Mahendragiri Hills:
This second highest peak of Odisha is situated in the state’s Gajapati district, and is well known for its lush beauty as well as the tremendous biodiversity which encompasses this majestic mountain peak. It’s also meant for trekking during the pleasant weather, and as one treks, they can witness the multiple temples, which has the mythological and religious tales hidden in it. In fact, there are a lot of mythological tales attached to this mountain, including the one where Lord Shiva receives the Parsu from God after his meditation.

Deomali Hills:
This is the highest mountain peal of Odisha, and is located in the state’s Doodhari village of Koraput district. Deomali is a paradise in itself, and attracts many visitors around the year, for its enchanting beauty. Also, while visiting here, the charm of Koraput cannot be missed. One can see tribal communities, shop at the nearby tribal market, and also tour around the gorgeous coffee and spices plantation.

Gandhamardhan Hills:
Replete with rich medicinal plants, the Gandhamardhan Hills is placed between Balangir & Bargarh, and is a tremendous place for spending some solitude time amidst the nature’s best. Bauxite is also found here, and these hills also have some interesting mythological tales attached to them. To be blessed, one can also visit the Nrusinghanath and Harishankar temples here.

Dhauligiri:
The Dhuali hills are a well known tourist destination for several reasons, and also makes up for a weekend getaway for people dwelling in Bhubaneswar, Puri and Cuttack. Apart from the pristine Daya River, Dhauli is even a historic site where the great Kalinga war took place. Edicts of Ashoka can be found engraved on the rocks at the Shanti Stupa here. Travellers can even go for a short trek here, or do cycling up the hills, and even catch the early morning beauty of this place.

Daringbadi Hills:
The Daringbadi Hills of Kandhamal district is also well acclaimed as the “Kashmir of Odisha.” And, why not! Its beauty is simply unmatchable, has some great views to offer, houses pine jungles, apart from sprawling coffee gardens, and most interestingly, one can catch the view of frost, which makes the entire place look snowy, during the peak winter season. Truly, Heaven on Earth!

Kapilash Mountain Range:
Forming a legendary part of the north-eastern Dhenkanal, the Kapilash Mountain Range is quite famous for its Kapilas temple, which attracts a large number of tourists, during the monsoon season. The temple is said to have been built by Narasinghadeva-I of the Ganga dynasty, and is a scenic site for adventure lovers as well. A must-visit during monsoons!

Niyamgiri Hills:
Having long been in the headlines for the protest against bauxite mining in these hills, the pristine and lush beauty of Niyamgiri hills makes up for a wondrous and memorable sight. It’s also an abode of the Dongra Kondh tribal community, India’s remote tribes, who treat the mountains like their own and hence worship every part of it. It’s a must-visit place for anyone who’s looking a serene and scenic corner, up in the hills.

Besides, Odisha mountain beauty even includes the gorgeous Deuli Hills of Khordha district, Malayagiri Hills near Kendujhar district which forms Odisha’s third highest peak, the Devagiri Range in Rayagada district, and a lot more. To enjoy these places book your odisha tour package with Best Choice Holiday.

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But you may ask – What is there in Odisha, which other states doesn’t have? What’s the wow factor about Odisha? Is it only the Jagannath Temple that’s a tourist attraction of this state? And many more such questions!

No doubt about Odisha’s annual Rath Yatra, pulling plenty of crowd and gathering from across the globe, but that’s not the only reason which makes this state a splendid place to be at.

If you get curious to know about ancient and long-lost tales, then you will get a storehouse of historical insights in this state. While Khandagiri Udayagiri caves, Konark Sun Temple, Rajarani Temple, and more are some well-known destinations, there are also ancient places hidden in every nook and cranny of this state, which still strongly represent the ancient vibe.

Not just ancient, Odisha is popular for its Buddhist teachings also. And you’ll get a lot of hints of Buddhism from Dhauligiri, Ratnagiri, Udayagiri and Lalitagiri, as well as the very impressive Jirang Monastery.

