Bhubaneswar is known as temple town, at one time the Bindusagar tank had over 7000 temples around it. Today there are about 500 temples remained of which perhaps dozen of them are of real interest including the great Lingarj Temple, one of the most important temples in India.

Places of Interest:

1. Lingarj temple: dedicated to Tribuvaneswar, the Lord of the three worlds, also known as Bhubaneswar. Temple dates from 1090 to 1104 A. D. although parts of it are over 400 years old. More than 50 temples and shrines crowded the enclosure. The temple compound is about 150 meters sq. and dominated by the 40 meters high carved temple tower. The tower is intricately sculptured, and can be view from the viewing platform originally erected for Lord Curzon. Non Hindus can see temple proceeding from the viewing platform.

2. Bindusagar Tank: This is said to contain water from every holy stream, pool and tank in India. There is a water pavilion in the center of the tank where once a year Lingraj Temple's deity is brought for ritual bath.

3. Mukteswar Temple: This temple has defaced but finely details with some excellent carving.

4. Parsurameswar Temple: This 7^th century temple is best preserved and has interesting has relies of elephants and horses processions.

5. Rajarani Temple: Nearly 58 ft high Rajarani Temple was built of locally available yellowish sand stone, called Rajarani. It has statues of nymphs, embracing couples, elephants and lions fill the niches and decorated the pillars.

6. Brahmeswar temple: This 9^th century temple is notable for its very finely detailed sculptures, with an erotic element and some quite amusingly carved, such as the young lady with the surprised look on her face, no doubt due to her lover's hand in her pants.

7. Ganesh Gumpha: Higher on the hill, Ganesh Gumpha has two cells with a verandah in front. Here feminine figures around in the carvings on the pillars.

8. Dhauli Caves: 9 km from Bhubaneswar, these caves have famous edicts of Ashoka.

9. Udayagiri & Khandagiri Caves: About 5 km away from the Tourist office, at Bhubaneswar are the twin hills of Udayagiri and Khandagiri which are honey-combed with 'caves'. This was the seat of culture of Jain saints who lived some 2,000 years ago.

   On the Khandagiri are more than a dozen caves. The 24 tirthankaras cave containing the images (all carved on monolithic stone) of the 24 Apostles of Jainism is of great interest.

   Udaygiri is adorned with a number of beautiful caves out of which largest one is the 'Rani Gumpha'. Another important cave is 'Hathi Gumpha' containing the only rock-cut inscription in India, which record chronologically the deeds of king Kharavela. It described year wise the events of 13 years of the glorious reign of Kharavela, the far-famed emperor of Kalinga in the 2^nd century B. C. The other fascinating cave known as 'Ganesh Cave', which is guarded by two monolithic elephants.

10. Atri Hot Spring: Situated 9 km away from Khrudha and 31 km from Bhubaneswar via Baghmari.

11. Nandan Kanan: (12 km) It is a sprawling wildlife park and botanical gardens with a lake intervening, with rare white tigers, white crocodiles and the largest Lion Safari of the country.

Air: Nearest Airport is 4 km from City Indian Airlines Office.

Bus: Regular buses to Puri (62 km), Konark (65 km), Chilka Lake (130 km), and Gopalpur on Sea (185 km).

Chandipur is a small village on seaside. Chandipur beach resort is one of the unique beaches of India where the seawater recedes to distance of 6 km at low tides twice every day, from the shore due to shallowness of the sea. It is delightful to watch from the caesarian plantations in front of the Tourist Bungalow of the state Government, the re-treatment of seawater from the beach. Seashells abound on the shore provides children an exiting hobby. Two km from Tourist Bungalow, is a spot Balaram gadi, is of scenic splendor, where the Rive Budhabalanga wends its way into the sea.

Gopinath Temple at Remain is 22 km from Chandipur and 8 km from Balasore. It is a center of pilgrimage for Hindus.

Air: Nearest Airport is at Bhubaneswar (230 km)

Rail: Nearest Railway Station is Balasore. (16 km)

Bus: Regular buses to Balasore.

