MONUMENTS
The most frequently visited places of Orissa are the monuments in general and the temples in particular. Temples from 6th c. AD to 14th c. AD dominate the skyline of Orissa. Bhubaneswar, the capital city is often described as the Temple City of India because of some five hundred and odd temples there. The most important temples of Bhubaneswar are Lingaraj, Rajarani, Mukteswar, Vaital temples while Jagannath temple at Puri, Sun temple at Konark have remained all time favourite with the visitors.
Lingaraj Temple : This 11th c. ad and 180 ft. gigantic edifice in Bhubaneswar is an eloquent monument where every flange of every stone is ornate with floral and geometric decoration.
Rajarani Temple : This 11th c AD superb temple with magnificent work of art is unparallel in the history of plastic art in Orissa.
Rajarani Temple, Cuttack
Mukteswar Temple : The 34 ft. high small Mukteswar temple standing gracefully with a elegant arch in front belonging to the 10th-11th c AD is recognized as one of the most beautiful work of art in India.
Vaital Temple : Vaital, as one of the most important temples with elongated and valued roof unlike others are Chamunda as its presiding deity, the sculptures of the temple show a strange amalgamation of Saktism, Saivism and Mahayana Buddhism.
Jagannath Temple : The magnificent 192 ft. high 12th c. AD temple at Puri with its enshrined deities Jgannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra and the unique Rathayatra associated with the deities attract millions of people.
Jagannath Temple, Puri
Sun Temple : The Sun temple at Konark, a poetry in stone and a World Heritage Monument is often described as the grandest achievement of the Eastern school of architecture. This 13th c. AD architectural marvel in stone designed as a chariot of the Sun God with 12 giant wheels fixed on either side, whirled by seven horses is the translation of a Rig Vedic allegory in stone.
Sun Temple, Konark
The other most notable temples of Orissa include the unique sixty four Yogini hypaetheral temples at Hirapur near Bhubaneswar and Ranipur-Jharial in Bolangir district, the chorite slab built Kichakeswari temple at Khiching, in Mayurbhanj district, leaning temple at Huma in Sambalpur district, Twin temple at Jagati in Bough district, the temples in Somepur Sunya mandira in Joranda in Dhenkanal district and many others in various parts of the state.
BUDDHIST CIRCUIT
Buddhism in Orissa is as old as the religion itself. The Kalinga war in 261 B.C, the conversion of Ashoka and the visit of Hieun Tsange speak about the glorious state of Buddhism in Orissa. It is from here that Buddhism was exported to Sri Lanka, and far-off countries in the South-East Asia.
Ratnagiri-Lalitagiri-Udayagiri-Langudi : Excavations at Ratnagiri-Lalitagiri-Udayagiri-Langudi, situated at a distance of about 5kms from one another and 100 kms. From Bhubaneswar unearthed large monasteries, big stupas, large numbers of votive stupas, and terracotta seals. Just round the corner of these sites stands Langudi hill on the right bank of river Kelua. Excavations unearthed here a cluster of rock-cut votive stupas, two unique Buddha images and Panchadhyani Buddha with their female counterparts. The Museum of the Archaeological Survey of India at Ratnagiri with over a thousand artifacts and sculptures of the area provide a glimpse of the state of Buddhism in Orissa during 6th-7th c. AD. Two inscribed images of a king found here are identified by some historians as that of Emperor Ashoka.
Dhauli : It was here in 261 BC, Ashoka won against Kalinga and then transformed to become a zealous Buddhist. It was here Emperor Ashoka engraved the rock edicts proclaiming his policy of good governance and Dhamma for the benefit of his subjects by thus proclaiming his change of heart. As a remembrance to this epoch making event, a Peace Pagoda has been constructed here on the hill top by the Japanese Buddhists.
Peace Pagoda, Dhauli
The other most important centers of Buddhism were Kuruma, and Chaurasi in Prachi valley, Banpur in Khurda district, Choudwar, Kurukulla, Lataharan in Cuttack district, Ayodhya and Balasore in Balasore district, Jaugarh and Buddhakhol in Ganjam district, Boudh in Boudh district besides many other places in the state.
Spread over an area of 1100 sq.kms. Asia's largest brackish water lagoon Chilika has the unique distinction of having the second largest congregation of migratory birds in the world. Chilika's Nalabana bird sanctuary is definitely an ornithologist's delight as well as the visual treat for any visitor who can find the sanctuary alive with raucous cries of the birds. Besides the birds, Chilika has been home for the endangered Irrawadi Dolphins and several species of fish, crabs, prawn and reptiles. A visit to the mouth, the place where Chilika Lagoon joins the sea, can be a captivating experience.
WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES
For visitors desirous of visiting tigers in their dens, elephants in the wild, birds in the lake, crocodiles and reptiles in the swamp filled with mangrove forest, giant tortoise rookery in the sand of the confluences, Orissa can be the ultimate destination.
Simlipal : Spreading over on area of 2750 sq. kms. Simlipal National Park with the Tiger Reserve offers spectacular view of nature. Dense forest, rugged hilly terrain, majestically roaming wild animals, elephants, tigers and birds, gorgeous waterfalls and rivers, sky touching mountain peaks, tropical trees and exotic colored multi-shelled orchids can keep any visitor spell bound. The park remains open for the visitors from November 10th to June 15th and permission to visit the reserve should be obtained from the Conservator of forest, National Park,Jashipur or from the Range Officer at the entry point there.
Bhitarkanika : Pristine isolated beach at Gahirmatha, tens of thouands of giant turtles, exotic birds, fearsome crocodiles variety of Kingfishers, narrow creeks that meander past deltaic islands, mangrove forest, nature treails inside the dense forest, wildlife and not a soul around, that is what Bhitarkanika is.
Nandankanan : Established in 1979, Nandankanan has remained the only biological park with more than 67 varieties of mammals including lions and white tigers, 20 species of reptiles and 82 species birds. There are however quite a few other sanctuaries which preserve the most colour wildlife of Orissa. These are Chandaka Elephant reserve, Satakosia gorge, Dangamanl crocodile sanctuary, Ushakothi, Bakulhanda, Karlapat, Lekhari and Debrigarh sanctuaries.
BEACHES
The long coastline of orissa stretching over 482 kms. Is dotted with some of the most beautiful and pristine beaches of the world. The surf and the golden sand of Puri, the clean sand with blue water of Chandrabhaga, the confluence and the serene atmosphere of Ramchandi, the virgin and unexplored beaches of Baleswar and Balighai, the creepered sand dunes with melted gold coloured beach of Chandipur, the sparkling water and white sand of Talsari, the pristine beach in the midst of a cluster of coconut and palm trees of Gopalpur, the colourful beach of Astaranga, the serene atmosphere of Aryapalli and Pati-Sonapur and the treasure house for study of rookery of Olive Ridley sea turtle of Gahiramatha beach can take any visitor to ecstasy.
