Spiritual Odisha

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DAY 1 : ARRIVAL AT BHUBANESHWAR

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Today board your flight to Bhubaneshwar. On arrival you will be transferred to your hotel.
If time permits visit :

 

Kala Bhoomi Odisha Crafts Museum
Kala Bhoomi was developed as the one stop for Odisha Handicrafts and Handlooms. The galleries cover Terracotta, Traditional Paintings, Stone and Wood carving, Metal crafts, Natural Crafts, Tribal Crafts, Pre-weaving techniques and Cocoons and lastly Handlooms. A unique feature of the museum is the outdoor display sections in the form of courtyards. Courtyards dedicated to Tribal living and Temple architecture are part of the museum complex while the entry courtyard which leads up to the museum has a special large container display section as well as a Kuldevi temple.
 

DAY 2 : BHUBANESHWAR

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After breakfast proceed for sightseeing. Later return to hotel for overnight stay.
Bhubaneshwar is popularly known as the city of temples.

The following places shall be covered :
 

Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves
The twin hills of Khandagiri and Udaygiri, also known as Kumargiri and Kumarigiri, are renowned for their rock-cut caves, that were built for Jain monks sometime during 1st and 2nd centuries BC. They also feature the lithic record of 13 years of Kalinga king, Kharavela's reign. These lithic records are inscribed on the walls of the Hathi Gumpha or elephant cave in Udaygiri, and are a grand example of Pali records found in India. While Khandagiri has 15 caves and is located on the left, Udaygiri has 18 caves and is located on the right.

 

Lingaraj Temple
The iconic Lingaraj Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is considered to have been built in the 6th century. The structure represents Odishan architecture at its most mature stage, with its deul (tower) rising to a height of more than 180 ft. The temple's walls are adorned with intricate carvings and scriptures, and add to its architectural elegance. Apart from Lord Shiva, the temple also holds the idol of Lord Vishnu.

Mukteswara Temple
Built sometime around 950 AD, the Mukteswara Temple is often referred to as a miniature gem of Odishan architecture. Its design marks a transition point between the early and later phases of the Kalinga School of Architecture. Due to this, many historians call this temple a harbinger of new culture. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, Lord Ganesha and Lord Shiva, whose shrines have been installed here. A highlight of the temple are the sculptures, such as those around the windows of the jagmohana that depict monkeys engaged in humorous scenes from the ancient Indian stories of Panchatantra

 

Sri Ram Temple
Ram Mandir is one of the most famous temples of the ‘Temple City of India’ – Bhubaneswar. It houses beautiful images of Lord Rama, his consort Goddess Sita and his brother Lord Lakhshmana. One of the significant aspects of this temple is its large spires that are visible from different parts of the city.

 

Raja Rani Temple
Made using sandstone, the Rajarani Temple is an ancient space of worship in Bhubaneswar that is famed for its sculpted figures and tiers of projections, rising to form its 18-m-high tower. Flowers and animals along with human figurines are intricately carved on this temple's walls. Around the shrine are sculpted dikpalas or guardians of the eight directions.

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DAY 3 : BHUBANESHWAR TO PURI

 

After breakfast checkout and proceed to Puri. Enroute visit Dhauli Giri Hills and Pipili. On arrival in Puri, check into your hotel. Evening vist Puri Beach.
Overnight stay at Hotel.

 

Dhauli Giri Hills
Located about 8 km from Bhubaneswar, Dhauli Giri Hills is best known as the site of the Peace Pagoda or Dhauli Shanti Stupa. The dome-shaped Shanti Stupa has stone panels displaying Lord Buddha's footprints and the Bodhi tree. The dome has five umbrellas, symbolising the five essential parts of Buddhism. In close proximity to the stupa are rock-cut caves and temples, including the temple of Dhavaleswara.

 

Pipli
Famous for applique and patchwork, the village of Pipli is located about 24 kilometres away from Bhubaneswar and approximately 40 km from Puri. Visitors can watch artisans hard at work here and buy umbrellas, handbags, puppets, purses, wall hangings, bedspreads, cushion covers, pillow covers, lampshades, lanterns and more. The tarasas or heart-shaped wooden pieces made here are used in the chariots during festivities.

