About Hirapur and the temple:

Supposedly, there are six Chausath Yogini temples in India. Two of them are situated in Odisha, three in Madhya Pradesh, and one in Jirapur. The temple at Jirapur in Madhya Pradesh is functional but in a state of ruin. Hirapur is situated in the state’s rural parts, away from modernization, commercialization, and where you can see acres and acres of rice fields. The Chausath Yogini temple was constructed in the 9^th century. Locals come here, worshipping and seeking the blessing of the main deity daily. It’s been a long, the temple wasn’t a tourist attraction, but now it came into the limelight in today’s time. It was discovered in 1953 by the Kedarnath Mahapatra of Odisha State Museum and under India’s Archaeological Survey. It is open to tourists and visitors.

History and Architecture of the temple:

As per the experts, Queen Hiradevi of the Bhauma dynasty builds the temple. As the stories say, the name of the village and the temple come from her character. The very first thing that you will notice about this enticing temple is its architecture. It is not like any of the temples that you may have seen across the country. This small circular-shaped temple uses sandstone, and the primary deities shine in black granite. The temple is neither too massive nor too small. In the front, there is a platform, also known as Surya Pitha or Sun platform. This is for those who come to worship the sun. As the entry is a bit low and narrow, it is a must to enter by going as low as possible. At a time, only one person can enter the temple. At the entrance, one can see intricately carved sculptors of Kaal and Vikaal. Want to know the best thing and beauty of the temple? When you go inside, the entire sky is open to see as the walls are not high. It not only makes one feel at peace and relaxation but also warm. The look is surreal and serene. The Yoginis drew around stand out, as they are stunningly arranged. Each Yogini has a different posture that one can realize after a time. The Yogini figurines are delicately carved stunning sculptures, a perfect thing of beauty and charm, with magnificent hairstyles and animals acting as their pedestals. When you look at them, there is something tranquil and soothing, like channelizing and transferring their energies into the looker. During Navratri time, these are all dolled and dressed up, and special rituals are performed.

When you exit the Chausath Yogini temple, there is a Shiva temple. It is also known as Sankateshwar. It is painted in all white, standing elegantly. There is a Nandi sculpture, too, and is covered in a shiny, vibrant-colored scarf. Another fascinating aspect is the idol of Lord Krishna kept under a shady tree.

The Grandeur of Hirapur Chausath Yogini Temple:

The Chausath Yogini Mahotsava is the best time to feel the grandeur and enjoy the most at the temple. It usually takes place every year between 23^rd to 25^th of December. During this Mahotsava, the temple becomes alive with lights, and music, and folk dances by the locals right outside. It is a grand event, and visitors come from all corners to watch the festival’s brilliance and grandiosity. A few quick tips related to visiting the Yogini temple are as follows:

1. It opens at 6 in the morning and closes by 7 in the evening.
2. Do attend the evening aarti if possible before the temple closes.
3. The temple is near the Bhubaneswar railway station and airport, and it is possible to visit in a day from the city.
4. Try to come either early morning or evening, as afternoons are generally hot.
5. There is no entrance fee here.
6. If you feel like, you can donate anything you wish in the donation box.

Undeniably, the Chausath Yogini temple in Hirapur, Bhubaneswar, is one such rare sight that must get more appreciation and recognition. It has magnificent folklore and vibrant, colorful history. The Yogini temple is more like a revelation in India’s history, and when more people visit, it will start blooming. There are many other Bhubaneswar sightseeing spots, and when you visit, you can accordingly plan to check out. Contact Best Choice Holiday, a reliable Odisha travel agency, to customize your itinerary at the best quotes. Happy holidaying, and do not forget to visit the enticing Chausath Yogini Temple in Hirapur!

The post Eccentric Tourist Places in Odisha- Chausath Yogini Temple first appeared on Best Choice Holiday.

In Odisha, there are special extended weekend packages that you can opt for depending on the interest and preference. Aside from Odisha, people can opt for many other destinations, including Kokan, Mahabaleshwar, Lonavala, Khandala, Shimla, Kullu Manali, Assam, Kerala, Goa, and a lot more. From Odisha, you can plan the outstation tour to West Bengal, Goa, Darjeeling, Gangtok, Dwarka, Somnath, Kerala, Munnar, Vishakhapatnam, etc. First of all, I want to share with you all of these long weekends month-wise that will fall this year so that you can plan your trip at its earliest and with well-thoughtful planning. If yes, do go through the following and know of the dates and times you can plan to take off and enjoy the vacations.

