Lingaraj Temple

Bhubaneshwar is an ancient city replete with beautiful historic temples which attract pilgrims and tourists from all over the country. The name of the city literally means Lord of the Universe, rightly reflected in the number of temples here and the religious fervor of its locals. This is now a bustling city where the history is beautifully intertwined with its modern and progressive present. Bhubaneshwar being the centre for religious tourism has a number of majestic temples built centuries ago which have still retained their original over all these years. Among them the Lingaraj temple and the Parasurameswara temple are must-visits and attract tourists for all parts of the country.

The largest and the most sacred shrine of the Temple City Bhubaneswar is the Lingaraj Temple. The temple is devoted to Lord Harihara, which essentially means it is dedicated to Hari (Lord Vishnu) and Hara (Lord Shiva). Built in the 11th century, this place of worship houses a Swayambhu (self-manifested) Shivalinga, which is believed to be 8 feet in diameter and 8 inches tall. An architectural wonder, the Lingaraj Temple is the top tourist attraction of the city; however, it can only be visited by Hindus.

Dhauli

Owning the formal name of DhauliGiri Shanti Stupa, this is a Buddhist structure, built in 1972. It is the architectural excellence of this structure that makes it one of the best Places to visit in Bhubaneshwar. The peace pagoda was built as a result of an Indo Japanese collaboration. The dome-like structure on top of the stupa is believed to be adorned with ‘speaking’ stone panels.

Some of the main stone panels here bear the images of Buddha, an elephant procession, and the footprints of Buddha. If the legend is to be believed, the renowned Emperor Ashoka renounced war by offering his sword to Lord Buddha here at Dhaula Giri. Visitors can hire local vehicles or rented cabs to get to the peace pagoda.

Khandagiri

The caves of Khandagiri are famous as the popular Jain pilgrimage center. It is believed that these caves in the ancient times were inhabited by the number of Jain scholars. They are believed to be over 2000 years old. These caves presents the finest example of the Jain and Buddhist occupation.

While Khandagiri means a broken hill, Udayagiri denotes the hill of sunrise. There are total 33 rock-cut caves on both the hills out of which, 18 caves are excavated on Udayagiri Hill while 15 are on the Khandagiri Hill.

Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves, formerly called Kattaka Caves or Cuttack caves, are partly natural and partly artificial caves of archaeological, historical and religious importance near the city of Bhubaneswar in Odisha, India.

Iscon Temple

Easily accessible by local transport, the iconic ISKCON temple is one of the most recommended Places to visit in Bhubaneswar in the heart of the city. Synonymous to its stellar reputation, the temple is maintained and decorated to exhibit beauty and allure for the visitors. It is unlike most temples in the city, housing Lord Krishna, Lord Balarama, Gaura Nithai, Subhadra and Lord Jagganatha.

The temple runs with the aim to deliver and propagate spiritual knowledge and learning, guiding people about the spiritual way of life, which claim to emerge from the Bhagavad Gita and Drimad Bhagavatam. The architectural beauty of the temple depicts it in the shape of a half open lotus, built in white marble. Social events like kirtans, bhajans, and different religious chanting are fairly frequent at the temple.

Nandankanan Zoological Park

The Nandankanan Zoological Park is one of the premier zoos in India, making it one of the most interesting Places to visit in Bhubaneshwar. The zoo is set in a completely natural environment, built right within a forest. The zoo offers multiple entertainment facilities like lion safari, boating and cable car.

Those with a penchant for nature and animals will love this encounter with the wilderness. Popular for its white tiger and a sprawling variety of mammals, reptiles and birds, the zoo is surrounded with lush greenery. Adding to the adventure is a fascinating lake with scope for boating. Located amidst the Chandaka forest, you will also be able to view an exotic variety of flora within the zoo.

Ocean World Water Park

Take a break from the hustle and bustle of life at the Ocean World Water Park. The popular amusement and water park promises a thundering day for everyone who wishes to escape the summer heat and love to take a cool dip in the pool every now and then.

It offers an ideal break to all kinds of tourists with the range of activities it offers. Located at a distance of approximately 24 kms from the main city of Bhubaneshwar, it is one of the popular tourist places to see in Bhubaneshwar to explore the outskirts. The number of water rides and recreational activities here will leave you exalted. You can also hop on a roller coaster and enjoy the adrenaline rushing through your veins.

Odisha State Museum

The Odisha State Museum is one of the biggest and most visited museums in the state. Located in BJB Nagar in Bhubaneswar, this museum was established in 1932 by two noted professors of Ravenshaw College in Cuttack, the then capital of Odisha. Later on, it was shifted to Bhubaneswar.

There are 27 different sections in the building, with the prominent ones being Epigraphy, Numismatics, Mining and Geology, Natural History, Archaeology, Armory, Anthropology, Contemporary Art, Art & Crafts and Manuscript. There are about 37,000 palm leaf manuscripts on Ayurveda, Gita Govinda, Silpasastra, etc. The museum is also known as the Odia Language Literature and Culture Department.

Konark Temple

This historic town, one of the best places to visit in Orissa, lies on the Bay of Bengal coastline in the District of Puri. Konark is an important cultural and heritage landmark in India making it one of the most-visited places in East India. The beauty of Konark lies in its diverse landscape. Dotted with several temples, museums, and beaches, with silhouettes of the Eastern Ghats in the background, make it one of the best places in the country for a deeply spiritual and unconventional getaway.

Konark houses one of the most extraordinary architectures in the country- the 13th-century Sun Temple. This UNESCO protected site depicts a chariot of Sun God with 12 pairs of intricately carved wheels pulled by 7 horses. Built in traditional Kalinga architecture, one can still see the remains of the vimana, shikara, audience hall, dance hall, etc. Another popular attraction here is the pristine Chandrabhaga Beach, one of the cleanest beaches in the country, famous for its crystal clear waters, expanses of soft powdery sands, and tree-lined shores.

Another great beach to visit is Astaranga Beach, which is famous for offering stunning sunset views. Visit the ASI Museum, the oldest in Konark, to trace the unique culture and see hundreds of antique sculptures like a sandstone Surya image, Kandolite wheels, etc. that were recovered from the Konark Temple.

Jagannath Temple

Puri is a beautiful city situated in the state of Odisha in Eastern India, just 60 KMS away from the capital. It is located along the bay of Bengal and offers a beautiful sunlit landscape with palm leaves and the glimmering waves on the shoreline. The city flourishes with diverse tourists including the holy worshippers in the temples and sun basking tourists on the beach making it one of the most admired places to visit in not only India but all across the world.

It is one of the Char Dham i.e. the four most pious pilgrimage sites for Hindus and acquires a huge crowd during the magnificent Rath Yatra every year. It has world famous temples such as the Jagannath Temple, Gundicha temple, Vimala Temple, Loknath Temple and many more. It also has the panch tirtha, a bath into which one completes the pilgrimage to Puri. Along with beautiful places to visit, the city offers great work of artisans to admire and buy from the local shops.

It also offers a glance into the lives of tribals and the traditional Odia culture and heritage of their people. Puri is often known as the beach city and has become a key location for short hippie trips amongst travelers around the world. Tourists love to sit by the shore of beaches and try out various activities such as water sports, boating or even fishing at the shoreline.