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Orissa has a chequered history which has
successfully assimilated and synthesized the
best of Buddhist, Jain and Hindu cultures.
Orissa or Kalinga as it was then called was
a settlement of non-Aryan and Aryan
settlers. It was here that the famous Battle
of Kalinga was fought which made King Ashoka
forsake war. |
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He became a follower of Buddhism and spread
the spirit of ahimsa and peace. It is to the Kharavela period that
Orissa owes its Jain art and architectural
tradition. The sophisticated architectural
style of the Jain Monastic caves at Udaygiri
and Khandagiri are a story unto themselves.
To understand all that a Hindu temple stands
for one must realize that temples in India
are not merely abodes of deities but a
shradhanjali (offering) to the most sacred.
Here a ’darshan’ is a communion between man
and his creator. Hence, Orissan temples are
characterized by
profuse decorations, exquisite carving and
ornamentation covering the entire visible
area with Gods & Goddesses, kings and
queens, animals and flower motifs ranged
against each other. They radiate the
artist’s inner love and dedication. Orissa
is probably the only state where one can
study temple architecture in all its
successive stages of development. |
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Enchanting
Odissi |
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Odissi, is the traditional dance form of
Orissa and probably owes its origin to the
temple dances of the devadasis (temple
dancers). Possibly the oldest classical
dance form, one must sit through a
performance to experience its sheer lyrical
grace. Mentioned in inscriptions, it is
depicted on sculptures, in temples like the
Brahmeswara and the dancing hall of the Sun
temple at Konark. In fact in the 1950’s the
entire Odissi dance form was revitalized
with the help of the Abhinaya Chandrika and
sculpted dance poses found in temples.
Orissa enjoys a rich tradition of tribal and
folk dances as well. Chhau from Mayurbhanj
District is a martial dance form reminiscent
of Orissa’s earlier maritime tradition.
Other folk and tribal dances include Danda
Nata, a daylong performance ending in
acrobatic sequences, Ranapa or dances in
which dancers perform balancing acts on
bamboo stilts. |
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Rare
Artistry |
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Land of dexterous artists and craftsmen,
Orissa possesses a rich artistic tradition
which enjoyed liberal patronage from the
temples as well as the nobility. Diverse and
varied, the craftsmen artists of Orissa
still retain their indigenousness, trying to
refine it to suit a changing sensibility. Be
it the appliqué artists of Pipli or the
stone carvers of Orissa, proud descendants
of sculptors whose hands chiseled the
unsurpassable designs on Orissa’s famous
temples, the essential conflict between the
traditional and the modern is gradually
being resolved. The progressive attitudes of
the Orissan artists coupled with hereditary
skills zealously perpetuated, has given
traditional Orissan arts and crafts like
weaving of Ikat, Bomkai and Sambalpuri
Saris, stone carving, appliqué and
embroidery, silver filigree work, patta
painting and palm leaf engraving, brass and
bell metal work, lacquered boxes and toys
and basket weaving, a unique place in the
connoisseur’s dictionary the world over. A
visit to the Raghurajpur artists village and
Pipli, near Puri, to see the artists at work
is quite a rewarding experience. |
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Gourmet
Delights |
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The green coconut with its pure water and
the abundant sea food from Chilika lake and
the sea are as Orissan as pizzas are
Italian. Delicious prawns, crabs, sweet
water fish, lamb, chicken and eggs cooked by
Orissan cooks are widely available gourmet
fares, while specialty restaurants serve
almost everything. Milk preparations like
Rasgulla, Rasmalai, Khirmohan, Rasabali,
Kalakand are delicious. Pithas, sweet and
savoury are served as local snacks. This is
a traditional preparation requiring skill
and care. Pithas like Mandas, Kakara,
Chhunchipatra are usually domestic
preparations much loved by the Orissans. |
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The Ethnic
World of Orissa |
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Orissa is a modern state with an ethnic past
that is still vibrant. Most of her tribes
are to be found in the districts of
Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar Phulbani, Sambalpur,
Kalahandi and Koraput. As many as 62 tribes
exist in Orissa - Kondhs, Koyas, Bondas,
Gadabas, Santals, Juangs, Oraon, to name
only a few are some important tribes who
have retained their individuality and their
close bond with nature. From the last week
of January to early February, the Tribal
Fair at Bhubaneshwar brings together the
ethnic world; their art, craft and culture
is on display. For those desirous of a
closer look trips are arranged by many tour
operators from Bhubaneshwar and other cities
but it is a hardier trail and more time
consuming. |
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Bhubaneshwar |
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Bhubaneshwar is the temple city of the east.
