About Orissa

Orissa

History and Introduction

Orissa is known for its temples. The famous Jagannath temple of Puri and Sun temple of Konark are examples of the regions rich religious and cultural past. The state has historical significance. In earlier times the region was called Kalinga. It was here that Emperor Ashoka fought the famous Kalinga war after which he repented and embraced Buddhism.  This was a history altering event not only for the region but for the entire world. Since Ashoka, the region has seen many rulers and dynasties, each leaving an indelible mark on the sands of time. In 1950 Orissa formally became a part of the Indian Republic. Today people from all faiths live in peace and harmony in this beautiful state. Major parts of Orissa have still retained their tribal culture and Orissa tourism is primarily focused on tribal tourism today. Because of the vast number of temples Orissa tour operators also offer pilgrimage tours to Orissa.        

Orissa lies towards the East Coast of the Indian Union. Its Eastern coastline runs along the Bay of Bengal. Towards its North lie the states of Bengal and Jharkhand, towards its West lies Chhattisgarh and towards its South lies Andhra Pradesh. Bhubaneshwar is the state capital. The state is divided into 30 districts. Morphologically, the state can be divided into 5 regions – 1) the coastal plains, 2) the middle mountainous country, 3) the rolling upland, 4) river valleys and 5) the subdued plateaus. The coastal plains are made fertile due to the six major rivers depositing their silt in the plains before meeting the Bay of Bengal. The mountainous region makes up around three quarters of the state’s area! Major rivers of Orissa are Brahamani, Mahanadi and Vansadhara rivers. These rivers make the river valleys fertile. The rolling uplands are areas slightly lesser in altitude that the plateaus. Major part of Orissa’s vast landscape has still remained untouched by modern civilization. The state offers a conducive environment for wild animals to live in their natural habitats. The Nandankanan Zoo, Similipala National Park, Chandaka Elephant Reserve, Bhitarakanika wildlife sanctuary and Satakosia Gorge wildlife sanctuary offer ample opportunities to view the majestic wild animals in their natural surroundings. Nowadays most Orissa tour packages promote adventure tourism in Orissa.

Fast facts and some important numbers

Must know details

Orissa has its share of cyclones and typhoons during the monsoon season from July to September. Hence it is advisable to avoid travelling to Orissa during the months of July to September. Since Orissa lies just below the Tropic of Cancer, the summers here are extremely hot. The maximum day time temperatures can rise up to 45^o Celsius. So travelling during the summer months from March to June should be avoided.

Getting there and away  

The capital city of Bhubaneshwar boasts of the lone airport in the state.  It offers flights to other major Indian cities like Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi and Hyderabad. The state has a good network of rail and road transport connecting Orissa to the rest of the country. Behrampore and Bhubaneshwar are main rail junctions in the state. Regular buses ply from Kolkata and Vishakapattanam. Government and private taxis and buses operate throughout the state. Many Orissa tour operators operate private Orissa tours.

Travel agents and tour operators of Orissa

Tour operators can plan the best Orissa travel and Orissa packages for you. Orissa offers many options to its visitors. The most famous Orissa holidays include honeymoon packages to Orissa, Health tourism in Orissa, Wildlife Safari in Orissa, cultural tours to Orissa and family vacation in Orissa.

People, Culture & Religion, Important Festivals

The people of Orissa come from different cultural and social backgrounds contributing to the state’s socio-cultural richness. The northern areas of the state are influenced by Bengali culture. The Western areas by the tribal culture of adjoining state, the southern areas by Telugu speaking Dravidian culture and the western coastal region has a distinctive culture of its own. Orissa cultural tours are the best way to savor these cultural differences and appreciate the unity in diversity. Hinduism is followed by majority of the people in the state followed by Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Jainism. In fact Orissa was a major centre for Buddhism and Jainism studies in ancient times till the time Hinduism became the dominant faith. The biggest festival in the state’s calendar is the annual Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra. Every year thousands of pilgrims descend upon the coastal town of Puri to take part in the procession of Lord Jagannath, an incarnation of Vishnu, the protector deity.

Flora and Fauna

Almost one third of the state of Orissa is covered by forests. Most of the state’s north eastern areas are covered with tropical moist deciduous type of forests while the south western areas are covered with tropical dry deciduous forests. These forests are storehouses of trees like Sagvan, Rosewood, Bamboo, Teak, Paisal, Sal, etc. The state boasts of about 7000 plant species out of which 120 are Orchid species alone. More than 60 varieties of mangrove trees are found in Orissa. The Nandankanan National Park, Simlipal Tiger Reserve and Chandka Elephant Reserve are famous national parks of Orissa. The Nandankanan National Park is located only 20 kms away from the capital city of Bhubaneshwar. It was established in 1960 and in 1980 for the first time in the park’s history three white tiger cubs were born to colored parents. Since then this national park has become famous as a centre for breeding white tigers. It also has a gharial breeding centre. The Chandaka Elephant Reserve is one of a kind elephant sanctuary in the country where wild elephants roam around freely. They also have cheetahs, leopards, peafowl, bear, chital and sambhar for company. The Simlipal Tiger Reserve is home not only to the tigers and other wild animals but also to the santhal tribes who live in perfect harmony with their wild neighbors. Every year during January they celebrate the jungle festival. Tourists can take part in this festival with prior notification. Most Orissa holiday packages include visits to these national parks and tourists can experience the thrill and adventure of seeing the animals in their natural surroundings.

