 

Loknath Temple- The temple in Puri has been structured in order to pay homage to Lord Shiva. Hence, the temple is also referred as a Shiva temple. The temple is believed to be constructed during the period of 11^th to 12^th century and is located at a distance of about d1 km from the renowned Jagananth temple. One of the major attractions of this holy site is the Saranti Somobar Fair.

Daria Hanuman and Sonar Gouranga Temple- It is one of the most prominent temples among the list of temples found in Puri. The temple is also visited by a large number of tourists apart from the devotees belonging to the Hindu religion, as they regard the place as a sacred one. Devotees come here to offer prayers to the main deity and the place’s serene atmosphere adds to the attraction of this holy site.  

Ardhasani Temple- It is another well known attraction of the region, which is located at a distance of about 3 km from the Jagannath temple. The temple was built to pay homage to Goddess Subhadra, who is believed to have saved entire town of Puri from calamity. The image of the deity has been placed at this temple, which is highly revered by the locals of this region.

Chilka-It is one of the most visited destinations in Orissa by the tourists. The reason behind the popularity of this place is its natural splendor and Chilika Lake. The lake is considered as one of the largest salt water lakes in the entire country of India. It is located towards the southwestern part of Puri and it comprises of 70 km in length and 15 km in width. The place is also regarded as a popular bird watching destination as it is inhabited by a wide variety of birds during the winter season.

Bhitarakanika- The place is a popular tourist location in the state and is mostly visited by nature lovers. The place is featured with a wide range of animal and plant species. Besides these, around 170 diverse species of migratory birds have been recorded at this place. Some of the birds that you can spot at this place are sand pipers, kingfishers, kites, sea gulls, open-billed storks etc. The diverse varieties of wildlife found at this place are sambars, pythons, wild pigs, crocodiles, king cobras, rhesus monkeys etc.

Khandagiri Caves- These caves hold the relics of the prosperous history of the early period. Khanddagiri caves are located at a distance of about 7 km from Bhubaneshwar and are regarded as one of the top tourist attractions of the state. There are about 15 ancient caves at this place which were used by the Jain scholars and saints during the primeval times. Another special attraction of this place is that the walls of these caves are stunningly decorated with the interesting paintings and motifs. Tourists visit this place to explore the archaeological remnants of the ancient era.

Udayagiri Caves- Udayagiri caves include a group of 18 rock cut caves the reveal the unique religious heritage of the ancient era. These caves are placed at an altitude of about 135 ft above sea level and were previously known as the Kumari Parvata during the ancient times. These caves were also used for the accommodation of the Jain saints and hermits.