The culturally rich state of Orissa lies on the eastern coast of the Bay of Bengal. Popularly known as the "Temple City of India" the state offers its visitors with numerous pilgrimage sites and ancient shrines. There are wide ranging travel and tourism opportunities in Orissa such as Ethnic Tribal Tours, Eco-Tourism, Pilgrimage Tours and Heritage Tours. The major tourist attractions in Orissa include sun soaked beaches, scenic lakes, beautifully carved monuments, flora and fauna, cuisine, fairs and festivals, ancient caves and much more.

Best Tourist Destinations in Orissa

Bhubaneswar: The capital city of Orissa is a blend of century old customs and cosmopolitan culture. The contrasting tourist attractions in Bhubaneswar such as ancient temples of Lingaraja, Rajarani, Parasuramesvera and Yogini, Handicrafts and Orissa State Museums, Khandagiri-Udayagiri Caves and Nandankanan Wildlife Sanctuary enthralls  its visitors who long for more on their visit to the city.

Konark: This place is renowned throughout the world for its unique stone carved Sun Temple which is dedicated to Surya, the Sun God. The city is home to numerous stunning architectural wonders that delight the art connoisseur along with some of the most beautiful and pristine East Indian beaches.

Puri: A major tourist destination of Orissa, Puri is popularly known as the adobe of Lord Jagannath. Popular tourist attractions in and around Puri include Lord Jagannath Temple and the Grand Rath Yatra, beautiful beaches, Chilka Lake and Simlipal National Park.

Orissa Tourist Attractions

Udaigiri Khandagiri Caves: Dating back to the 2nd century B.C, the caves were built by the great Jain King called Kharavela. In these caves Jain monks used to stay. Akshay Ganga, Gupta Ganga, Shyam Kund, Radha Kund, 24-Tirthankaras Cave and Ganesh Cave are some of the famous caves in Orissa.

Ratnagiri: Located at the Jajpur district of Orissa, Ratnagiri is an ancient Buddhist site. It is a splendid site placed atop a small hill with rivers flowing from all sides. Recent excavation has unearthed two large Monasteries.

Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary: Spread on 625 km area, the sanctuary is a blend of picturesque terrain and lush mangrove ecosystem. Wildlife flourishes in the sanctuary which is evident from the wide variety of animals and migratory bird species that are found here. Giant salt water crocodiles, pythons, king cobras, monitor lizard, flying foxes, leopards and 215 species of birds make the sanctuary their home.

Accessibility & Lodging

Orissa has an excellent network of air, rail and road and is well connected with the rest of the country and within the state. To accommodate large influx of tourists from home and abroad, the state provides world-class accommodations at its numerous hotels which offer excellent luxuries and facilities.