But the thing that’s common amongst all is the connection it holds with its people and tourists, as well as the calmness it provides on being blessed. Not necessarily you need to have a spiritual or religious inclination to tour the temples of Odisha. Only a strong liking for something special in terms of heritage, architecture, grandeur and history will also be enough to be enticed by Odisha’s temple culture.

Although it’s almost impossible to list down all the major temples of Odisha, herein we have tried to showcase the must-visit ones.

Jagannath Temple, Puri
This is the most renowned among all the temples in Odisha, for being the holy center of Lord Jagannath and for hosting the revered annual Rath Yatra festival. Your temple visit to Odisha will be incomplete if you miss out on the Jagannath Temple of Puri. Also, the Chaar Dhaam Yatra of Hindus can’t be completed without visiting here. That’s how significant and spectacular this holy place is.

Konark Sun Temple, Konark
Another place of high importance to the state is the Konark Sun Temple, which is a 13th century Sun Temple, and is shaped like giant chariot, which is exquisitely craved with stones, wheels, walls and pillars. The temple gets its name as “Black Pakoda” owing to the reason that it is constructed using black granite.

Maa Tara Tarini Temple, Berhampur
Apart from being one of the oldest pilgrimage centers, this temple is also considered to be one of the four major Shakti Peethas in India, and there are still several mysteries revolving around the temple site. Be here to witness the majestic temple located scenically on the Kumari Hills, and be blessed by Goddess Maa Tara Tarini

Dhabaleswar Temple, Cuttack
Situated nicely on the Dhabaleswar Island, on the banks of Mahanadi River, this temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and comprises of stone carvings which date back to early 10th and 11th centuries. It’s also one of the oldest temples in Odisha, and is located at around 37 kms away from Cuttack.

Lingaraja Temple, Bhubaneswar
Built in Kalingan architectural style, this is one of the oldest temples of Odisha, and is dedicated to Lord Harihara, an incarnation of Lord Shiva. But what’s interesting about this temple is that the lingam here is believed to have been originated by its own. Hence the temple is also known as Swayambhu, wherein the deities of both Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva are worshipped.

As we have already mentioned that Bhubaneswar has plenty of temples to keep people fascinated. Apart from being at the Lingaraja Temple, you can also visit the Ram Mandir, Mukteswar Temple, Rajarani Temple, Chausathi Yogini Temple, Iskcon Temple, Ananta Vasudev Temple, Parashurameshvara Temple and many others.

This is just a consolidated list of all the major temples in Odisha. You’ll be surprised by all the rich grandeur and heritage in temples which the state provides. Visit any city or district here, and have the best spiritual tour of Odisha.

The post Some Of The Must-Visit Temples In Your Next Odisha Tour first appeared on Best Choice Holiday.

The shrine is famously known as Gupteswar, which depicts for ‘Hidden God’. The place is surrounded by rich dense forest of Sal trees, and Kolab River is flowing nearby where a 2 m high Linga stands inside the cave. The entrance of the cave has 2 m height and is 3 m wide. There are other caves too nearby and inside the second cave; there is a huge stalactite, where people worship as the bosom of the divine cow or God Kamadhenu. It is been said that devotees wait under the second cave with their hands wide open to collect the drops of water that fall only after a long interval of time as the offering. The place is also recognized to be as ‘Gupta Kedar’ as this holy spot is linked with the epic Ramayana. The hill nearby the cave is been popularly acknowledged as ‘Ramagiri’. As per mythology, Lord Shiva Lingam was first discovered by Lord Rama during his 14 hears Vanvas time while roaming in Dandakaranya forest with wife Sita and brother Laxman, and eventually the sacred place was start getting worshipped and well known as Gupteswar. Even, the famous poet Kalidas depicted the scenic and amazing beauty of Ramgiri forest and hills and referred cave temple in his Meghadutam. With time, the temple was deserted and in late 19th century, a hunter roaming in the Ramgiri hills found the Shiva Lingam. Since then, it is worshipped by the tribal people of Koraput area. At the time of Shiv Ratri, more than 200,000 devotees and pilgrims pay visit to Gupteswar Cave and temple, coming from around Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and others. Even, people who are suffering from incurable disorders and diseases come here to get blessing of the God and stay here for months with sheer hope to get recovered.

Attractions:
The travel from Koraput district till Gupteswar Cave is interesting and enjoyable. On both side of the road, one can see tall trees, forest area full with scenic beauty and charm. Even, a lot of monkeys could be seen while on the way. Travelling in winters could be an added advantage for sure. Both, sunrise and sunset in Ramagiri Hills could be worth seeing. It is indeed a photographer’s paradise capturing some of the breathtaking clicks. At the entrance of Ramagiri Hills or Gupteswar Cave, at about 4 km distance there is a main cave where local tribe goddess Dalkhai idol is here. Before entering into Ramagiri Hills, it is believed to be a custom that one has to proffer branches of trees to the Goddess and without doing that, people cannot get the entrance.

