India >Orissa

ORISSA

Capital : Bhubaneshwar.

Area : 1, 55, 707 sq.km.

Literacy : 63.1%.

Languages : Oriya, Bengali, Hindi.

Roads : 2, 10, 238 km.

Railways : 2, 190 km.

Airports : Bhubaneshwar, Raurkela.

When to visit : Oct to Mar.

Climate(in °C) : Summer 49 Winter 16 to 5.

Districts : 30, Anugul, Balangir, Baleshwar, Bargarh, Baudh, Bhadrak, Cuttack, Debagarh, Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Ganjam, Jagatsighapur, Jajapur, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Kendrapara, Kendujhar, Khordha, Koraput, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Nabarangapur, Nayagarh, Nuapada, Puri, Rayagada, Sambalpur, Sonapur, Sundaargarh.

Places of Tourist importance : Bhubaneshwar, Puri, Konark, Chilka.

BHUBANESHWAR

A temple city with 500 temples, Bhaskareshwar temple, Raja rani temple, Lingaraja temple (6th C, 36.5 m high), Parasurameswar temple (7th C), Mukteshwar temple, Vaital temple with erotic sculptures, Bhaskareswar temple with two story high Shiv linga, Kedareswara - Gauri temple, Secretariat, State museum, Dhauli (8 km, Emperor Ashoka's rock edicts, Peace pagoda), Khandagiri (7 km, 15 Jain caves with carvings of 100 BC), Hathi Gumpha (elephant cave) - King's inscriptions. Udayagiri - Buddhist caves (18 km, 18 caves of 100 BC), Ratnagiri caves near Cuttack, Nandankanan botanical and zoological gardens (20 km) with the largest Lion Safari in India, and the only White tiger safari in the world.

KONARK Sun temple (70 km)

Known as 'BLACK PAGODA' of 13th century, a world heritage centre, it is made in the form of a chariot having 24 intricately carved wheels, chariot with Sun God is pulled by 7 horses (in ruins), beach, archaeological museum, Dance festival in Dec.

PURI temple (60 km)

One of the four most holy places of Hindu pilgrimage (other holy abodes are Badrinath, Dwarka & Rameshwaram), 20000 people are depended on temple for their livelihood, 65 m spire, beaches, Pipli on the way is a village famous for handicrafts - colourful canopies, beach umbrellas, hand bags etc.

CHILKA lake (100 km) - Balugaon, Ramba and Barkul island dotted lake, Kalijai temple on an island, bird life.

GOPALPUR - Beach resort near Chhatrapur (150 km), TAPTAPANI hot springs (60 km from Gopalpur).

HIRAKUD DAM - The fourth largest dam in the world, picnic spot.

FESTIVALS

Puri car festival (June/July), Holi (Feb/Mar).

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