1. January – Taking on off on the 1^st Friday will give you a scope to travel and make memories. It is already gone. So, you can think of taking an off on the 15^th Friday this month, as it will be a holiday for Makar Sankranti, or on 25^th Monday, so that you can get four days as 26^th is Republic day.
2. February – Taking an off on Monday, 15^th this month will allow you to enjoy four days in line, as 16^th would be a holiday for Vasant Panchami.
3. March – Taking an off on 12^th Friday will give you a long weekend of four days, as the 11^th would be a holiday for Maha Shivratri. Holi is on 29^th Monday this month, so if you are not a guy who enjoys this festival, then three days long weekend is available to enjoy.
4. April – Take an off on 2^nd this month, Friday as it will be off due to Good Friday, and merging it with one or two more holidays, you can enjoy a long weekend of 4-5 days.
5. May – The 13^th of this month is Eid-ul-Fitr, and taking an off on the next day, Friday, will give you a chance to enjoy a long weekend of 4 days.
6. June – There is no long weekend falling in this month.  
7. July – The 12^th of this month will be Rath Yatra, Monday, and a perfect chance to enjoy the sacred city of Puri, Odisha, with full enthusiasm, and devotion. The 20^th is Bakra Eid, and taking an off on the 19^th, Monday will give four days to enjoy and travel.
8. August – The 30^th of this month, Monday is Janmashtami, and a three-day long weekend is there.
9. September – The 10^th, Friday is Ganesh Chaturthi and gives a scope of three days to travel.
10. October – The 15^th Friday is Dusshera, and a three-day weekend is falling for all the travel enthusiasts to enjoy.
11. November – The 19^th of this month, Friday is Guru Nanak Jayanti, and it is an excellent time to travel.
12. December – 25^th, Christmas is on Saturday, so taking an off on Friday or Monday, or both, will give you some time to enjoy and take a tour with your loved ones.

So, is your planner out already? Have you started marking the dates for a perfect escapade this year? I can feel everybody is excited to travel and be away from that mundane routine for some time. In Odisha, the weekend getaway packages can be as following, depending on travelers’ interests and passion.

1. The wildlife tour package – It is an intriguing tour package for all wildlife lovers and a perfect opportunity for all those who love jungle safaris, tiger reserves, bird sanctuary, etc. It will cover a visit to Satkosia Tiger Reserve, Nandankanan Zoo, Bhitarkanika Sanctuary, Similipal National Park, and local sightseeing.
2. The Golden Triangle tour package – It covers a visit to Bhubaneswar, Konark, and Puri and is one of the preferable tours among tourists.
3. Honeymoon tour package – It is perfect for youth and those looking for some quiet time to spend with special ones. It will cover a visit to Gopalpur on the sea, honeymoon island, Chilika, and Puri.  
4. Pilgrimage tour package – It is perfect for those who want to visit ancient monuments and spots for more than 2000 years. It will cover the visit to Bhubaneswar, Konark, Puri, and Biraja temple in Jajpur.
5. Tribal tour package – Odisha is known to be the homeland of over 62 tribes. The tour will cover visiting these different tribal villages, interaction with the tribal people, getting awareness of their traditions and cultures, etc. The visit will be to Rayagada, Jeypore, Baliguda, Bhubaneswar, and Puri.
6. Buddhist tour package – The tour will cover a visit to Dhauli hills, Ratnagiri, Udayagiri, and Lalitgiri caves, Buddhist monasteries, and artifacts.
7. Student tour package – It is perfect for students looking to know about the history of the state. The package will cover a visit to Puri, Chilika, and Bhubaneswar.
8. Spiritual tour package – The tour will cover a visit to Puri, Bhubaneswar, and all the ancient spots that will help evolve spiritually and bloom in personal and professional life.
9. Senior Citizen tour package – The tour is specially designed to cover a visit to Bhubaneswar sightseeing, Chilika lake, Raghurajpur village, Puri, and Dhauli hills.
10. Family tour package – It is a specially designed tour package for the entire family to visit Bhubaneswar, Puri, Konark, and Chilika lake.

