Orissa is one of the major tourist attractions in India. During your trip you should not miss the chance of visiting Orissa. Orissa is situated at the eastern coast of India. Jharkhand, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh bound it.
What to see in Orissa
The state of Orissa is home to many celebrated temples and religious centers. Apart from them you can visit the beaches, picturesque waterfalls, lakes, rich forests and ancient monuments and temples.
A few major tourist attractions in Orissa are Konark, Jagannatha’s temple and Puri. The place has a dense population. Most of the time Orissa is subjected to Cyclones, owing its close proximity to the coasts. It was during the 1999 that the place had suffered Tropical Cyclone 05B. It had caused the death of 10,000 people.
The capital of Orissa is Bhubaneswar. The place has earned a lot of fame for the temples. The city is at a distance of 60 Kilometers from the coast of Bay of Bengal. Puri, a holy city sacred to the Hindus, is situated here too. There are a number of festivals that are conducted every year. In fact travel and tourism has become one of the major sources of revenue in Orissa.
Wildlife: The rich flora and fauna of the state makes it a nature lover's dream destination. The most popular and visited wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in Orissa are the Bhitar Kanika and Gahirmata wildlife sanctuaries. The Similipal Tiger Reserve is yet another tourist attraction of Orissa. Elephants and other wildlife inhabit the tiger reserve. Chilka Lake is a coastal lake of brackish water. There are about 150 migratory birds found in the Chilka Lake Bird Sanctuary.
Temples: There are many popular temples in Orissa; among the most popular ones is the Sun Temple of Konark. Other temples like the Lingaraja Temple and the Jagannatha Temple also form must-visits on your tour.
Culture: The state is also rich in music, dance and festivals. The Odissi dance form is popular world over. Apart from this here you can find a wealth of handicrafts, which include the filigree work, appliqué work from Pipli and bell metal curios made by the tribals.
Festivals: The state of Orissa enjoys some of the most colorful festivals. Among the most popular is the festival of Rath Yatra, considered the holiest of all the other festivals. Other festivals celebrated in Orissa are the Raja-Sankranti or Raja Parva, which is observed on the first day of the solar month of Mithuna, the Garbhana-Sankranti and Kumarotsava, which is also called the 'festival of youth'.
Your trip to Orissa will give you the opportunity to know about several interesting places, each depicting the diversity ad cultural uniqueness of the country.
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