Odisha
Odisha, formerly called Orissa, sits on India’s eastern coast on the Bay of Bengal. This colorful state is well known for its tribal cultures, ornate temples and relaxing beaches. Odisha is a very rural state and is “off the beaten path” so to speak as it hosts less tourists than some other states. This land was once ruled by the mighty Ashoka the Great. It is said that its conquest was so bloody that it lead Ashoka to pacifism and he subsequently began to patronize Buddhism across his vast empire.
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Photo by suchismita sahoo
Bhubaneshwar
Bhubaneshwar is the largest city in Odisha and is also its captial. The city houses a plethora of carved sandstone temples. Travelers can take time to visit the zoo or the Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves or one of the various museums about Odisha’s history and rich tribal cultures.
Photo by Adarsh Baraiya
Konark Sun Temple
This iconic temple is located a couple hours outside of Bhubaneshwar in Konark. This 13th century temple is dedicated to the Hindu sun god.
Photo by Mainak Chakraborty
Puri
Puri is a coastal city south of Bhubaneshwar. It is considered to be part three of the “golden triangle” for Odishan trouism: Bhubaneshwar-Konark-Puri. Puri is home to a beautiful beach where travelers can rest and rejuvenate. It is a pilgrimage site for many Hindus and therefore there are many temples to explore.
For further study and detail about Odisha:
Orissa: Its Geography, Statistics, History, Religion and Antiquities, by Andrew Sterling and James Peggs
Off to Odisha (Discover India), by Sonia Mehta
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