The ancient city of Bhubaneshwar (Bhuban
being world and Iswar God) is a walk down
centuries of temple architecture. |
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probably the only city in the world that
enables an authentic over-view of the stages
of development of Hindu religious
architecture. In the fast moving world of
today these temples are a gentle reminder of
the splendor, the heritage that was once
India. Regular dances by the ’Devadasis’ or
divine servant girls, rituals and rites,
recital of hymns were all an integral part
of temple culture.
Temples in Bhubaneshwar are built on a
common plan as prescribed by Hindu norms.
All visible parts of a temple are sculpted
with motifs of priests, kings, courtiers,
pilgrims, celestial dancers, couples in
embrace, birds, animals or scenes from
religious epics and legends. |
| Area: 65.03 sq km.
Altitude: 45 meters (146 ft.)
Temperature (deg C): Summer
- Max.38, Min.27.1. Winter - Max.28.2,
Min.15.2. Rainfall: Mid
June-September 60 inches (152 cms).
Languages Spoken: Oriya, Bengali,
Hindi, English. Best season:
October to March. |
Excursions:
Dhauligiri- 8 kms, Udaygiri Khandagiri- 8
kms, Nandan Kanan Zoo- 25 kms, Chandipur- 16
kms, Pipli- 29 kms, Atri Springs- 42 kms,
Sun Temple, Konark- 65 kms. |
Reach -
By Air: Connected with Bombay,
Calcutta, Delhi, Hyderabad, Nagpur,
Varanasi, Raipur and Vishakhapatnam.
By Rail: Directly connected with
Calcutta, Puri, Madras, Delhi, Bombay,
Bangalore, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Tirupati,
Trivandrum.
By Road: Calcutta- 480 kms, Chilka
Lake (Barkul)- 130 kms, Cuttack- 32 kms,
Gopalpur- 184 kms, Konark- 64 kms, Madras-
1225 kms, Puri- 62 kms. |
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Udaygiri
Khandagiri |
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7 kms from Bhubaneshwar are the twin hills
of Udaygiri and Khandagiri. Built by
Kharavela around 1st - 2nd Century BC for
Jain monks, they are excellent examples of
Jain Cave art. The famous caves of
Hathigumpha (elephant cave) in Udaygiri,
RaniGumpha (Queen’s cave) also in Udaygiri,
with upper and lower stories, spacious
courtyards and extremely delicately designed
friezes bear witness to the sophistication
the architectural styles had attained as
early as the first Century BC. |
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Dhauli |
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Driving down the Puri-Konark Highway from
Bhubaneshwar one comes across Dhauli hill on
the banks of the River Daya. Surrounded by
the soothing greenery of paddy fields, lies
the 3rd Century BC Ashokan Rock Edict, a
memory of the gruesome war that transformed
Ashoka, the great Warrior into a Buddhist
missionary. The Peace Pagoda built in
collaboration with the Kalinga – Japanese
Buddhist Sangha, on the opposite hill, is
completely modern and is an excellent foil. |
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Puri |
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The seat of Lord Jagannath, Site of Renowned
Rathyatra Festival and one of the most
popular sea side resorts on the Bay of
Bengal, Puri is an ideal travel destination
all the year round. |
Places Of Interest:
Shri Jagannath Temple, Daria Hanuman and
Sonar Gouranga Temple, Gundicha Char,
Indradyumma Tank, Narendra/Chandan Tank,
Loknath Temple, Swarga Dwar, Sea Beach at
Puri. |
Excursions:
Sakshigopal- 19 kms, Konark- 31 kms,
Bhubaneshwar- 63 kms. |
Reach -
By Air: The Nearest Airport is
Bhubaneswar- 65 kms.
By Rail: Well connected to Berhampore
(Orissa), Bhubaneswar, Calcutta, Cochin,
Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Madras,
Tirupati, Trivandrum, Varanasi.
