Tourism in

Odisha Odisha (English: , ), formerly Orissa ( the official name until 2011), is an Indian state located in Eastern India. It is the 8th largest state by area, and the 11th largest by population. The state has the third largest population of ...

is one of the main contributors to the

Economy of Odisha The economy of Odisha is one of the fastest growing economies in India. According to 2014-15 economic survey, Odisha's gross state domestic product (GSDP) was expected to grow at 8.78%. Odisha has an agriculture-based economy which is in transi ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

, with a long coastline, mountains, lakes, natural biodiversity and rivers.

is one of the major tourism sectors of India, with various tourists' attractions, ranging from wildlife reserves, beaches, temples, monuments, the arts and festivals. Other than wildlife reserves, beaches, temples, monuments, the arts and festivals, the

Odisha Tourism Development Corporation The Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) is a Government of Odisha undertaking corporation in the Indian state of Odisha. It was incorporated in the year 1979 to promote tourism in the state and operate some of the existing tourist bung ...

, a Public Sector Undertaking of

Government of Odisha The government of the Indian state of Odisha and its 30 districts consists of an executive, led by the Governor of Odisha, a judiciary, and a legislative branch. Like other states in India, the head of state of Odisha is the Governor, appoi ...

, is also developing tourism sector of

and

Monuments

Temples

The major temples of

are present in Ekamra Kshetra or the temple city of

Bhubaneswar Bhubaneswar (; ) is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Odisha. The region, especially the old town, was historically often depicted as ''Ekamra Kshetra'' (area (''kshetra'') adorned with mango trees (''ekamra'')). Bhubaneswar is ...

Puri Puri () is a coastal city and a municipality in the state of Odisha in eastern India. It is the district headquarters of Puri district and is situated on the Bay of Bengal, south of the state capital of Bhubaneswar. It is also known as '' ...

, Jajpur and

Ganjam Ganjam is a town and a notified area council in Ganjam district in the state of Odisha, India. Brahmapur, one of the major city of Odisha is situated in this district. Geography Ganjam is located at in the Ganjam district of Odisha with an ...

. Some other temples in the state includes,

Buddhist monuments

* Dhauli * Lalitgiri * Pushpagiri * Ratnagiri * Udayagiri

Jain monuments

Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves 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. The caves are ...

Forts

* Barabati Fort *

Chudanga Gada Chudanga Gada, formerly known as Sarangagarh, is a fort in Odisha state of India. The fort is situated at a latitude of 20°25’16" north and longitude of 85°48’25" east and at an elevation of 100 feet above sea level. It is about 14 km no ...

* Raibania Fort * Sisupalgarh

Flora and fauna

Lakes

Boat ride on Chilika Lake, Balugaon, Odisha, India

* Chilka Lake: at the mouth of the Daya River, is Asia's largest brackish water lake and second largest brackish water lake in the world. A bird sanctuary for millions of migratory birds, and is also noted for its population of

Irrawaddy dolphin The Irrawaddy dolphin (''Orcaella brevirostris'') is a euryhaline species of oceanic dolphin found in scattered subpopulations near sea coasts and in estuaries and rivers in parts of the Bay of Bengal and Southeast Asia. It closely resembles the ...

s (''Orcaella brevirostris''), the only known population of Irrawaddy dolphins in India. It is one of only two lagoons in the world that are home to these species. * Tampara Lake: Tampara Lake is one of the largest fresh water lakes in the state near

Berhampur Brahmapur (; also known as Berhampur) is a city on the eastern coastline of Ganjam district of the Indian state of Odisha. Bramhapur is most famous for its street food, silk sarees or pato sarees, temples and many historical places. Bramhapur al ...

. The beautiful lake & the nearby Chilika Lagoon highlight the ecological diversity Odisha is blessed with. While Tampara is a fresh water lake, Chilika is a brackish water lagoon. * Kanjia Lake: Lake inside the Nandankanan Zoological Park known for boat riding and scenic beauty situated at

. * Anshupa Lake: a horseshoe shaped fresh water lake on the left bank of the

Mahanadi River The Mahanadi is a major river in East Central India. It drains an area of around and has a total length of . Mahanadi is also known for the Hirakud Dam. The river flows through the states of Chhattisgarh and Odisha and finally merged with Bay ...