If adventure and wildlife is what entices you, Odisha has got a splendid setting of it in the names of Bhitarkanika, Similipal, Chilika, and a whole lot of places, which are surrounded by forests on one side, and wildness on the other.

Now, if we have talked about forests, we cannot miss the mountains. Describing the mountains and hill ranges of Odisha as ‘just beautiful’ would be an understatement; scenic and picturesque are what they all about. You got to visit Deomali, Koraput, Daringbadi for having a pristine encounter with nature and mountains, like nowhere else. Some of them even have waterfalls close to it, which is an added attraction to their never-ending beauty.

And beaches! Oh-the-beaches of Odisha will sometimes make you forget the best beaches where you might have earlier wandered at. It’s not just the Puri beach we’re taking about; there’s Chandrabhaga, Ramchandi, receding sea of Chandipur, Gopalpur and so much more to give you the most relaxed break, which you’ve been looking for.

And if you really want to take back something from Odisha, it sure has to be the vibrant arts and crafts of this state. From stone and wood carving, metal crafts, tribal crafts, silver filigree, paintings, traditional hand-looms and so much more, you’ll find every piece unique, and best amongst all. Also, if you want to have a hands-on experience of the arts of Odisha, do visit the Raghurajpur village and explore the magic of Pattachitra paintings, palm leaf paintings, etc.

Odisha has a lot to offer, and it’s not just these which we have mentioned. There’s so much alluring beauty in Odisha that you have to visit this state, to actually experience every side of it. Visit Odisha – for its beaches, mountains, wildlife, cuisines, waterfalls, forests, arts, tribal culture – and take back memories like never before.

The post Why You Must Visit Odisha At Least Once in Your Lifetime first appeared on Best Choice Holiday.

If you are planning a trip to Odisha, it is must and advisable to all those to make sure to do go through the following places for sure, which will make your overall experience cherishing and memorable.

1. Bhubaneswar – Also popularly known as ‘Temple city of India’, Bhubaneswar is the capital city of Odisha. Once reckoned for its grandeur temples and architecture marvels, presently it is also famous as a flourishing and booming center for business and commerce. The ancient city is full with temples that were supposed to be made during 11th or 13th century, alluring attention of tourists from all around. The name, Bhubaneswar means in literal way, ‘Lord of the Universe’ and the meaning is truly reflecting in the large number of temples present here along with the religious beliefs among the locals. This booming city is simply blended with an advanced and progressive system, which makes travelling experience simply magical. The must to visit temples of the city, which attract attention of tourists from all over involve Lingaraja temple, Parasurameswar temple, Rajarani temple, Mukteswara temple. The other attractions that could be visited include Dhauli Hills, Shanti Stupa, Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves, Nandankanan, which are nearby the city.

2. Puri – It is famous as one of the four pilgrimage sites or Char Dhams for Hindus, renowned primarily for its Lord Jagannath temple and Puri beach. It is reckoned as the resting place of Lord Shiva and the sacred temple that is Lord Jagannath temple makes it simply majestic to visit to. People coming from all over makes sure to take a holy dip in the sea water at the beach and then go to visit the deity and seek blessings. Soon, the city is known to be turning into a major industrial centre with a lot of manufacturing firms coming here. The much renowned Rath Yatra festival takes place in the month of June – July every year and it is advisable to make sure to attend the Yatra especially if you are coming at this time here. The nearby attractions to visit include Konark Sun Temple, Gundicha Ghar, Chilika Lake, Puri beach and so.

3. Konark – It is renowned worldwide for its UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sun Temple, captivating and magnificent sandy beaches and the annual dance festival. The Konark Sun Temple is well known as one of the most magnificent monuments of the country and is indeed an architectural wonder, constructed way back during 11th century AD. The annual dance festival that is held over here is a five day long event, which lets talent from all around participate in this unique cultural and traditional extravaganza. The festival is celebrated at a grand level inviting unique dancing talent and expertise from all over, depicting the country’s artistic legacy and rich cultural dance forms that our country has eventually invented. The celebrations are held at the backdrop of the Konark Sun Temple, adding magnificence, spell and grandeur to the entire program. Along with this, there is a Sun Festival which is also held, letting devotees from all around proffering their prayers to Sun God by simply taking holistic dips in the sea. At the Annual Dance festival, there is a handicrafts mela as well from where the artists and visitors can take back exquisitely and uniquely crafted handcrafted artwork reflecting the true Oriya art form.

