Top Destinations In Odisha

The State of Odisha situated in the eastern seaboard of Indian subcontinent is endowed with amazing array of incredible tourism products. Traditionally, famous as a hub of cultural destination, but of late has emerged as one of the beautiful state in the country with rapid progress in all front including travel & tourism sector.

Odisha offer something that is very unique and a tourist visiting to the state get everything on a platter what they wants from Odisha. It has a chequered history of temple constructions with stunning temples and monuments, long coastlines of 480 kms, 35% of thick & dense forest cover, Buddhist heritage, 62 ethnic tribes, scintillating classical dance of Odissi, largest brackish water lake of Asia-Chilika, the criss-crossed mangroves forest of Bhitarkanika, so many and so forth.

The Department of Tourism is the apex body for formulation of plans, programmes, policies and coordinates with various line Departments, both Central & State Governments and private sectors for promotion and development of tourism in the State.

The Department is headed by the Minister of State, Tourism & Culture (Ind. Charge) and the administrative head of the Department is Secretary Tourism. The Director & Addl. Secretary is the head of the Tourism Department / Directorate which is composite in character. The Department has 33 Field Offices, 6 Tourism information Counters. The Offices functioning outside the State works primarily as a bulwark for tourism promotion and marketing, the offices inside the state cater information, facilitate tourist visit and oversee overall tourism infrastructure, promotion and publicity.

The main objective of Tourism Department is to increase the tourist traffic to the state, extend their duration of stay, promote & position Odisha as one of the preferred tourist destinations both in domestic and international markets. To achieve the above objectives, the DoT has adopted a multi-prong strategy - creating tourism infrastructure and destinations within the state, participate in national and international travel fairs and exhibitions, organise unique cultural programmes within the state to attract more and more tourists to the state.

Koraput

Covered with thick forests and dotted by pristine waterfalls and deep valleys, Koraput, in Odisha, is a natural retreat with a languid pace of life. Home to various tribes of the state of Odisha, Koraput showcases the colours of tribal life and a rich folk culture. The region's bustling and lively tribal market is at the heart of Koraput, where one can soak in the vibrant culture of tribes. The popular Jagannath Temple here draws devotees from far and wide. From exploring the natural beauty of Koraput and experiencing energetic festivities to paying obeisance at various temples, this off-beat destination, lying along the Eastern Ghat mountains, offers a lot of variety to travellers.

In ancient times, Koraput was under the rule of tribals, following which it was taken over by the Solar dynasty, whose king Vikram Dev is said to have shifted his capital to Jeypore, about 23 km from Koraput.

Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha, is one of the most ancient cities in India. With several popular temples dominating its skyline, Bhubaneswar is widely considered to be the seat of Tribhubaneswar or Lord Lingaraj, an incarnation of Lord Shiva, and is an important Hindu pilgrimage centre.

In 1956, the capital of Odisha was shifted to Bhubaneswar from Cuttack. Its original name is believed to be Ekamra. This can be proven by the numerous mythological references and epigraphic sources that describe the region as Ekamra Kshetra and Saiva Pitha. Evidence of this is found in the many temples located in and around the Old Town area, which is said to have once housed about 2,000 temples. Kalinga-style architecture along with Buddhist and Jain structures gloriously intermingle here, bearing testimony to its diverse historical and cultural heritage. Along with Puri and Konark, Bhubaneswar completes an important tourist triangle in the eastern part of India.

Apart from this, the city is dotted with verdant parks, gardens and water bodies that make for tranquil getaways. It is noted for indigenous crafts like silver filigree, pattachitra paintings, appliqué work and metal work. The city’s culinary delights span from seafood to the most delectable vegetarian fare. Shopping opportunities are aplenty with myriad bazaars and malls speckled across the cityscape.

Several melas or fairs are organised in the city throughout the year. All of them are great ways to imbibe the local flavour of the region. Since it is located on the Mahanadi delta, Bhubaneswar is surrounded by a diverse terrain comprising river basins, forests and wetlands, giving travellers plenty of opportunities to enjoy the varied flora and fauna that call the region home.

Today, Bhubaneswar is a modern and industrial city. It comfortably straddles the old and the new, and gives visitors a chance to enjoy the best of both worlds. Several large companies have set up their offices here. A number of hotel chains, budget hotels, guesthouses and lodges offer accommodation facilities across the city, truly making it a tourist-friendly destination in the eastern part of India.

Puri

Spirituality and divinity echo through every by-lane of the temple city of Puri. A very popular destination of pilgrimage for Hindus, the city is sprawled along the long and pristine coastline of the Bay of Bengal, in the state of Odisha. Buzzing with devotees, who come here to pay obeisance at the Lord Jagannath Temple, Puri is also known worldwide for the larger-than-life celebrations associated with its presiding deity. While one part of the city gets busy celebrating the annual festival of Ratha Yatra (chariot procession of Lord Jagannath), that sees lakhs of footfalls, the other part on the outskirts, fringed by beaches and lakes, remains blanketed in relative calm and serenity, making it a hub for nature lovers.

Puri’s coastline is home to some of the finest beaches in the country, offering not just spectacular views of sunrises and sunsets but also a taste of adventure activities like water sports and wildlife experiences. The city is a must-visit site for architecture buffs and history lovers, owing to the abundance of gorgeous temples located here. The local fisher-folk add a unique charm to Puri, making it a haven for culture and seafood — gastronomic wonders are always close at hand! Even though Puri is thronged by tourists throughout the year, it becomes most prominent at the time of the nine-day-long Ratha Yatra festival, held around the months of July-August, when three decorated chariots carry Lord Jagannath and his sister Subhadra and brother Balabhadra.

The city is said to have been sanctified by the great saint Adi Shankaracharya in the 9th century AD, who later established a monastery here, called Gobardhan Matha. The Matha was also home to several saints and philosophers like Ramanuja, Maraharitirtha, Nanak, Kabir, Chaitanya and Ballav Bhatta. For centuries, Puri has been at the centre of divinity and historical documents prove that from the time of the Somavamsis, 11th century AD onwards, all ruling dynasties of the region extended liberal patronage to Puri's temples and ashrams.