Aside from Odisha, Best Choice Holiday tours arrange outstation tours from Odisha to different destinations, involving West Bengal, Shimla, Goa, Kerala, and a lot more to describe and imagine. These places are awesome, and anyone can take a tour of them anytime throughout the year. Do not think much! Just plan a trip, contact a good Odisha tour operator, make the preferable destination’s bookings, and be all ready for the memorable vacation that you have been waiting for long. The destinations mentioned above are none but evergreen sites and will rejuvenate you from all the chaos that is going around these days and keep you all sane. What an indescribable feeling! Isn’t it! Enjoy the long weekends and plan to go for a weekend getaway this time and spend an eventful time remembered forever! Feel free to contact Best Choice Holiday tours anytime to make the bookings, arrangements for staying, and make your travel a memorable one!

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In today’s hectic living style, no one has enough time to plan their trips every month or very frequently. Undoubtedly, the demand for weekend getaways is increasing as it helps travellers to manage both personal and professional lives. If you are one of those who love greenery, scenery, forests, jungles, wildlife, animals, birds, and nature plan a trip this time to a bird sanctuary or a national park to enjoy and feel that off-beaten experience. What about Bhitarkanika wildlife sanctuary and national park this time? Do you want to plan and opt for Bhitarkanika tour package from your city? Be it any place, Best Choice Holiday tours Odisha can make the arrangements as per the preference of visitors in the most efficient way and within their budget. And Bhitarkanika is among one of those lesser-known spots to unleash the true essence of an unexplored destination. The travelling is possible in this pandemic either via flight or via the road network. Whether you are visiting from Delhi, Mumbai, Vizag, or any other city across the country, a right travel agency like Best Choice Holiday can make the trip memorable. Bhitarkanika is one of the cheap tour packages in Odisha, a homeland of endangered saltwater crocodiles, and blessed with a mangrove ecosystem offering so much for the travel aficionados to explore the natural charm and splendour.

The biodiversity in Bhitarkanika National Park:

Bhitarkanika is an excellent choice for a travel enthusiast to enjoy and experience the wilderness. It is situated in the North-East Kendrapara district of Odisha, guarded by the Brahmani river on one end and Bay of Bengal on the other. The nearest cities are Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. The advisable way of travelling and making moments with the loved ones is to hire a taxi service or car rental and travel around. The biodiversity found in the sanctuary includes not only saltwater crocodiles, but also white crocodile, Indian python, snakes, monitor lizards, etc. The plenty of water availability makes the site avifauna and a must-visit place in a lifetime. If you wish to watch the migratory birds, do make sure to visit the sanctuary during winters. A few of other animals to spot during your tour to Bhitarkanika are spotted deer, wolves, jungle cats, chitals, rhesus monkeys, hyenas, wild boars, sambar deer, olive ridley turtles, etc.

Places to Stay:

Even if you are planning to opt for a Bhitarkanika tour package from your city for a day or more, it is advisable to always stay in comfortable accommodation. Feel free to contact Best Choice Holiday tours Odisha for the same, as the options are many such as staying in a deluxe tent, or cottage amidst beauty and nature. Also, the agency can help in arranging car rentals, flights booking, guides, and whatever that makes your stay memorable and cherishing. If you are planning for the tour, visit this time from December to March as the weather is pleasant and enjoyable to the most.

Activities to Engage:

Being a wildlife sanctuary and national park, you will relish an unforgettable experience of spotting crocodiles, migratory birds all around, wild animals, reptiles, and others sitting and moving freely nearby. The experiences to not miss out at all while your visit to the Bhitarkanika national park is as follows:

1. Spend some leisure time at an isolated pristine beach at Habilkahti, watching sunrise and sunset, perfect for rejuvenation.
2. Watch the only female captive Albino crocodile in the country, estuarine crocodiles in the Dangamal island at the Captive Breeding and Research Centre.
3. Check out the Olive Ridley Turtles nest at the Gahirmatha Marine sanctuary.
4. Check out the ancient Shiva temple having a history dating back to 5^th century BC inside the forest.
5. Watch the largest rookery spotting the endangered white-bellied sea eagle.
6. Check out the watchtowers, enjoy thrift and amazing boat rides and enjoy the moments.
7. Watch out the world’s most enormous white crocodile and explore more of the adventure around.  

