Orissa, the land of holy temples is also known as for its long coastline and mineral wealth. Orissa is a rural state having several beautiful beaches, mountains, ancient monuments, hot springs, zoo and lake. Over 60 different tribal groups live in the hill forests of Central Orissa who still hunt and gather food. Their folk paintings on Canvas, the Patachitra are a well known form of art across the globe. Orissa is fully rich in terms of natural wealth like waterfalls, beaches, gardens, water bodies or Wildlife. Orissa also has Hirakud Dam which is one of the longest dams in the world. Bhubaneswar is the capital of Orissa. This temple state is known for its several popular tourist destinations like Puri for Jagannatha temple near the sea, Konark for the Sun Temple and Cuttack for mighty Barabati fort.

Major Tourist Attractions in Orissa

Bhubaneshwar - This city and capital of Orissa houses several majestic temples and shrines. Among these temples this city has Lingaraja temple which is also called mammoth temple of the area. Thousands of devotees and tourist come to visit these temples every year.

Pipli - Pipli is a famous village which is situated close to Shanti Stupa in Orissa. This village is famous for its beautiful appliqué and filigree applications. Hundreds of people are involved in this work. This village has become a great market ground. This village, Pipli is also known for its paintings and pottery.

Konark - Konark city is also one of the famous tourist attractions in Orissa. This city is located 65 kilometers south of Bhubaneshwar. This place is famous for its majestic Sun temple, designed as the chariot of Sun God, Surya. This temple was built during the 13th century. This temple was named Sun Temple because when the sun rises over the oceans, it casts its first ray on this temple. This temple has seven magnificent, straining horses carved in stone, and its chariot has twenty four intricately carved giant wheels.

Puri - One more holy city of Orissa is Puri. This city is the home of Jagannath temple, one of the busiest temples in the country. This temple serves the annual Rath Yatra, attended by thousands of devotees. Puri is also famous for its unique and beautiful beaches. These beaches are the best place for holiday as they provide some quite atmosphere from the bustle of the bigger cities.

Udaigiri - Udaigiri is a famous Buddhist place of the region. Udaigiri, along with Ratnagiri and Lalitagiri, forms the Buddhist Triangle in India. This city holds the distinction of being its largest Buddhist complex. This place is known for its famous and old monastery, by the name Madhavapura Mahavihara. This monastery houses large number of Buddhist sculptures.

Ratnagiri - Ratnagiri is a splendid and famous Buddhist site in Jajpur district of Orissa. This place is really beautiful and must watch place as it is situated on a small hill, stands surrounded by rivers from all the sides. During the way to Ratnagiri, you will come across magnificent views of vast plains and full of lush greenery.

Udaigiri and Khandagiri Caves - Both are very ancient and popular caves of Orissa. Khandagiri Caves include Akshay Ganga, Gupta Ganga, Shyam Kund and Radha Kund. One of the most interesting and beautiful caves is the 24 Tirthankaras Cave. Both Udaigiri and Khandagiri caves are the most visited and famous tourist attraction of Orissa state.

Dhauli Hill - This place is also known for its spiritual reasons. Dhauli Hill is a Buddhist pilgrim destination and most visited place of the area. Dhauli Hill is located in the Khurda district of Orissa. This is the famous hill which represents the place where Emperor Ashoka relinquished war and adopted Buddhism. Several proofs has been preserved here which are related to King Ashoka.

Chilka Lake - The most famous tourist attraction of Orissa is Chilka Lake. This lake is lying on the eastern coast of Orissa near Puri. This lake is one of the largest lakes, not only in India but also in Asia. This lake stretches over an area of 1,100 sq km. This lake is a popular picnic spot and provides ample opportunities for boating, fishing and bird watching.

Adventure Holidays in Orissa

Orissa is not only known for its temples and pilgrimage centers but also for its unique adventure activities. Boat Safari and ride is very popular in Orissa. This state is also known for its water sports like wind surfing, water skiing, kayaking and sailing. These water activities are possible in famous Chilka Lake. Orissa is also famous for its wildlife sanctuaries where one can enjoy watching Royal Bengal Tiger with jeep and elephant safari. There are some beautiful and scenic beaches in Orissa which provide a relaxing holiday as well as adventure water activities.

Major Cities in Orissa

Orissa, the land of several famous temples and beaches is the combination of its famous cities which are well known for their tourist attractions. These cities of Orissa have their own significance. Bhubaneswar and Cuttack are the two major cities of Orissa state. Orissa is known for its temples scattered across the state. The holy cities of Puri, Konark, and Bhubaneswar are those cities which are often referred as Orissa's Golden Triangle. Some other important and major cities of Orissa are Cuttack, Raurkela, Sambalpur and Bhadrak.

Hotels in Orissa

Every year large number of domestic as well as foreign tourists visits this state of temple. Orissa offers several hotels, motels, lodges and beach resorts to cater all the requirements and needs of tourists. There are plenty of hotels in Orissa from budget class to luxury class in reasonable range. One can opt the hotel according to his pocket and choice. Some of the famous and well known hotels of Orissa are:
» Trident Hilton, Bhubaneswar
» Hotel Swosti, Bhubaneswar
» Swosti Plaza, Bhubaneswar
» Toshali Sands, Puri
» Mayfair Beach Resort, Puri
» OTDC Pathnivas Hotel, Konark