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Bhubaneswar
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.
Darjeeling
Often called the Queen of the Himalayas, Darjeeling affords unparalleled view of these majestic mountains. The snow-clad Kanchenjunga ranges, which turn orange-gold in the early morning sun, provide an unforgettable sight. A highlight of a visit to Darjeeling is a trip to Tiger Hill before the break of dawn, to see the sun rise over Mount Everest, the highest mountain peak in the world.
‘Toy Train’ from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling is a rare experience of travel on a 2-ft. gauage railway at 15 Km. per hour passing through bazaars & village streets.
WHAT TO SEE:
TIGER HILL:
On a clear day you can see Mount Everest not to mention the Kanchanjunga. From here you will see peak-after-snow-capped peak catch fire, turning a pigeon blood red from the opaque blue of the night.
SENCHAL LAKE:
On the return to town catch a favourite picnic spot- you will have to come back for the picnic around the reservoir that provides Darjeeling its water supply.
GHOOM MONASTRY, TIBETAN REFUGEE SELF-HELP CENTRE, LLOYD BOTANICAL GARDEN, HIMALAYAN ZOO, HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINEER – ING INSTITUTE (HMI), TEMPLES, TREKS.
EXCURSIONS:
MIRIK LAKE RESORT: 
A government-run resort around the lake lies halfway between Darjeeling and Siliguri. The drive through the country passes tea estates, orange groves and Cardamom fields. A not-so-well-known tourist spot, Mirik is a quiet, peaceful resort.
KALIMPONG:
On the west the Ranjit drains the Singalia range & the east the Relli which joins up with Teesta further south. The Rinkingpong Hill, locally Known as Durpin Dara, is one of the two look-out points over the Kalimpong area. About 16 km northeast of Kalimpong is the Dun song
Fort. In Kalimpong, museums are a flourishing business; some of the
specialties of the region are anthusiums, roses, dahlias, gladioli etc.
STANDARD SIGHTSEEING TOURS:
HALF DAY CITY:
Darjeeling, one of the most beautiful hill stations in Eastern India, has the highest race course in the world, the Lablong village. Visit the mountaineering institute, house of Tenzing Norway, the first Everest hero.
EXCURSION TO GANGTOK:
Full day excursion to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim & a city of great scenic beauty, surrounded by green forests.
Excursions to Kalimpong:
Full day excursion to Kalimpong, another hill resort which is reached by a fascinating journey through Tea Estates, winding roads & severa view point of Himalayas.
HALF DAY TO YIGER HILL AND GHOOM MONASTERY:
Every morning excursion to Tiger Hill to view the sunrise & its reflection over the Mount Everest & Mount Kanchanjunga in their majestic glory. Later drive to the Tibetan Monastery at Ghoom, one of the oldest (1857) in the area that enshrines an enormous guilded statue of maitrey Buddha. The Monastery belongs to the Yellow Sect & has several valuable Tibetan manuscripts.
Gangtok
Gangtok is the capital of Sikkim, a garden state lying at the foot of the Kanchenjunga Mountains. Rish in thick green forests, Sikkim abounds in birds & butterflies, varieties of orchids, rhodoendrons & wild flowers & magnificent view of the Himalayas. Gangtok is literally the “lofty hill” set amidst the clouds & mists of splendorous Himalayas. The culture of Sikkim is rich in mythology &legends – one is the abominable snowman, the legendary Yeti.
WHAT TO SEE:
The scenic beauty of the surroundings of Gangtok havery few parallels. Lush green valleys & mightly mountains form an enhancing landscape.
THE DEE PARK near the secretariat building preserves the flora & fauna of Sikkim & also has an image of Buddha.
DO DRUL CHORTEN is yet another attraction which was built in 1945. 108 prayer wheels surround it & it is considered a scared Stupa by the Buddhists. The Stupa contains a set of holy books, relics many mantras.
NAMGYAL INSTITUTE OF TIBETOLOGY has more than 30,000 books relating to diverse fields like philosophy, medicine & Buddhism in addition to silk embroided thankas.
ORCHID SANCTUARY is just below the Institute & has more than 200 species of orchids most of which bloom during April-May.
Another not to be missed tourist attraction is Enchey Monastery which is more than 200 year old. Its about 3 Km from downtown.
EXCURSIONS:
RUMEK MONASTERY:
visible from Gangtok, through 23 Km away, Rumtek is the seat of the Kagyu-pa-sect of Tibetan Buddhism since the members of the sect fled Tibet in the wake of Chinese occupation. The beautiful monastery is virtually a replica of the original in Tibet & is of special interest to anyone interested in Tibetan religious painting.
STANDARD SIGHTSEEING TOURS:
Half day sightseeing visiting the Enchey Monastery. The Residency for excellent view of the mountains, the white Memorial hall, Tibetology Institute, Deer park & the Orchid farm.
Gaya
On the banks of river Niranjana (now called Falgu) is Bodh Gaya, 12 km. from the crowded Hindu Pilgrimage town of Gaya.Under the Bodhi tree, Prince Siddhartha found enlightment & became Buddha or the ‘Enlightenment One’. The Bodhi Tree is now marked by a raised platform. Bodhgaya is one of the most important places of pilgrimage for Buddhists.
WHAT TO SEE:
MAHABODHI TEMPLE:
This is the most scared of Buddha shrines anywhere in the world. It is marked
by stone lotuses & a soaring tower. Along the stone balustrade around the temple are friezes depicting the lives of Buddha. Temple has a pyramidal spire instead of having the usual curvilinear contours. The Bodhi tree is on the west of the temple. A raised platform marks the spot where Buddha sat in meditation & became enlightened.
ANIMESHLOCHAN CHAITAYA:
Close to the Mahabodhi temple, with in the surrounding walls, stands this small temple sanctifying the spot from where Buddha stood gazing at the Bodhi tree in gratitude after he attained enlightment.
MOHANTA MONASTERY:
Separated by a wall from the mahabodhi temple is this shaivite monastery. Its four spires rise into the sky and the garden is dotted with hundreds of small samadhis-cooemorative stones.
RATNAGIRI:
A small temple again close to the Mahabodhi complex. Legend has it that Buddha spent a week in contemplation here, while rays in five different colours emanated from his body.
TIBETAN MONASTERY:
Across the market Mahabodhi, the monastery is true to the architectural style of Tibet, complete with sloping tiles roofs.
THAI TEMPLES & MONASTERY:
The Thai temple is likely to startle you. Gold lacquered tiles, sloping terraces, roofs, curled dragon forms.
BUDDHIST MONASTRY OF BHUTAN:
A typical monastery in the Bhutanese style of architecture. In the shape of graceful pagoda, the monastery stands within lovely garden.
THE BURMESE TEMPLE:
This is built in the style of a small pagoda & is remiscient of Pagan, the ancient city of five thousands of Pagodas. The Burmese monastery of the time during the 11th & 13th centuries – was much longer than the present structure.
THE CHINESE TEMPLE & MONASTERY:
Walking distance of the mahabodhi temple stands this white structure that is a cross between Chinese & Indian architecture. The fine Buddha statue inside come from china two hundred years ago.
EXCURSIONS:
DUNGESHWARI:
About 12 km. from Gaya, this is the place where Prince Siddhartha stopped briefly during his wanderings.
MUCHALINDA LAKE:
About 3 km. south of the Mahabodhi temple is the lake close to the village of Mircharism. According to legend, Buddha was protected here by the snake king, Muchalinda, against the thunder & rain sent by the demons to disturb his meditation.
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