By Road: Bhubaneshwar- 62 kms,
Calcutta- 541 kms, Chilika- 167 kms, Konark-
31 kms, Madras- 1285 kms, Sambalpur- 362
kms, Vishakhapatnam- 486 kms. |
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Konark |
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Renowned for its magnificent sun temple,
Konark is also a lovely beach resort. In
Konark, the "Natya Mandir", the dance hall
of the Sun Temple probably remains as the
last remnant of the glorious temples of
Orissa an extant example of the
architectural excellence of the times. |
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| Built in
the 13th Century, here a colossal image of
the chariot of the Sun, drawn by seven
horses and 24 wheels symbolizes the
divisions of time. The Konark Sun Temple
also houses a Natamandira or dancing hall.
Only two subsidiary temples out of the 22
exist today. The Vaishnadevi Mayadevi Temple
stand to the West it. The Sun temple of
Narasimhadeva is a depiction in stone of the
life of those times – royal, social,
religious and military. The intricate
carvings on the walls and wheels of the
chariot are unprecedented in history. The fine
sculptures depicting Court life, hunting,
scenes, celestial deities are epitomes of
precision and grace. Graceful sculptures
from the world of the Kamasutra, epic of
eroticism also adorn the structures. The Sun
Temple standing in solitary splendor is the
relic of a great past. y. |
| Area: 2.5 sq km.
Altitude: Sea level.
Temperature (deg C): Summer- Max.
43, Min. 32.2. Winter- 26.7, Min. 10.6.
Rainfall: 152.4 cms (July
to September). Clothing:
Summer- Light tropical & cottons, Winter-
light woolens. Languages spoken:
Oriya, Bengali, Hindi, English. Best
season: Throughout the year, but
preferably October to March. |
Reach -
By Air: Nearest airport Bhubaneshwar-
64 kms is connected with Calcutta, Delhi,
Hyderabad, Madras and Nagpur.
By Rail: Nearest railheads Puri- 31
kms and Bhubaneshwar- 64 kms are connected
with the major places.
By Road: Konark is well-connected
with Bhubaneshwar as well as the major
places. |
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Chilka
Lake |
Chilika Lake, spreading over an area of 1100
sq. kms is the largest brackish water lake
in the country and attracts large number of
migratory birds besides resident ones.
Barkul and Rambha are two places on the lake
which serve as the base. Though the lake can
be visited throughout the year, October to
March is the best season.
Flora:
The lake harbours the "aquatic vegetation"
of its own and is typically represents by
Algal forms, a number of
Diatoms/Phytoplanktons and a few species of
brackish water submerged phanerogams like
Potamogeton pectinatus, Halophila ovalis
etc. The present scanty littoral and scrub
jungles on lake margin, islands and rocky
faces are represented by the species like
Salvadora presica and a number of climbers
and herbaceous ground flora. |
The dunes
& sandy areas of the beaches near lake have
the floral composition of their own,
favoured in the conditions they offer. The
land lying between Sea and Lagoon exhibits
rich growth of casuarinas equisetifolia.
Fauna:
There is a wide variety of animal life forms
representing various groups of Animal
Kingdom ranging from Protozoa to Mammals.
Around 158 species of fishes and prawns have
so far been recorded.
Some mammals reported from small pockets in
the surrounding hills/forests/scattered
islands & amidst the vegetation of sandy
ridge facing Chilika and Sea include Black
bucks (Antelope cervicara), Spotted deer,
Fox, Jackal, Hyena, Jungle Cat, Hare, Rat,
Pachyura (an insectivora) etc. |
| Area: 1100 sq. kms. (
Wildlife Sanctuary area- 15.53 sq. kms.)
Temperature (deg C):
Summer- Max. 37, Min. 30. Winter- Max. 24,
Min. 17. Rainfall: 1160
mms. (Mainly July to September).
Clothing: Tropical.
