Sunday, May 10, 2009

Orissa -Tourist Attraction

Tourist Attractions in Orissa


Orissa is the land of affluent heritage and culture. The innate beauty and tourist attractions in Orissa have made the place a popular tourist destination. The state is famous for its cultural heritage as well as religious places. Orissa is well known for some of the architectural marvels like Jagannath Temple, Mukteshwar Shrine, Sun Temple of Konark and Lingaraja Shrine.

Bhubaneshwar, located in the east of the state, is the capital of Orissa. The city has a number of majestic shrines which are among the major tourist attractions in Orissa. Bhubaneshwar beautifully exemplifies the blend of old traditions and contemporary lifestyle. Konark is another enticing city of Orissa lying near Bhubaneshwar. Konark is one of the three destinations that form golden triangle of tourism in the state. The town is world famous for its Sun Temple, devoted to Sun God. Apart from the architectural glory, the small town is also famous for its Konark beach.

Puri is also known as the residence of Lord Jagannath. The city is among the major tourist attractions in Orissa. It is also famous for its splendid beaches and marvelous shrines. Puri is one of the four prominent holy places in India. The city is also renowned as Jagannath Puri, Sri Purusottama Dham and Martya Vaikunth. Jagannath Temple is one of the most revered temples of Orissa. The temple is devoted to Lord Jagannath (Lord Krishna). The place crowds with tourists throughout the year and is greatly venerated by the devotees, following traditions of Vaishnava.

Udaigiri is among the three cities forming the Buddhist triangle in India. The city is famous for its Buddhist remnants. Monasteries of Madhavapura Mahavihara and numerous excavated Buddhist figurines have added an archeological importance to the place. Ratnagiri is also an impressive Buddhist site, located in Orissa. Situated on a knoll, the place is bounded by brooks from all sides. It offers an extravagant view of two large excavated monasteries.

Some of the famous caves located in Khandagiri are Gupta Ganga, Akshay Ganga, Radha Kund and Shyam Kund. The 24 Tirthankara cave is among the most remarkable caves at the place. The cave comprises monolithic statues of 24 disciples of Jainism, carved in stones. The Ganesh Cave located in Khandagiri is also famous. Khandagiri and Udaigiri are among the best tourist attractions in Orissa.

Dhauli is one of the most revered Buddhist places in India. Located in Khudra district, the place lies just 8 m from Bhubaneshwar. The hill has a special historic significance since emperor Ashoka embraced Buddhism here. The Lingaraja Shrine is one of the most famous shrines of Orissa. The enchanting shrine is devoted to Lord Shiva. The temple is festooned with enticing sculptures, stamped with spires. The deity is suffused with milk, water and bhang every day.

Chilka Lake, located on the eastern coast of state, is among the most visited tourist attractions in Orissa. The lake is formed from the silting process of Mahanadi River and rambles lavishly over an area of 1,100sq km. All these exhilarating tourist attractions in Orissa have made it an important destination for tourists.

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