Must see places & must experience activities

Experience spirituality by taking part in the Rath Yatra procession of Lord Jagannath of Puri! Every year millions of devotees from around the world gather in the temple town of Puri to take part in the Rath Yatra or chariot procession of Lord Jagannath. On one hand Puri has the splendid Rath Yatra festival and on the other it has sandy beaches to offer. Puri boasts of serene waters and golden beaches. One can relax and soak up the sun while sipping a mocktail in many of the cottages that dot the beach; quite a contrast from the madness of the Rath Yatra. The capital city of Bhubaneshwar also presents a picture of contrasting hues where you can see 800 years old temples right in the middle of a bustling state capital city. The most famous temples of Bhubaneshwar are Lingaraj, Brahma, Mukteswar, Parsumeswar and Rajarani Temples. Bhubaneshwar is rightly called the Temple City of India. The Sun Temple of Konark is another must see attraction in Orissa. A UNESCO world heritage site, this temple is a magnificent example of temple architecture of ancient India. Believed to be carved out of a single rock, the temple denotes seven horses and twelve wheels carrying the chariot of the Sun God. The Konark dance and music festival organized each year sees performances from world class artists performing in the temple complex. The highlight of the festival is the performance of Odissi, the classical dance form of the region, thought to be amongst the most graceful dances in India. Another reason for visiting Konark is its virgin beaches. Konark, Bhubaneshwar and Puri form the Golden Triangle of Orissa tourism. Many tour operators offer Konark-Puri-Bhubaneshwar tour packages to these three cities.

Special attraction of the place    

One of the most visited places in Orissa is the Chilka Lake. Believed to be the second largest coastal lagoon in the world and the largest in Asia, the lake is a bird lover’s paradise. Many migratory birds make Chilka their home during the winter months. Birds from as far as Russia, Mongolia, China and Ladakh migrate to Chilka to escape the harsh winters in their homelands! The Best of Orissa tours include a trip to Chilka Lake. Families can enjoy bird watching, fishing, eating and generally having a good time.

Adventure options

Orissa is fast emerging as a favorite destination for adventure enthusiasts. Because of its mountainous terrain the state is popular with trekkers and mountaineers. Orissa treks and mountain bike treks offer an ideal way to explore the amazing countryside. The best time for trekking in Orissa or paragliding in Orissa is from October to January. Barkul and Dhableswar offer excellent canoeing and boating facilities. Goplapur and Chandi beaches have excellent provisions for surfing.

Local cuisine & souvenirs

The local Oriya people are neither strict vegetarians nor strict non vegetarians however few orthodox families might follow strict vegetarianism. Orissa produces many varieties of green vegetables and they are equally relished as are meat, poultry and sea food with generous sprinkling of spices and herbs. Rice is the staple diet of the region. The meal preparation is economic and simple. Sweets in Orissa are basically milk preparations like ragulla, kalakand and rabdi. Oriya meal is served in a single course in one plate called thali and all dishes are kept in the plate before eating. One can find all types of hotels in Orissa. Majority of the best hotels in Orissa offer Jain food. There are vegetarian hotels in Orissa also which serve only vegetarian fare. However the best way to relish Oriya cuisine is in the Oriya home.

Dos and Don’ts

Do not try to explore the tribal areas by yourself. It is important to arrange for the trip through a government of India recognized tour operator. Avoid carrying much cash as ATMs are available everywhere. Ensure that you carry all your documentation with you all the time. Acquaint yourself as much as possible with the place you are going visit beforehand. It is important to buy health and travel insurance. Ensure that your tour operator has all necessary permits for travelling within Orissa before you land in Orissa.

Foreign nationals related

Foreign nationals travelling to Orissa require an Indian visa and a valid passport. No separate permits are required for visiting Orissa. Prior permission is needed to visit few tribal areas. These have to be arranged through tour operators. Non Hindus are restricted from entering some shrines in the state. Some monuments like Konark Sun Temple, Rajarani Temple and Udaigiri Buddhist Temples attract entry fee.

Accommodation

Finding accommodation in Orissa is not a problem. However you need to ensure that you have prior reservations to avoid disappointment later. There is a wide range of hotels to choose from in Orissa. Finding cheap hotels in Orissa is not a problem. For the budget conscious traveler, there are budget hotels in Orissa. For those who do not mind spending little extra on luxury, there are exotic resorts in Orissa. Most Orissa hotels also offer discounts on group bookings for Orissa. It is a wise idea to check for student discount with the hotel if travelling with student groups to Orissa. Due to recent government initiatives, Orissa is fast emerging as an industrial and Information technology hub. No wonder the state has seen dramatic increase in the number of business travelers. To cater to their needs, MICE hotels in Orissa, offering conference facilities in Orissa and other parts of the world have sprung up. So no matter what your reason for travel whether you are on a honeymoon trip to Orissa to a hill station or one of your corporate trips to Orissa you are guaranteed to find the best deals for Orissa.         

A trip to Orissa is an unforgettable experience. From the madness of the Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra to the stillness of the Chilka Lake and from the awe inspiring architecture of the Konark Sun Temple to the mesmerizing white tigers of Nandankanan the state never fails to surprise you.