4. Chilika – Referred to as a paradise on Earth for all nature lovers and bird watchers, Chilika Lake is the second biggest Asia’s brackish saltwater lake. It is a pear shaped lake and it is backed with different small islands, salt pans and fisheries alongside the shore. The lake is famous for housing the most adaptable and accommodating eco systems, leading to the fact that a large array of both flora and fauna could be found here. Visitors can see myriad avian charms in different colours and hues, including flamingos, white bellied sea eagles, sandpiper, golden plovers, and more. Visitors can check out beautiful and scenic views of both sunrise and sunset and get access to other choices here. The attractions that are must to visit here are Honeymoon Island, Breakfast Island, and Bird Island. Here, there are one or two points where visitors can actually see the beautiful and rare Irrawaddy dolphins. So, make sure to visit the tranquil and beautiful lake in Odisha and experience it in the way like never before.

Are you planning a trip to Odisha and looking for a service provider who can help you with making all the arrangements like accommodation, food, sightseeing and more, along with devising an itinerary? Well, Best Choice Holiday is the top notch and highly preferable travel agent, helping people in making all the arrangements related to the tour and travel to Odisha and adding up the related requests in the itinerary.

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• Cuttack – Highway driving and road journey is always soothing and what could add on to the fun and amazement of the place, is hearing good music and grabbing delicious snacks while on the journey. People love to explore and go till Cuttack, enjoy the spot and spend night over there.

• Khandagiri and Udayagiri Caves – These both are adjacent to each other and historically, they were constructed over the 2nd century BC. There were intricate carvings and Hathigumpha inscriptions on the caves and it is more than a treat for all those who want to get some seldom and contentment, by spending some quiet time in an isolated spot.

• Satkosia Tiger Reserve – The road till the reserve is serene and the river Mahanadi accompanied all way throughout the journey from caves to Satkosia that makes it spectacular. The camping, fresh river water flowing nearby, bird watching, camp fire, some memorable photographs of the rare species and others could make you relax and enjoy the time to the fullest.

• Daringbadi – Also been referred to as Kashmir of Odisha, it is indeed a serene and magnificent place to look at. Quite a chilly place to visit to, the spot even witness snowfall. If you go there, do make sure to go with woollen clothes and eat variety of delicious and scrumptious tribal food that will help you beat the heat.

• Dasingbadi – A perfect treat to all travellers’, it is another interesting way out to go to Dasingbadi waterfalls via road, and also make sure to visit nearby Nature Park, Badangia waterfalls, Hill View Park, Coffee Garden and Herbal Garden with butterflies.

• Chilika Lake – Reckoned as the Asia’s biggest brackish water lagoon, it is worth to spend time to with loved ones. Do reach on time and go to Dolphin view point ride. The sunset only add colours to the beautiful view and canvas there. Do go there in early morning as well to check out and glance at the migratory birds too.

• Puri Konark Marine Drive – Puri Konark Marine Drive is one of the best marine drive in the world with sea on one side and coastal forests on the other. In between there runs a smooth road – a perfect view for an awesome long drive.

• Chilika Lake to Puri Beach – It is a 3 hour drive from lake till beach and it is going to be an amazing trip to go for. Visitors in large numbers used to come in Puri, dip in the holy water and get blessings later from the Lord Jagannath, get prasadam and so.

There is no denial saying this often the most difficult roads lead to some of the most beautiful and magnificent destinations. Odisha is one of them and Best Choice Holiday travel agent is an authentic service provider that not only provides car rental services but also devises well thoughtful itineraries for all, as per their expectations and wishes.