Nestling in the heart of coastal Orissa, Chilika is the biggest inland lake in the country. Spreading over 1100 square km, it connects the Bay of Bengal in a narrow mouth, thus forming an-enormous lagoon o brackish water. Dotted with numerous emerald green islands, home of the richest variety of aquatic fauna, sanctuary and winter resort of migratory birds from as far as Siberia, Chilika is a veritable wonder of nature.

Encircled by picturesque hills all along its arched shape, its colour changing in kaleidoscopic glory with passing clouds and the moving sun, its body rolling in languid abandon, excited by the gentle breeze wafted from the Bay of Bengal.

Kalijai Temple, abode of the presiding deity of the lake, located on a tiny island. Nalabana island home of migratory birds. Crusie is the lake for pleasure and relaxation. Boating, rowing and angling are additional attraction of Chilika Lake.

Excursion:

1. Gopalpur-on-Sea: 95 km from Barkul, it is the quite and charming seaside resort.

2. Taptapani: 100 km from Rambha, this place is a pleasant health resort with a hot sulfur spring, which has medical properties to cure skin diseases.

Air: Nearest Airport is at Bhubaneswar (110 km)

Rail: By Rail-Chilika is served by Southeastern Railway and the Railway Stations are Balugaon and Rambha. Rambha Railway Station is just 3 km from the nearby Tourist Bungalow.

Bus: Regular buses to Bhubaneswar, Gopalpur on Sea, Taptapani.

Cuttack stands nearly at the apex of triangle the two sides of which are formed by the River Mahanandi and its branch Kathajuri. Before Bhubaneswar, Cuttack was the capital of Orissa. It is 35 km from Bhubaneswar.

Places of Interest:

1. Stone Revetment at Cuttack: The stone revetment on the river Kathajuri protects the city on its south, from the high floods. It was constructed during the regime of the Keshari dynasty in the 11^th century A. D.

2. Barabati Fort: Only remands of the great Barabati Fort are on arched gate-way on the east and a broad moat, about 93 meter wide and 3.5 meter deep, faced with stone masonry walls.

The main building of the fort was called the 'Navatala Prasada' or nine stored building, the first of which was used for elephants, camels and horses, the second was occupied by the artillery and the guards, the third by the patrol and gate-keepers, etc. In fourth story was located the workshop in the fifth Kitche, etc. and finally in the ninth and the last there was the sleeping chamber of the king.

Air: Nearest Airport is at Bhubaneswar (35 km)

Bus: Regular buses to Bhubanswar, Rourkela, and Sambalpur.

Dhauli hill stands on the bank of the river Daya about 10 km south of Bhubaneswar on way to Pipli and Puri. The Kalinga war was fought on these rocky plains more than two hundred years ago. The courageous resistance of the local army and the resultant carnage caused repentance in the king. Consequently, Emperor Ashoka gave up his military conquest and took up the banner of religion and started his famous spiritual conquest through piety and compassion. Kalinga taught the king that love is mightier than sword. The famous edicts of the Mauryan emperor Ashoka, the earliest inscribed records of India, are engraved on a mass rock-face.

Apart from the famous rock edicts one can find the rock-cut elephant standing on the top of the edicts. The Santi Stupa (the Peace Pagoda), which has been recently built on the top of the hill. The magnificence white radiant pagoda enshrines the four stand stone images of Buddha and its global wall is decorated with the images connected with the life of Buddha, Ashoka and the Kalinga war. The Dhavaleswar temple, originally built by Somavansi Kings a thousand year ago, is a center of pilgrimage for local people.

There is no Place of accommodation at Dhauli. Dhauli is only 10 km away from Bhubaneswar on way to Pipli and Puri. It is excursion from Bhubaneswar.

This quiet and charming seaside resort is 16 km from Berhmpur, at an altitude of only about 3 meters from the sea level. Clusters of palm and coconut tree, sand dunes overgrown with young caesarian plantations, separating the tiny town from the mighty blue sea, the magnificence of the back waters are what one finds as he approaches Gopalpur on sea. Gopalpur was once humming with commercial activities when it is used to be a port.

Accommodation: The Palm Beach Hotel, (Western Style), Circuit House, Inspection Bungalow (R & B), Youth Hostel and other Hotels.

Air: Nearest Airport is at Bhubaneswar (200 km)

Rail: Nearest Railway Station is Berhampur Railway Station. (16 km)

Bus: Regular buses to Berhampur.