Languages Spoken: Oriya, Bengali,
Hindi, English. Best Season:
Throughout the year. |
Places of Interest:
The lake with several of its islands, main
among them being, kalijai, Nalabana,
Honeymoon, Breakfast islands etc. Satpada
towards the South Eastern stretch of the
lake is closer to puri and is fast
developing as a tourist spot on the shore of
Chilika. |
Cruise on the lake:
To visit various islands, particularly,
Kalijai & Nalabana as well as to cruise on
the Chilika Lake, motorised Yatch and speed
boat services are available at fixed rates
from the Manager, O.T.D.C., Panthniwas,
Barkul. |
Excursions:
Narayani- 22 kms from Rambha,
Gopalpur-on-Sea- 45 kms from Rambha and 75
kms from Barkul, Taptapani Sulphur Spring-
100 kms from Rambha and 130 kms from Barkul. |
Reach -
By Air: Nearest airport Bhubaneshwar
is 105 kms from Barkul & 135 kms from
Rambha.
By Rail: The nearest railheads are at
Balugaon- 7 kms from Barkul and Rambha which
are directly connected to Calcutta, Puri,
Madras, Hyderabad and Bombay.
By Road: Barkul to Bhubaneshwar- 105
kms, Puri- 167 kms, Cuttack- 133 kms,
Berhampur- 78 kms, Gopalpur-on-Sea- 75 kms
and Rambha- 30 kms. |
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Gopalpur |
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Gopalpur-on-Sea is a quiet and charming sea
resort along the Bay of Bengal, in the
district of Ganjam, Orissa. It offers
secluded environment and magnificent sun,
surf and sand for most of the year. |
| Altitude: Sea level.
Temperature (deg C):
Summer- Max. 35, Min. 23. Winter- Max. 27,
Min. 16. Rainfall: 118.7
cms (46.7 inches). Languages Spoken:
Oriya, Hindi, English. Best Season:
Throughout the year, preferably October to
April. |
Places Of Interest:
Gopalpur is situated right on the Bay of
Bengal with a beautiful sea-beach. |
Excursions:
Chilika Lake- 45 kms from Ramba and 75 kms
from Barkul, Nirmaljhar- 56 kms, Taptapani
(sulphur spring)- 67 kms. |
Reach -
By Air: Bhubaneshwar is the nearest
airport- 180 kms.
By Rail: Berhampur- 16 kms is the
nearest railhead.
By Road: Barkul- 75 kms, Berhampur-
16 kms, Bhubaneshwar- 180 kms, Puri- 242 kms. |
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Simplipal |
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Nestled in the centre of Mayurbhanj, the
northernmost district of Orissa is the
Similipal National Park one of India's
better known wild life sanctuaries, covering
a large forested area of 2750 sq.kms. The
variation in topography, climate and
vegetation has supported large varieties of
animals, birds and reptiles. Similipal is
one of the earliest and finest of India's
fifteen Tiger reserves under Project Tiger. |
| Area: 2750 sq km.
Altitude: 559.31 meters above sea
level. Temperature (Deg C):
Summer- Max.40, Min.20. Winter- Max.20,
Min.4.4. Rainfall: 1648 mm
( Mid. June to Mid. September ).
Best Season: 1st November to 15th
June. December to February is extremely
cold. (The reserve remains open from 15th
Oct. to 15th June). |
| Places of Interest - Fauna found at
the Park include the tiger, leopard,
elephants, bison, sambar, porcupine,
pangolin, flying-squirrel, hill myna,
hornbill, python etc. |
| Excursions - Kiching- 50 kms from
Joshipur. |
Reach -
By Air: Nearest airports are
Calcutta- 250 kms and Bhubaneshwar- 300 kms.
By Rail: Balasore- 76 kms from Lulung.
Jamshedpur- 115 kms from Jashipur.
By Road: Baripada- 20 kms, Jashipur-
114 kms, Bhubaneshwar- 320 kms, Calcutta-
250 kms from Lulung. |
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Chandipur |
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Chandipur- 16 kms away from Balasore Railway
Station on Howrah-Madras line of South
Eastern ( S.E.) Railways annique beach where
the sea water recedes about 5 kms during
low-tide and advances to the shore line
again during high-tides each day. An ideal
beach resort of Orissa. |
Reach -
By Air: The nearest Airport is
Bhubaneshwar- 230 kms from Chandipur.
By Rail: The nearest railhead
Balasore- 16 kms.
By Road: Balasore- 16 kms,
Bhubaneshwar- 230 kms, Cuttack- 230 kms,
Calcutta- 240 kms. |
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