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• Picturesque architecture of Khandagiri and Udayagiri Caves – These caves are partially natural and manmade, beautifully carved to allure the attention of its visitors. Considered as the landmark of Odisha, Khandagiri is 18 caves complex and Udayagiri is 15 caves complex. Reflecting Buddhist heritage and ancestry, they are astounding sculptures with Brahmi inscriptions on the same.

• Konark Sun Temple – This divine 11th century temple is reckoned worldwide for its intricate carvings and breathtaking architecture. Worth to pay a visit to, the temple is dedicated to Sun God. It boasts of Kalinga architecture as well as is carved with erotic sculptures of Maithunas and other images.

• The soul soothing Chandrabagha beach – It lies at a nearby distance from Konark Sun temple and holds religious importance as well because of the 7 day fair held in the honour of Sun God. Religious people and devotees from all around prefer to come here and take a dip in the water. Aside from this, it is an amazing spot to spend some quality time with loved ones. Also been surrounded with many honeymooners, people love watching sunset and have quality time with one other.

• Blessings of Lord Jagannath – One of the famous four holy Char Dhams, Odisha got much recognition marked by this divine Lord Vishnu temple. The temple needs no description of it at all, and it would be a treat to seek the blessings of the Lord and pay a visit to this place.

• Bird watching at Chilika Lake – The Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon, it is spread in a large area of 1100 square kilometre covering Khurda, Puri and Ganjam districts. With an ecosystem supporting giant fishery resource, people come from all over here to check out rare bird spices, dolphins, and get some really picturesque photographs.

• Architecture in Bhubaneswar – Known as the ‘City of the Temples’, it has a rich history dated back to 2000 years. Perfect for all history buffs, the city has some of the amazing intricately carved and architecture temples. The prime attractions of the city cover Rajarani temple, Lingaraja temple, Nandankanan Zoological Park, etc.

Also Read: Top 11 Must-Visit Wildlife Sanctuaries in Odisha for Thrilling Adventurous Experience

• Discover Rural Odisha at Raghurajpur – Raghurajpur is perfect to discover more of rural Odisha, where visitors can check out the beautiful assemblage of artwork, diversity of Oriya culture, lives of locals, artwork like Patta Chitra work, palm leaf inscriptions, paper mache, murals, wood and stone work, wooden toys, cow dung toys, appliqué, filigree, terracotta based work, etc.

• Odia craft at Pipli – Popular for splendid mesh and appliqué artwork, Pipli in Odisha lets tourists glance at the creative side of locals there. If you are there, have a look at the artwork and decoration materials including coloured clothing materials stitched and embroidered with traditional designs, village scenes, animals, flowers and more, handmade wallets, umbrellas, lampshades, wall hangings, bags, pouches, etc.

• Wildlife diversity at Nandankanan Zoological Park – This huge zoological park is the ideal spot to take your kids to. Spread in a large 400 hectare land area, it is located amidst Chandaka forest and Kanjia Lake. Supposed to be a home of more than 166 species of animals, especially White Tigers, which could be rarely seen in others, it is indeed a must visit place for all.

• Chandipur Beach – The beach is well known for its high rising tides varying from 1 to 4 km. Located in Balasore district, this pristine beach is recognized as a perfect picnic destination, and also as a romantic gateway for many.

• Diverse wildlife at Simlipal National Park – Located in Mayurbhanj district, it is a reckoned elephant reserve and also has some of the amazing waterfalls including Joranda and Barehipani.

• Tribal villages to explore the Odisha culture – To know about the real Odisha, do make sure to take a tribal tour here. Few of the well known tribes of Odisha are Didayi, Bonda, Kondhs, Barogadaba, Dongarias, where people can interact with the locals, know how to follow their culture and traditions, and also how they celebrate each tiny moment and turn it into an event.

• A chance to check out Gharials at Bhitarkanika wildlife sanctuary – Indeed, it is like a paradise for all nature lovers. There is simply nothing striking and spectacular than to go for a boat ride here amongst the rare species of both flora and fauna.

• The time stands still at Ratnagiri – Recognized as a prominent Buddhist monastery, it is indeed a soul soothing spot ideal for doing meditation and enjoying monastic life. Though, the sites here are a bit in ruined state, but it still draws out the spiritual feel and contentment. If you want to be somewhere that is historic as well as serene, do make sure to be at this mesmerising land.

