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Along with the princely state of Gujarat in the west of the country, Odisha (formerly known as Orissa) is one of India’s less-visited regions. But, and again like Gujarat, this compact state on the Bay of Bengal has everything you need for a genuine off-the-beaten-track Indian adventure.
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For starters, Odisha has 485 kilometres of coastline, much of which is still in pristine condition. Indeed, going back centuries, the region was once an important seafaring empire that had trading routes that went as far as what is now the Indonesia archipelago. Then there’s the unique temple architecture that is dotted throughout the state but most prevalent in Bhubaneswar, the region’s affable capital. Tribal culture, archaeological heritage and diverse flora and fauna are also compelling reasons to come here and when you add in the fact that Odisha sees a fraction of the visitors that say Rajasthan or Kerala does, for example, you know you are onto a winner if, like us, you have a passion for exploring some of India’s undiscovered corners.
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Odisha is well connected with the rest of the country. There are regular flights from many major Indian cities and, similar to the rest of India, the rail network in and out of the state is comprehensive and reliable. Once there, driving in your own private, chauffeur-driven vehicle is the best way to travel around. Even k though Odisha is the 9th (out of 29) largest state by area in India, most places of interest are easily accessible and travelling by road presents a rewarding opportunity to discover what this little-visited state has to offer.
-Bhubaneswar is the best place to kickstart a holiday to Odisha. Over the years, Odisha’s largest city has gained a reputation for information technology(IT). Yet, the city is also dubbed Ekamra Kshetra, the Temple City, and for visitors, it is the wealth of ancient monuments and intricate sandstone temples that are the real reason to spend time here. Of the thousand or so temples that once existed, only approximately fifty remain but they are significant enough that UNESCO has placed them on their tentative list of World Heritage sites and although the interior of some of the temples are off-limits to non-Hindus, spending the day admiring and discovering the history behind some of these beautiful places of worship is an enthralling experience.
-Raghurajpur is one such settlement. Here the people of the village specialise in Pattachitra, an intricate style of painting that is produced on cloth. Predominantly depicting mythological narratives and folktales, it is an amazing skill that is absorbing to witness firsthand and there are equally as talented tribal artisans in other parts of the state as well, including those that specialise in art forms such as stone carving, metalwork and producing trinkets and other decorative jewellery. Always welcoming, the local villagers are often dressed in their traditional tribal clothing and for many, a day exploring a handful of these picturesque settlements is the highlight of their time in the state.
-If there is a symbol of Kalinga, the ancient name for Odisha, then it is the sun and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Sun Temple at Konark, 33 kilometres northeast from Puri, is a breathtaking piece of artistic magnificence. Originally constructed nearer the coastline (the sea has since receded by a couple of kilometres) in the middle of the 13th century, the temple is accredited to Narasingha Deva I, the powerful monarch and warrior of the Eastern Ganga dynasty who commissioned it to celebrate his military victory over the Muslims forces of Bengal. The temple is dedicated to the sun god Surya and was positioned in such a way that the dawn light would enter the temple’s sanctuary and illuminate the deity of Surya within it. The twenty-four intricately-carved chariot wheels represent the hours of the day, while seven rearing horses symbolise the days of the week. It truly is a work of art and most certainly on a par with some of India’s other majestic temples of antiquity such as those at Khajuraho and Hampi (ADD LINK), for example. For lovers of dance, the Konark Dance Festival, which takes place every year from 19th to 23rd February, is a beautiful, fairytale-like spectacle of traditional Odishan dance, music and costume, which is performed in front of the subtlety-illuminated temples themselves. If your schedule permits, incorporating one, possibly two, evening performances into your Odisha itinerary would make for a wonderfully memorable experience.
-There are some atmospheric accommodation options in Odisha as well. The simple, yet delightful Dhenkanal Palace, which is a couple of hours drive northwest of Bhubaneswar, is a nostalgic, heritage-style property that has been lovingly restored by the original Raja of Dhenkanal’s great-grandchildren. Dhenkanal Palace is the ideal base for exploring some of Odisha’s tribal villages, including Nuapatna, which specialises in weaving, and the metal casting settlement of Dokra
We can put together a tailor-made holiday to Odisha (Orissa) but our 12 days / 11 nights Classic Odisha private tour includes all of Odisha’s highlights and is a good starting point. Prices start from £3595 per person and the holiday includes visits to Bhubaneshwar, Puri, Chilika Lake and Dhenkanal.