Odisha

Formerly known as Orissa, this Indian state on the eastern periphery of the Indian sub continent, is a tourist’s delight- as anyone who has actually visited the state will confirm.

Odisha is the modern name for the ancient kingdom of Kalinga which, I am sure, everyone remembers as the country which was invaded by Ashoka the Great in 261BC. It was after seeing the bloodshed and destruction at the Battle of Kalinga that he decided to give up arms and embraced Buddhism.

The modern state of Orissa was carved out by the Britishers in 1936. Cuttack, which had been the capital for more than 700 years continued to be the capital till 1948, when Bhubaneshwar was declared the official capital.

One of the most underrated tourist destinations it has unexplored beaches for the vagabond, ancient temples for those who love their culture and places of scenic beauty as well.
Most of the tourists to this state come for religious reasons. There are places of religious interest for the Hindus, Buddhists and Jains as well. Bhubaneshwar-Konark-Puri, often referred to as the ‘Golden triangle’, draws in the maximum number of tourists.

Puri, with its centuries old Jagannath temple devoted to Lord Vishnu, is as loved for being steeped in tradition and transporting you to a different era as it is for its lovely beaches. The refreshing cool sea breeze in the face is a one of a kind experience and truly invigorating. There are numerous beach resorts dotting the coast and you can choose to stay at one of these to make it a totally unforgettable visit.

The Rath Yatra at Puri, which is an annual ritual, attracts thousands of visitors every year- both from India and across its borders.

Daringbadi, which is often called the “Kashmir of Odisha”, is a wonderful getaway for the summer months. Lush green, pine covered hills, lovely meadows, enchanting valleys and coffee plantations make it a visual treat for sore eyes.

Another place of tourist interest is the Chilka Lake. Spread over an area of nearly 1100 sq km, it is the largest salt water lake in Asia.

Also of tourist interest are the Maa Samaleswari Temple, Maa Samaleswari Temple, Khandagiri
Caves, Dhabaleswar Temple, Panchalingeswar Temple, Bhattarika Temple, Konark Sun Temple (which is a World heritage site), Dhauli Hill and, of course, the Hirakud Dam (which is the fourth largest dam in the world).

The Odissi dance has been enthralling dance lovers for hundreds of years and has had renowned exponents who have won hearts of people even outside India.

As the state government has been adopting an aggressive tourism promotion policy since the last few years, the influx to the state has received an unprecedented boost. And no visitor to this state has ever been disappointed with all that it has to offer!