Do you want to connect with someone that can assure a trip like no one else can? If yes, Best Choice Holiday travel agent is the right platform to get in touch with. Connect with them, and be ready for a trip of lifetime.

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• Cuttack
• Puri
• Berhampur
• Rourkela
• Sambalpur

The state Odisha is 9th largest by area and 11th largest by population. In terms of tribal population, Odisha comes as the 3rd most populated state of India. The wide spoken and official language spoken by the people there is Odia/Oriya. 1st April is been celebrated there as Odisha day, also been known as Utkala Dibasa. The state is surrounded by Jharkhand to North, West Bengal to North-East, Andhra Pradesh to South and Chhattisgarh to West and North-West. The change in the state name from Orissa to Odisha as well as in the language name from Oriya to Odia is been conducted in 2011, by the passage of Constitution Bill, 2010 and Orissa Bill, 2010 in the Parliament. The municipal corporations in Odisha cover:

• Bhubaneswar
• Puri
• Cuttack
• Sambalpur
• Berhampur
• Rourkela

Historical Significance:

Kalinga, the ancient kingdom that was encroached by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka resulting in Kalinga War in 261 BCE, merges with the modern-day Odisha borders. As per the sources, the modern state was built on April 1, 1936, as a British Indian province and comprised especially Odia speaking areas. Even, Kalinga has been mentioned in different ancient texts like Vayu Purana, Mahabharata.

It was the first top-level province/subah that was added to Akbar’s fifteen by Shah Jahan. Having Cuttack as seat on one end, it bordered Bengal, Bihar, and Golconda subahs and other remaining tributary and independent chiefs. The Orissa drought in 1866 led to approximate 1 million deaths and afterwards, many large scale irrigation projects were executed. In year 1912, on 1st April, Bihar and Orissa province was formed and later on 1st April 1936, they got split into individual provinces.

Geography and Climate:

The state Odisha is spread in a wide area of 155,707 km that is 4.87% of the total area of the country along with a coastline of 450 km. It extends on one side with the Subarnarekha River in North to Rushikulya River on the other in South. The famous Chilika Lake is part of the coastal plains, rich in natural fertile silt accumulated because of the major six rivers flowing to the Bay of Bengal covering Budhabalanga, Subarnarekha, Brahmani, Baitarani, Rushikulya and Mahanadi. The state has rolling uplands and plateaus and the highest point is at 1672 metres, known as Deomali.

Climatically, the state experiences 4 meteorological seasons including Winter – January to February, then pre monsoon time – March to May, then South West monsoon time – June to September and last North East monsoon time – October to December.

Also Read: Top 10 Eccentric Beaches in Odisha That Will Make You Say “Wow”!

Must-Visit Places in Odisha:

Konark Sun Temple – Dedicated to Surya Hindu God, it is a 13th century sun temple at Konark, at an about 35 km distance from Puri lying on the coastline of Odisha, India. It has a 100 foot high chariot, backed with many horses and wheels, all carved and made up from stone. The architecture of the temple is symbolic and amazing, with twelve pairs of wheels on the chariot also representing the 12 months of Hindu calendar, in which each month is paired into two cycles depicting Krishna and Shukla.

Jagannath Temple, Puri – It is one of the most popular and mighty Hindu temples, dedicated to Lord Vishnu – Jagannath. Located on the eastern coast at Puri in Odisha, it is a widely visited and known pilgrimage destination as well.

Chilika Lake – Spread over the Puri, Ganjam and Khurda districts of Odisha, it is the largest coastal lagoon of the country and the second largest of the world. This brackish water lagoon is at the Eastern coast of India, flowing into Bay of Bengal and at the mouth of Daya River, covering a large area of more than 1,100 km square. Also, it hosts more than different 160 species of birds especially during the peak migratory season.