 

Puri Beach
Puri Beach is a stretch of fine golden sand dotted with stalls selling sumptuous sea food and knick-knacks. The beach's choppy waters are also the favourite choice of surfing enthusiasts. Visitors can take a stroll on the beach, browse pearls and seashell souvenirs sold by local vendors or marvel at impressive sand sculptures, including the work of internationally recognised local artist, Sudarshan Pattnaik.

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DAY 4 : PURI​

After breakfast, proceed for sightseeing of Puri.
Overnight stay at Hotel.

Sri Jagannath Temple
Sri Jagannath Temple is one of the most revered and sacred pilgrimage sites in India. Its main deity is Lord Jagannath, who is said to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Built on a gigantic raised platform, the magnificent temple soars above all neighbouring buildings and dominates the skyline of Puri. Its 65-m-high spire is visible even from the outskirts of the city. Inside the temple complex, there are 6,000 servitors and kitchens that feed around 10,000 people every day. The temple consists of four structures: Vimana or Bada Deula (sanctum sanctorum), Jagamohan or Mukhasala (the porch), Natamandir (the audience hall) and Bhogamandap (bhoga is the food offering made to gods). While the mysticism of Lord Jagannath may dwarf the architectural marvels of the temple structure, it does have several unique features. It is said the main temple has been constructed in such a way that no shadow of it falls on the ground at any time of the day. There are several other points of interest, like the Nilachakra or the blue wheel perched on top of the temple. Made of eight metals or asta dhatu, devotees believe that sighting the Nilachakra is as good as a sight of the lord Himself. Atop the Nilachakra is the Patitapabana or the flag that is changed every day at sunset. For believers, a sight of the fluttering flag is divine.

Chilika Lake
Spread over 1,100 sq km, the Chilika Lake is Asia's largest brackish water lake. Chilika's unique location and water composition make it an ideal home for over 100 varieties of fish, crabs and other sea animals and the star attraction is the endangered Irrawaddy dolphin. Running parallel to the Bay of Bengal, the sea water flows inland into the lake. In winter, thousands of migratory birds flock here, among whom the pink flamingos are the most photographed.

 

Golden Beach
Also famous as the Puri Beach, the Golden Beach is a stretch of fine golden sand dotted with stalls selling sumptuous sea food and knick-knacks. The grand Marine Drive road running parallel to the beach is a popular spot for long walks.

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DAY 5 : PURI

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After breakfast, proceed to Konark Temple. Later return to Puri. You may explore the beaches and local life.
Overnight stay at Hotel.

Konark Temple
Dedicated to Surya or the Sun God and designed like his chariot, the massive and magnificent Sun Temple at Konark (kona meaning angle and ark referring to the sun) is one of the finest examples of ancient Indian architectural heritage. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the breathtakingly splendid temple was once described by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore as the place where the language of stone surpasses the language of man. It is said that the temple was designed in such a way that the rising sun's first rays would illuminate the deul (sanctuary) and the presiding deity. The temple stands on a base of a total of 24 intricately carved wheels, 12 on each side. Four of the 24 wheels can be used as sundials to tell the time! The temple has three impressive carvings of the Sun God at three strategic locations to catch the sun at dawn, noon and sunset.

 

Raghurajpur
Before Rath Yatra every year, the deities of Puri’s Jagannath Temple go on a 15-day sabbatical. During this period, a patachitra (pattachitra in Odia) takes the place of the original wooden idols. For generations, this patachitra has been drawn by artists from the nearby village of Raghurajpur. Every house in this Odisha village, just 15km from Puri, is a studio and every villager is an artist. Along Raghurajpur’s two streets, amid coconut groves, there are over 100 homes covered in colourful murals — each a museum of art. In 2000, Raghurajpur was declared as the state’s first heritage crafts village, after a two-year extensive study by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH).

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DAY 6 : PURI - BHUBANESHWAR - DEPARTURE

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Today, after an early breakfast, check out and proceed to Bhubaneshwar. You will be dropped at the Airport to board your flight.

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