Orissa -
Overview
Orissa, a place known for its temples and shrines, is located at the apex of
the Eastern Coastal Plains of India. The state shares its boundaries with
four other neighbouring states including Jharkand, West Bengal, Andhra
Pradesh and Chattisgarh. The southeastern part of the state is bounded by
the sea, Bay of Bengal. The coastal areas are more or less inhabited with
urban population, where as the interiors see quite many tribes settled here.
From a tourists point of view the place is one great sprirtual destination
where you can give your self a devotional high. The harbingers of these
feelings come from the magnificent temples and pagodas. Like other federal
states of Indian republic the state enjoys its own place and cherishes its
own identity.
Orissa possesses rich land holdings of mineral resources. Though late but
the state has started harnessing its reserves and economic development is on
the rise. The fertile alluvial plains formed by the rich deposition of the
rivers emptyiong in the sea leads to very productive lands here. Whatsoever,
the place is one holy destination for the pilgrims.
Orissa - History
Orissa in ancient times used to be a great kingdom, Kalinga. This mighty
kingdom can be traced as belonging to the period and some 3000 years ago.
Back then it was a major trade centre and connecting the place with Southern
and Southeast Asia. Popular temples at Cambodia bear a resemblance to the
South Indian temples and provide substantial information on the probable
influence of the dominant culture and architecture of Orissa. Orissa was
also the venue of the famous Kalinga war, after which king Ashoka embraced
non violence. The state during a large period in history was ruled by Jain
and Hindu dynasties. Popular ones include Matharas, Nalas, the Vigrahas,
Sailodbhava Dynasty, Bhaumakaras Dynasty, Nandodbhavas Dynasty, Somavamsis
Dynasty, the Eastern Gangas and Suryavamsi Dynasty.
Orissa
- Tourist Destinations
The subtle beauty of Orissa is defined by its magnificent temples, exotic
beaches, hills, waterfalls and wildlife. This far eastern state of Indian
republic possesses some distinctive features which makes the journey an
interesting one. Through out the state are scattered several holy places for
Hindu followers. There are several beautiful beaches located towards the far
east and bounded by the Bay of Bengal. Important tourist destinations in the
state include
Bhubaneshwar,
Puri,
Konark,
Cuttack, Jeypore and Phulbani.
Orissa Temples
Also called as the temple state, Orissa sees a lot of ancient and modern
temples erected on its lands. The popular temples are those built hundreds
of years ago and which now are the chief pilgrimage sites in the sub
continent. These temples exhibit marvelous architectural feats and are
sometimes included as the atteributes of the state's dominant culture. The
Sun Temple
or Black Pagoda is one such enthralling structure. Some other popular
temples are
Shree
Jagannath Temple, Lingaraj Temple, Brahmeswar Temple, Kedareswar
Temple, Muktesvara Temple.
Orissa
Beaches
The southwest of Orissa lies abutted by the sea, Bay of Bengal, and forms a
part of the eastern coastal plains in the country. The shoreline is provided
with a number of exotic beaches that exist as store houses of great leisure.
These places are favourite hunts for the tourists and the places are often
crowded by the same. Some popular beaches located in the state are Puri
Beach, Gopalpur Beach, Konark Beach, Chandipur Beach, Chandrabhaga.
Orissa Waterfalls
While looking for the real pleasure at Orissa you can't but miss the
waterfalls. At several destinations in the state are situated some
picturesque water falls that outline the over head cliffs and sky. These
milky white sprinklers are natural to the last element, refreshing and plain
beautiful. These places constitute the favourite excursions and picnic spots
in the state. Some popular ones include Badaghagra Falls, Barehipani,
Joranda Falls, Harishankar Falls, Khanduala Falls, Hatipathar Falls.
Orissa Wildlife
The topography of Orissa is quite varied with tropical lands close to the
Bay of Bengal and dense hilly forests occupying the western premises.
Approximately 38 percent of the total land area comes under the forests,
which harbours numerous species of flora and fauna. The state is home to the
rare breed of White Tigers. There are many wildlife sanctuaries and
protected forest reserves located in the state. Popular ones include
Simlipal National Park, Chilika Sanctuary, Bhitarkanika Sanctuary, Gahirmata
Wildlife Sanctuary.
Reaching Orissa
By Air : Bhubaneshwar, the capital city of Orissa, is
accessible via direct and connecting flights from most of the cities of
India. The airport located at the city regularly catches up the flights from
the cities Hyderabad, Nagpur, Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Varanasi.
By Trains : Train travel is provided by the Indian
Railways and once again the capital city is the main rail head serving the
state.
By Roads : Orissa is connected to the nearby states by an
extensive road network. Long distance tourist buses are available from
states like Kolkata and Chennai.