The major attraction of the place is the sacred shrine cave and Lord Shiva Lingam, and people need to climb many steps to reach at the entrance of the cave. The cave entrance is a bit narrow so be careful while entering and in spite of all lighting facilities, there is darkness inside the cave. There are other caves too and sculptures and Stalactites could be found there, which are worshipped with different names. There is a famous saying that there is a tunnel inside the cave and even if one moves deep inside it, it is very dark and with the help of flash light or torch too, nothing could be seen. The other attraction of the place is River Saberi flowing nearby the temple. The water remains always very cold and many tourists prefer to take a bath there. Few temples are also built on the sands of the river and seeing the heavy and fast flow of the river, a confirmed space is been created by using chains and iron pillars for the people to dip in with safety. The natural beauty, calm surroundings and heavenly presence of Lord Shiva Lingam adds magic of the place and it attracts tourists from all around in large numbers. The winter season is undoubtedly one of the best times to pay a visit there. At the time of Shiv Ratri, pilgrims in lakhs and thousands come by over here and there are guest houses nearby for the comfort stay of travellers.

How to Reach:
Gupteswar Cave could be reached by both bus and train. Koraput railway station is the nearest junction and lies at about 70 km distance from the cave. National Highway is there that is connecting both Jeypore and Koraput in Odisha so reaching at Gupteswar Cave via bus is not at all difficult. There are private taxis, cabs and bus service available running at frequent intervals so make use of them and enjoy the travel. Feel free to contact Best Choice Holiday tour organizer to arrange your stay in Odisha and not miss out worth seeing spots like Gupteswar Cave whenever you are visiting. Happy travel!

The post The Famous “Hidden God” Gupteswar Cave in Koraput, Odisha first appeared on Best Choice Holiday.

History of the temple:
Lingaraj temple is been mentioned even in the famous Hindu scripture that is Brahma Purana. The present architecture of the temple is supposed to be built in 11th century, not less than 1000 years old. Though, there are certain parts in the temple that are well acknowledged and known to date back 6th century or so. As per Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva is the destructor of all evils and a lot of followers simply seek for the blessings of the deity and come here in large numbers. When the construction of this temple was almost in completion, the construction of Lord Jagannath temple started and it is been believed and widespread with this that both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are worshipped here.

Architecture of the temple:
The overall architecture of Lingaraj temple reflects a colour with a certain shade of Kalinga style. Made up from red sandstone of the darkest shade, the temple is spread in a huge area with a tall spire extending to the height of 55 meters reaching out to the skyline of the city. The spacious and beautiful courtyard of the temple equips over 50 small shrines dedicated to different deities of Hindu place of worship. The walls are massive carved splendidly with sculptures and visitors can enter the temple complex through the Lion’s gate or Simha Dwara, where lions ham are there on both sides, smashing elephants under their feet. An optical effect generates with the deep cut warped lines running perpendicularly on the spire and due to this, temple appears much bigger in size than the actual. Adding to this, the spire has miniature replicas in the steeples that are imbibed ideally in the entire structure.

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Main Shrine of the temple:
Lingaraja temple in general is divided into four parts covering the Yajna Shala, Garbh Griha, Bhoga Mandap and Natya Shala.

Garbh Griha – Also referred to as Sanctum Sanctorum, Lord Shiva lingam or ‘Swayambhu’ is worshipped as both Lord Shiva and Vishnu. At the main entrance, on either side of the door, people can see a trident – Lord Shiva as well as Chakra – Lord Vishnu on the other side. The deities are worshipped here as Hari Hara, where the term ‘Hari’ depicts to Lord Vishnu and ‘Hara’ depicts to Lord Shiva. The Linga huge image is made up of granite stone and it is bathed with milk, water and bhang each day.

Aside from this, in Nata Mandir, devadasi tradition is followed and in Parsva Devta site, Goddess Parvati, Lord Ganesha, and Lord Kartikey are placed in different directions. All idols are huge representing an excellent work of craftsmanship and dedication. The images are adorned with remarkable ornaments, rich draperies and more.

Best Time to Visit:
Depicting the rich legacy of Indian tradition and culture, Lingaraj temple allures attention of thousands of devotees along with pilgrims from each corner of the country and world to its doorstep throughout the year. It is indeed worth to visit and to get a feel of the spiritual ecstasy and joy. The best time to visit the temple is in between January and March that allow its visitors to seek the blessings of the divinity and Shiv Ratri celebration is also held at that time in the temple.

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How to Reach:
To reach and visit the Lingaraj temple, it is must to take a stopover at Bhubaneswar first, which is also among one of the highly visited tourist destinations of India. The temple could be reached easily by all means including rail, road and air without any problem.

• By Air – Biju Patnaik airport is located in the centre of the city and operates in a number of domestic flights moving back and forth from Bhubaneswar to other major cities.

• By Road – There are many buses, both public and private running all along the city and on highways.

