Odisha is the land of Kalinga, the kingdom that fought Emperor Ashok valiantly and the war that changed him and the face of India spiritually. Many centuries later, Odisha is well endowed geographically with beaches, forests, hills, lakes, along with remains of an ancient culture with temples and monuments with unique architecture, a rich tribal culture, a busy art and handicraft culture and much more.
However, not many people know about this and therefore do not perceive Odisha as a tourist destination. The travelers who do make it there make the most of it with lesser tourist crowds as well ☺
We will try to highlight destinations and experiences that would appeal to different types of travelers. You would need many days to explore these places in the state. If you are traveling to and exploring India, Odisha definitely needs to be a part of your itinerary and you would definitely keep on coming back to explore more ☺.

Following are some of the places and experiences we have listed. Based on your interests and time we could curate a personalized itinerary for you.

BHUBANESHWAR
The capital city is also known as the Temple City of India with a plethora of temples reflecting the rich ancient heritage of the place. Apart from the temples Bhubaneshwar has access to wildlife sanctuaries, exotic caves and the city is a convenient gateway to other destinations in the state.
Udayagiri & Khandagiri caves: It is highly recommended to visit these historical caves that are famous for scripture carvings and Brahmi inscriptions.
Best Time To Visit: October to March
Places To Visit: Dhauli Hills, Ratnagiri Buddhist Excavations, Bindu Sarovara, Nandan Kanan Zoological Park, Satkosia Tiger Reserve, and temples of Mukteswar, Lingaraj, Brahmeswara, & Parasurameswara.
How To Get There: By Air, Rail and Road.

PURI
Puri is a temple on the coast and is largely known for the Puri Jagannath Temple, which is one of the most important pilgrimage places for the Hindus. However, Puri has much more to offer with its sun-kissed beaches and bustling markets.
Best Time To Visit: July to March
Places To Visit: Puri Beach, Puri Beach Festival, Puri Jagannath temple, Chilika Lake & Bird Sanctuary, and Gundicha Ghar Temple.
How To Get There: The city is well connected by rail and road. The nearest airport is the Bhubaneshwar’s Biju Patnaik Airport, which is around 60 km away.

CUTTACK
The business capital of the state is known for many ancient pilgrim centers, forts, museums, lakes, and islands. Moreover, this place also boasts of local handicrafts.
Best Time To Visit: July to March
Places To Visit: Mahanadi Barrage, Fort of Barabati, Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, Ansupa Lake, and Temples of Singanatha & Bhattarika.
How To Get There: The city is well connected by rail and road. The nearest airport is the Bhubaneshwar’s Biju Patnaik Airport, which is around 26 km away.

KONARK SUN TEMPLE
Dedicated to the Sun God this 13th century temple is one of the popular monuments in the state with its intricate carvings and unique Kalinga architecture with a scientific bent.
A must visit place for any history buff and avid photographer.

CHANDRABHAGA BEACH
Short distance from the Konark temple lays this beautiful beach. It is highly recommended to take a leisurely stroll and watch the sunset.
Every year there is a 7-day fair in the honour of Sun God that is held here for which devotees from across the country come and take a dip in the sea as part of the ritual.
Best Time To Visit: September to March.
How To Get There: Well connected by Rail and Road. Puri is 35 km away and the Nearest Airport to Konark Sun Temple is Bhubaneswar Airport or Biju Patnaik International Airport, which is 65 km away and around an hour-long drive from the Konark Sun Temple.

CHILIKA LAKE
The largest salt water lake in India extends to an area of around 1100 sq km covering the districts of Puri, Khurda and Ganjam. It is an excellent place for bird watching and if lucky one would be able to spot dolphins as well. It is indeed a beautiful place with stunning views picture perfect for postcards.
Best Time To Visit: November to February
How To Get There: Best way is to go there from Puri by road.

RAGHURAJPUR: EXPLORING ART
Raghurajpur is a village inhabited primarily by the artisans involved in various traditional and tribal art and craft unique to Odisha. The village has an artistic feervour and ambience. Craft items like palm leaf inscriptions, stone and wood carvings, papier mache, sodhai work, mural painting, wooden and cow dung toys, filigree, applique, terracotta are all created and proudly displayed here. Like many travelers, you could stay here and learn the ancient art from of Pattachitra from the artisans living there.
Best Time To Visit: October to March.
How To Get There: To reach Raghurajpur, travellers have to get down at Chandanpur, which is 10 km from Puri and about 55 km from Bhubaneswar on NH-203, connecting Puri and Bhubaneswar. From Chandanpur, travellers have the option to take cycle-rickshaw or walk on the scenic village road, which takes about 15 minutes to reach the village.

PIPLI
This small town in Odisha is famous for its art and craft esp. the appliqué work. The craft involves stitching and embroidering small pieces of colored cloth with flowers, animals, village scene and traditional designs on to a larger base cloth. You could observe the artist at work as well. The town is at its colourful best with the markets displaying the wide variety of craft.
Best Time To Visit: October to March.
How To Get There: Pipli is on the way from Bhubaneshwar to Puri and can be reached by bus or taxi. It is about 20 km from Puri.

CHANDIPUR BEACH
Located around 16 km from Baleswar Railway Station in Balasore district, this beach is known for its high rising tides as high as 1-4 km, and of course the beautiful sunset. A tranquil place to spend a quiet vacation in this pristine beach.
Best Time To Visit: October to March.
How To Get There: Well connected by Rail and Road. The nearest Airport is in Bhubaneshwar 207 km away.

SIMPLILAL NATIONAL PARK
Located in the Mayurbhanj District, Simplilal is a popular elephant reserve that also represents a rich and diverse wildlife in the state. The national park also has some pretty waterfalls – Barehipani and Joranda. Safari is a must do.
Best Time To Visit: October to March.
How To Get There:
Air: The nearest airports are Bhubaneswar (270 km) and Kolkata (240 km). A straight drive down from Kolkata is more convenient.
Rail: The nearest railway station is Balasore (60 km from Baripada).
Road: The nearest airports are Bhubaneswar (270 km) and Kolkata (240 km).

BHITARKANIKA WETLANDS
The mangroves n the wetlands extend to an area of about 650 sq km river delta of the Brahmani and Baitarani rivers. Home to 55 mangrove species, the mangroves harbor a large population of saltwater crocodiles. The beach called Gahirmatha that separates Bay of Bengal from the mangroves is the nesting hub for Oliver Ridley Turtles in India. It is an enthralling experience to take a boat ride amongst the intricate mangroves and look for wildlife.
Best Time To Visit: October to March.
How To Get There:
The Bhitarkanika islands can be reached from Bhadrak on the Calcutta-Madras railway line that also passes through Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. A night train from Calcutta’s Howrah station will reach Bhadrak (297 km) at dawn. (Alternatively, you could take a train in the opposite direction from Bhubaneswar).

EXPLORE THE TRIBAL CULTURE:
Odisha is the home of many indigenous cultures and tribes who are farmers and food gatherers. These tribes have a rich culture and traditions that include highly developed artistic skills like body painting, ornaments making, weaving and wall paintings. Music and dance also are an important part of these tribes who rejoice at little happiness they can find. To learn about real Odisha, it is advisable to take a tribal tour. Bondo, Didayi, Barogadaba, Kondhs and Dongarias are some of known tribes in Odisha.

Apart from these there are other notable places to visit in Odisha such as Paradip (Sea Port), Rourkela, Dhauli, Behrampur, Rayagada and many more.