Bhitarkanika is that one national park having a refined culture, rich history and heritage as it is believed that the king of the area takes a tour of the prime hotspots frequently looking out for the remains that are available till date. The boat rides allow visitors and tourists to enjoy the much-needed vacation time to the most and making memories. Opt for any of the Odisha tourism package and custom itinerary as preferable from Best Choice Holiday tours and make moments directly in the hearts that will last for a lifetime. Bhitarkanika tourism provides the experience that is real and it cannot be brought by any penny or anything. The forest will tick you in the way that you haven’t thought of in any sense. Along with the park, the visit can cover other destinations, including Bhubaneswar, Konark, and Puri, to make it even more worth remembering. So, opt for the tour package from your city, and make it a memorable sojourn.

The post Visit Bhitarkanika National Park for an off-beaten experience first appeared on Best Choice Holiday.

Puri – One of the Sacred Char Dhams and holiest city in India!

The city’s history dates back to 3rd century BC, and is rich in heritage and culture, well-known for its rivers, lakes and beaches. The ideal time to be here is in winters, and the must-visit spots are as follows.

Lord Jagannath Temple – The famous and pious temple was built in 1161 and is an integral part of Char Dhams of India. It is a must to go there and seek the blessing of the deity.
Puri Beach – It is among one of the relaxing beaches of the country and is a treat for eyes, especially at the time of sand art annual festival.
Chilika Wildlife Sanctuary – Spread in a huge area of 1100 square kilometers, the wildlife sanctuary is home to several fauna and flora species. It is also known as among the largest coastal lagoon in India.
Atharnala Bridge – This Bridge is constructed by the kings of the Ganga dynasty in the 13th century and offers beautiful surrounding views to travellers.
Gundicha temple – Situated next to Lord Jagannath temple, it is another marvel to check out and seek the blessing of the deity.

Aside from this, the nearby sightseeing spots can also be involved in the tour, such as Dhauli hills, Raghurajpur crafts village, Konark Sun temple, chandrabagha beach, etc.

Visakhapatnam – Vizag – The port city and Jewel of the Eastern Coast India!

Indira Gandhi Zoological Park – Spread in a large 625 acres of land area, it is situated in a spectacular setting, and that makes the zoo seems homely to the wildlife. The park was built earlier in 1977.
Kailasagiri Hill Park – It is a beautiful hill station and is surrounded by small hills and beaches. The interesting attractions here is the road trains for children, play park, ropeway trolleys, etc.
Vuda Park – The lush green surroundings here is going to lift your spirits high. Here, it is not only about promoting the environment but also about offering different physical activities for children as well as elders.
Rishikonda Beach – Situated a bit far kilometers away from Vizag, it is among one of the most beautiful and pristine beaches of Andhra Pradesh. Windsurfing, swimming, and skiing are among a few of the water sport activities that could make your moments magnificent.

Still, Araku Valley and Borra Caves is something that should be checked out and not miss at all. A bit away from Vizag, the tour will not be complete and worth seeing without visiting Araku Valley and Borra Caves for sure.

Araku Valley – This hill station is situated 3200 square feet above sea level and is an exquisite land bestowed with lush green and natural streams, gardens, and waterfalls. The trekking to the valley is going to elevate your spirits and senses in a completely refreshing way, and 19 tribes who live here are not influenced by modern living.
Borra Caves – The million-year-old caves are breathtaking and situated above 1400 meter sea level. These caves are among the biggest caves that are available in India, and the remarkable formation of rocks here provides amazing views. There is an 80 feet long tunnel that lets you take altogether in a different world. Also, there is an idol of Kamadhenu and a shiva lingam inside the caves.
Yarada beach – The location of the beach is simply breathtaking. The beach bestows the beautiful hills on its three sides and the huge Bay of Bengal on the fourth, and it makes it the best beach of Vizag.

The other sightseeing attractions that can be visited include Thotla Konda, Bheemili Beach, Vabikonda Buddhist heritage, etc. After the stay over at Araku Valley and seeing the desired attractions, this is the time now to get back. Isn’t it? Best Choice Holiday is the reliable travel agent that can help you in arranging a custom tour to Puri, Vizag and Araku Valley and making it worth travelling and remembering. Feel free to personalize the tour, as desired, and make it one of the best sightseeing trips of your lifetime.

The post The Fascinating and Soul-Soothing Puri Vizag Coastal and Araku Valley Tour Package first appeared on Best Choice Holiday.