Puri Beach – It is indeed a beautiful and soul soothing beach in the city of Puri, Odisha. It is well known as a famous tourist destination as well as a Hindu sacred spot. It is also renowned for the annual Puri Beach festival that is supposed to be co-sponsored by the Development Commissioner of Handicrafts, the Indian Ministry of Tourism and Eastern Zonal Cultural Center, Kolkata hosting astounding sand art displays and works.

Lingaraja Temple – Dedicated to Shiva Hindu God, it is one of the oldest temples lying in the capital of Odisha, Bhubaneswar. It is not only referred as the landmark of the city but also as one of the prime tourist spots of the state.

Mukteshwara Temple – Dedicated to Shiva, it is a 10th century famous Hindu temple in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. It is also been referred to as a monument of importance in the study of stylistic development of Hindu temples in the state and is a widely preferred tourist destination.

Bhitarkanika National Park – Located in the Kendrapara district of Odisha, this national park is home to Indian python, saltwater crocodile, darters, black ibis, and different other species of flora and fauna and mangrove species. Known to have the second largest mangrove ecosystem in the country, the national park is surrounded by Bhitarkanika wildlife sanctuary.

Hirakud Dam – It is famous as the first multipurpose river valley project that has executed after the country’s independence. The dam is constructed across Mahanadi River, located at an approximate distance of 15 km from Sambalpur district in Odisha.

Museum of Tribal Arts and Artefacts – It is a perfect spot for all those folklore, interested to know more of Odisha’s tribal areas and tribes. The galleries display fishing, weaponry, agricultural equipments, bead ornaments, traditional dresses, musical instruments, ornate wine pipes, coin necklaces, heavy silver collars, etc.

Udayagiri & Khandagiri Caves – At an about six kilometre west of the state, the beautiful two hills are present with rock-cut shelters and the caves are beautifully carved. The carvings depict the Jain ascetics dated back in 1st century, BC.

Pipli – It is a beautiful and colourful village located at 16 km South-East distance Bhubaneswar, and famous for exquisite wall and door hangings, small mirrors, lampshades, parasols, traditional canopies that hung over the temple Jagannath and others during the festival time.

How to Get In and Around:

• By Train/Plane – There are regular trains from metropolitan cities and others like Delhi, Visakhapatnam, Chennai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore and others to Odisha. In the heart of the capital city of Odisha, Bhubaneswar, there is an airport (Biju Patnaik International Airport) with flights operated by all leading airlines and railway station that connected to all the major cities of India.

• By Taxi/Autorickshaw – Private taxis and hired cars are easily available in all important towns and cities. Private autorickshaws are also available, which cost lesser than taxis, so feel free to hire the ones you desire.

What to Buy, Eat and Drink?

Odisha is famous for handicrafts and artwork. Do buy Kataki or Sambalpuri sarees available in tussar, silk or cotton, with Buddhist and Hindu designs printed on them.

Dalma is a special and tasty cuisine of the state, made up of lentil and vegetables under very hygienic conditions. Usually, breads are served as the main course including rotis and parattas for breakfast, rice with lentil during lunch and dinner time. Most of the Orissa desserts are made up of milk, cottage cheese/chhenna, rice, wheat flour and coconut. Try out chena pod, rasgullas, and other sweetmeats there. The seafood is also yummy and the place is definitely a foodie’s retreat.

Green coconut and sugarcane juice is very famous in Odisha. Also Odissi dance is the only oldest surviving dance forms in the country, in accord to the archaeological evidence. Enjoy the variety of dance shows and performances in the state including Chhau dance, Ghumura dance, Gotipua and Mahari dance.

Best Time to Visit:

The summers could be fiery and in winters, temperature goes down to the bottom of mercury level. According to travel experts and locals, the preferable period to pay a visit to Odisha is in between the months of November to February.

Looking for package tours to Odisha? Let Best Choice Holiday be your travel agent this time and we assure that you will not feel disappointed at any stage. Keep up the spirit of Vagabondo life and stay tuned for more posts!

The post Welcome to Odisha – A Perfect Blend of Intriguing Natural Beauty, Beaches, Tribal Culture and History! first appeared on Best Choice Holiday.