Bhubaneswar, the well – planned capital of orissa, ancient Kalinga, is a city of temples. It had 7000 temples at one time of which 500 remain today. These back to over 1000 years reflect the grandeur & high quality workmanship of Kalinga temple art.

It was also from here (& from south India) that Indian art and culture was carried to Indonesia & the Malayan Archipelago where it survives to this day.

WHAT TO SEE:

TEMPLES:
Bhubaneshwar’s over 500 temples are grouped in a few well Known temple complexes. They are well located in the old part of the city, with in a 3Km.radium.Most temples are still “live” or worshipped daily and bar non- Hindus from entering. The paruswarameswara is the city’s oldest surviving temple, & was built around 650 AD, about the time of Harshvardhana.

But by far Bhubaneshwar’s star attraction is the Lingraj temple, a monument of equal importance and style to the sun temple at konark.

DHAULIGIRI:
Rocks etched with Ashokan edicts, they date to the 2nd century BC. On top of the hillock at Dhauli, a fairely new Buddhist temple has been built.

UDAYGIRI & KHANDAGIRI:
Situated 8 Km.north of Bhubaneshwara are the twin hills of Udaygiri and Khandagiri. The ruler of Kalinga is said to have made his way here through an underground tunnel after his defeat by Ashoka is the battle of Kalinga.

EXCURSIONS:

NANDAN KANAN:
A 50 acre zoological park, 25 km from Bhubaneshwar, is famous for the white tigers & the royal Bengal tigers a part of deer, sambhar.

PIPLI:
This small village, 29 Km from Bhubaneshwar on the Konark road, is the place where Orissa’s famous appliqué work is done.

ATRI SPRINGS:
Hot sulphur springs, 42Km. from the state capital will rejuvenate you after your travels. A bathing complex has been constructed for the convenience of visitors.

YOGINI TEMPLE:
Out of the five Yogini temples in the country, it is located at a village called Hirapur about 15 km. on the Puri road.

CUTTACK:
One of the Orissa’s oldest towns and its capital in the middle ages. Cuttack is virtually flanked by rivers and the one amazing thing about the city is a stone embankment on the Kathajini River, built in the 11th AD by a King of the Keshari dynasty.

STANDARD SIGHTSEEING TOURS:

HALF DAY CITY:
Half day city of Temple city. Finest temples are Lingraj Temple, Rajrani Temple, Mukteshwar Temple, parsurameshwar and Brahmeshwar temple. These temples are some of the best specimen of Orissa temple architecture.

FULL DAY EXCURSION TO KONARK:
Excursion to Konark (64 Kms) to see the beautiful Sun Temple built in the 13th Century in honor of the Sun God. Containing exquisite carvings, the life size lions and elephants are colossal, figure on of warrior on horse, scenes of battle & the chariot all carved with great imagination and skill, testify to the high standard of ancient Indian art .

FULL DAY EXCURSION TO PURI:
Visit the place of pilgrimage for the Hindus. The renowned Jagannath Temple built in the 15th century A.D. & crowned with Vishnu’s wheel & flag dominate the landscape at Puri. The Temple with its elaborate carvings & mouldings are very fine examples of Orissa architecture.