Orissa is blessed with
around 500 km long coastline and has some of the most
beautiful beaches, exquisite temples, superb monuments,
enchanting wildlife and natural landscapes. The lush green
forest cover of Orissa plays host to a wide variety of
flora and fauna, including the famed Royal Bengal Tiger.
Amidst the picturesque hills and valleys nestle a number
of breathtaking waterfalls that attract visitors from all
over. The state has the largest variety of tribal
communities, which are at various stages of socio-economic
development.
Similipal a dreamland
of Nature in the wilderness and an irresistible destination with
thick and green forests, extensive grassy lands and meadows,
sparkling waterfalls, meandering rivers, serving as an excellent
home to some of the most beautiful creatures of the World. To
stay with them, even for a while, is a thrilling experience.
Situated 120 kms from Balasore,
Chandbali has been a famous river port since
medieval times. A special attraction of this place is the boat
ride to Aradi and Dhamra on the river.
Bhitarakanika
Sanctuary, located in the
second largest mangrove forest in the country, has protected the
estuarine crocodiles since 1975. The sanctuary is a natural
habitat of a lot of wild creatures like Crocodiles, King Cobra,
Pythons, Wild Pigs, Rhesus Monkey, Sambars, Spotted Deer etc.
There. is a Crocodile Breeding Farm at Dangmal.
Bhubaneshwar, the
capital of Orissa, is also popularly known as the "Temple City
of India". Bhubaneshwar is an important Hindu pilgrimage centre.
Hundreds of temples dot the landscape of the Old Town, which
once boasted of more than 2000 temples. Bhubaneshwar is the
place where temple building activities of Orissan style flowered
from its very inception to its fullest culmination extending
over a period of over one thousand years. Just 7 kms west of
Bhubaneshwar are the twin hills of Khandagiri and Udaygiri, the
next major Orissan historical monument after Ashoka's rock-cut
edict.
Puri, located on the
eastern coast of India in the state of Orissa is one of the four
sacred places of pilgrimage for Hindus. It is surrounded by
Khudra district in the west, Sambalpur in the south and
Bhubaneswar in the north. Besides being famous for its renowned
temples, Puri is also well-known for its white sandy beaches on
the shores of Bay of Bengal.
The temple city of Konark
is situated in the eastern state of Orissa at a distance of
around 65 km from Bhubaneswar and 35 km from Puri. Renowned for
its magnificent sun temple, Konark is also a lovely beach
resort. Built in the 13th Century, here a colossal image of the
chariot of the Sun, drawn by seven horses and 24 wheels
symbolizes the divisions of time. The intricate carvings on the
walls and wheels of the chariot are unprecedented in history.
Gopalpur-on-sea, which
is situated at a distance of 16 kms from Berhampur is one of the
most pristine beaches of Orissa. Clusters of coconut and palm
trees, sand dunes over grown with casuarinas plantation separate
the beach from the blue waters. The gold sand of the blue sea
here make the beach one of the most sought after beaches of the
country.
Jeypore is the
commercial nerve centre of Koraput district and has all
facilities to serve as the convenient base for visiting the
places of interest in and around. This district abounds in
meadows, forests, waterfalls, terraced valleys and darting
springs and is home to Orissa's vast tribal population.
Visakhapatnam (also
known locally as Vizag) is the second largest city in Andhra
Pradesh. It is primarily an industrial city, but also attracts
tourists due to its unspoilt sandy beaches and nearby scenic
areas, such as the Araku Valley. |