• By Train – The headquartered Eastern railway division is located in Bhubaneswar, which is why it is certainly going to be well connected with other railway stations for sure. Also, a large number of passenger trains run in the city on daily basis.

Timings to visit the temple:
Lingaraj temple is open throughout the week in between 5 AM to 9 PM.

Are you thinking to pay a visit to this temple in Bhubaneswar? Making a plan to visit Odisha and its beautiful rich heritage sites and get the blessings of the divinity as well? Looking for a good travel agent that can devise the well thoughtful itinerary considering your needs and budget? Best Choice Holiday tour organizer is the best one stop platform that helps tourists in opting for a tour package within their range, covering all their desires with an assurance to leave no stone unturned in making their travel time a memorable one.

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Lingaraja Temple – Constructed by the Jajati Keshari – Somavanshi king, it is 10th century temple made up from red sandstone and the architecture is simply exceptional prototype of Oriya style. Boasting of a spacious courtyard spread in more than 250,000 sq ft area and covered all around by fortified walls, there are over 50 smaller shrines in the temple all dedicated to Hindu pantheon. The altar of the main temple is been embellished with a humongous Shivling in granite, also been reckoned as ‘Swayambhu’. It is indeed a must-visit temple of Odisha.

Konark Sun Temple – Built by the King Narsimhadeva in the 13th century, this famous temple is also been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is dedicated to Sun God and the architecture stands on 24 beautiful and intricately sculpted stone wheels, hauled by 7 powerful horses. The overall structure is adorned with different sculptures, both internally and externally. Surya’s three surviving images have been designed in order to capture the sun rays at dawn, noon and sunset. Moreover, it took in total 12 years by 1200 artisans to complete the temple.

Jagannath Puri Temple – It is been located in Puri, Odisha and is been one of the famous Char Dhaams or among the four sacred places of devotion and worship in the country. Constructed on a huge raised platform in the city, the structure is enclosed by a wall penetrated by four gates with big pyramidal structures over them. The building is been built in the form of Kalinga style, and the main altar has about 30 shrines of different sizes. This temple is been reckoned among the tallest structures in Indian subcontinent that is 214 feet above the ground.

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Rajarani Temple – The temple is been built in 11th century and the name is derived from Rajarani that is a kind of red sandstone used in the construction. The East facing shrine of the temple reflects the architectural beauty and splendour of the old Kalinga sculptures. The artwork of the temple is a bit different from others, and the best outstanding treasures are the standing astadikpalas on the Central façade end and on lotuses available with their mounts. A lot of travellers visit the temple in December during the Rajarani Music festival time.

Mukteswar Temple – Also been regarded as the twin temples of Siddheswar – Mukteswar, it is been built back in 10th century and the 35 foot high rise architecture made up of sandstone is been reckoned to be the crowning glory and prestige of Oriya architecture. The temple represents the perfect blend of Hindu, Jain and Buddhist architecture, in terms of their intricate carvings narrating tales of animal figurines as well as from Panchantrata. Ganesha’s standing idol is simply magical and the altar is been constructed in the Pancha Ratha style comprising five divisional walls all around.

64 Yogini Temple – When different parts of ancient India were in the pain of fallout and tantric cult, many regions of the Central and Eastern part introduced the built of different open air shrines and Yogini Temple is one of them that is located in close proximity to Bhubaneswar. It is built in 9th century, with a circular shaped monument with no roof, dedicated to 64 ‘yoginis’. Also been famous as Mahamaya temple, the interesting sculpture in the temple is of one-legged Shiva or Ekapada Shiva.

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Brahmeshwar Temple – The temple is been located to the East of the famous Lingraj temple, constructed by the ruling King’s mother in the respect of the mighty deity Lord Shiva – Brahmeshwar. For the first time, iron beams are used in the construction of the temple and the building is about 60 feet tall. Moreover, for the first time, iconography of dancers and musicians has been done on the temple walls. There were many tantric pictures on the western exterior and Lord Shiva and other deities were pictured in alarming postures.

Maa Tara Tarini Temple – It is not only been counted among the oldest pilgrimage centres of holy and mighty Maa Goddess but also as one of the four prime Shakti Peethas in the country. It is been situated on the banks of River Rushikulya in Ganjam district nearby Brahmapur city.

Ram Mandir – Located in the heart of the city Bhubaneswar, it has images of Lord Rama, Lord Lakshman and Goddess Sita. It is an ancient temple of the city and also has shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva and other deities.

Dhabaleswar Temple – This beautiful temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located at the banks of Mahanadi River. The stone carvings on the temple date back to early 10th and 11th century.

Do make sure to must-see and get the blessings of Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and other deities by visiting these temples whenever you are in Odisha. Planning a trip to Odisha? Connect with Best Choice Holiday this time, let them arrange a fully fledged package tour for you and your loved ones and be prepared to cherish the lifetime moments as per your desires and within your budget.

The post Odisha – The Land of Temples and Grandeur first appeared on Best Choice Holiday.

• 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.

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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!

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