, opposite Banki in Cuttack district,

. Anshupa Lake in Banki is 40 km from the city of Cuttack, which also acts as a shelter for the migratory birds in the wintry weather season.

Waterfalls

* Badaghagara Waterfall * Barehipani Falls *

Devkund Waterfall Devkund Waterfall is a waterfall located near Bhira, in Raigad district, Maharastra, India. It is a 'plunge' waterfall pouring massive amounts of water on the rocky surface underneath. It is a popular spot for one day picnics. Location Devkun ...

Duduma Waterfalls Duduma Waterfall is situated in the border of Koraput (Odisha) districts of India. Geography This horsetail type waterfall is in height and is formed by the Machkund river. It has two sub-waterfalls, one on the Odisha side and the other on ...

Joranda Falls The Joranda Falls ( or, ଯୋରନ୍ଦା ପ୍ରପାତ) is a waterfall located in the core area of Simlipal National Park in Mayurbhanj district in the Indian state of Odisha. The Barehipani Falls is located close to the Joranda Falls. I ...

* Khandadhar Falls, Kendujhar * Khandadhar Falls, Sundagarh * Koilighugar Waterfall * Sanaghagara Waterfall File:Barehipani Falls.jpg, Barehipani Falls File:Badaghagara_Kendujhar.jpg, Badaghagara Waterfall File:Khandhadhar Falls.jpg, Khandadhar Falls, Sundagarh File:Sanaghagara_Kendujhar.jpg, Sanaghagara Waterfall File:Koilighugar_Waterfall,_Jharsuguda.jpg, Koilighugar Waterfall File:Khandadhar fall.webm, Scenic Beauty of the Khandadhar Falls, Kendujhar

Hot springs

Atri Atri ( sa, अत्रि) or Attri is a Vedic sage, who is credited with composing numerous hymns to Agni, Indra, and other Vedic deities of Hinduism. Atri is one of the Saptarishi (seven great Vedic sages) in the Hindu tradition, and the on ...

* Deulajhari * Taptapani * Tarabalo

Wildlife

Odisha is a remarkable place as it is the home to the

royal Bengal tiger The Bengal tiger is a population of the '' Panthera tigris tigris'' subspecies. It ranks among the biggest wild cats alive today. It is considered to belong to the world's charismatic megafauna. The tiger is estimated to have been present i ...

, consisting of many sanctuaries and natural scenic spots.

Beaches

Puri Sea Beach viewed from the light house

Odisha has a long coastline of 500 km. Notable beaches on this coastline include: * Gopalpur Beach * Chandipur Beach * Chandrabhaga Beach * Gahirmatha Beach *

Puri Beach Puri Beach or the Golden beach is a beach in the city of Puri in the state of Odisha, India. It is on the shore of the Bay of Bengal. It is known for being a tourist attraction and a Hindu sacred place. The beach is the site of the annual Pur ...

* Talasari Beach

Sanctuaries

Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary was created on 6 May 1981 and is located in Nayagarh, Odisha, India, adjacent to the Satkosia Gorge Wildlife Sanctuary. It is of sanctuary land, home to bear, elephant, leopard, sambar deer and spotted deer. The ...

Balimela Wildlife Sanctuary Balimela Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary in Malkangiri district, Odisha, India. It covers an area of 160 km². The terrain is hilly, and covered with mixed deciduous forests.Negi, Sharad Singh (1993). ''Biodiversity and Its Conser ...

Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary The Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary located in the Indian state of Odisha."Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary". Odisha Forest Development Corporation. Accessed 29 July 2014 The sanctuary has an area of 87 km² ...

* Bhitarkanika Mangroves * Bhitarkanika National Park * Chandaka Elephant Sanctuary *

Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary The Debrigarh wildlife sanctuary is located in the Sambalpur district in the Indian state of Odisha, covering a total area of 346.91 km2. It is situated near the city of Sambalpur's Hirakud Dam. The Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary is an important l ...

Hadgarh Wildlife Sanctuary Hadgarh Wildlife Sanctuary wildlife sanctuary situated Keonjhar district in Odisha, India, covering an area of 191 km2 was established in 1978. Hadgarh Wildlife Sanctuary was declared vide F.F.A.H. notification dated the 6th December 1978 S.R.O. ...

Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary () is a wildlife sanctuary located in Kalahandi district and a popular tourist attraction of Odisha in India. Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary is about 15 km from Bhawanipatna, the district headquarters of Kalahandi ...

Kondakameru Wildlife Sanctuary Kondakameru Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary in Malkangiri district, Odisha, India. It covers an area of 430 km², mostly small hills and valleys. It is in the Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forests The Eastern Highlands m ...

Lakhari Valley Wildlife Sanctuary The Lakhari Valley Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Ganjam District, Odisha, India. The wildlife sanctuary has an area , in the Lakhari Valley of the Eastern Ghats range. The plant communities include coastal Sal ''(Shorea robusta)'' forests an ...

* Nandankanan Zoological Park *

Satkosia Tiger Reserve Satkosia Tiger Reserve is a tiger reserve located in the Nayagarh district of Odisha, India covering an area of 988.30 km². History Satkosia Gorge Wildlife Sanctuary was created in 1976, with an area of 796 km². Satkosia Tiger Reserve was de ...

* Sunabeda Tiger Reserve

Scenic spots

* Daringbadi * Barunei *

Dhamra Dhamra (or Dhamara) is a small community on the banks of the Dhamra River in the Bhadrak district of Odisha state, India. They were Shoodars before independence, as it's in history. Others believe they're descendants of Clan Loot. It developed ...

Chandbali Chandabali (or Chandbali) is an old town in the Bhadrak district of Odisha on the bank of the River Baitarani. History Before the 19th century AD, Chandabali was a small fishing village, and a natural river port. In 1866, trading began from this ...

Gupteswar Cave Gupteswar Cave is a cave shrine dedicated to Shiva. It is a pilgrim site situated about away Jeypore, Koraput District in the state of Odisha, India. It is a limestone cave, and its main attraction is the gigantic Shiva Linga which is said t ...

Tensa Tensa is a Town Wonder Natural Hill Station in Sundargarh District in the Indian state of Odisha. It has been declared the best mine by the Director General of Mines Safety, Govt. of India. Its origins are unknown, but it is believed it was trib ...

* Saptasajya * Satabhaya
Balda Cave

Islands

Eco-tourism provides a degree of alternate employment to the local community and generates environmental awareness, among local residents as well as visitors, about the conservation and sensible use of the lake's natural resources. Notable locations within the lake are: Satapada

* Ramba Bay at the southern end of the lake with the group of islands including: * The Becon Island, with an architectural conical pillar (to put a light on the top) built by Mr. Snodgrass, the then collector of

of the

East India Company The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (the Indian subcontinent and South ...

, on a mass of rock in the Rambha Bay near Ghantasila hill. It is surrounded by the Eastern Ghat. * The Breakfast Island, pear shaped, known as "Sankuda island", with remnants of a dilapidated bungalow constructed by the King of Kalikote, has rare plants and is full of greenery with appealing flora. * Honeymoon Island, from Rambha

Jetty A jetty is a structure that projects from land out into water. A jetty may serve as a breakwater, as a walkway, or both; or, in pairs, as a means of constricting a channel. The term derives from the French word ', "thrown", signifying some ...

, known as Barkuda Island, with clear waters has abundant red and green macro algae in the bed is also known for the limbless lizard, an endemic species found here. * Somolo and Dumkudi islands, located in the Central and Southern sectors of the lake, in the backdrop of scenic Khalikote hill range, are inundated remnants of the Eastern Ghats with rich flora and fauna and also known for sighting of Irrawaddy dolphins. * Birds' island, located in the southern sector of the lake has huge exposed hanging rocks, are painted white due to

folic acid Folate, also known as vitamin B9 and folacin, is one of the B vitamins. Manufactured folic acid, which is converted into folate by the body, is used as a dietary supplement and in food fortification as it is more stable during processing and ...

of the droppings of the birds and is known for rich algal communities and few mangrove species and also migratory birds in winter. * Parikud is a group of composite islands in the Garh Krishnaprasad Block for nature lovers and provides an avian spectacle during winter season * Kalijai Temple located on an island is considered to be the abode of the Goddess

Kali Kali (; sa, काली, ), also referred to as Mahakali, Bhadrakali, and Kalika ( sa, कालिका), is a Hindu goddess who is considered to be the goddess of ultimate power, time, destruction and change in Shaktism. In this tra ...

jai * Satpada, at the new mouth of the lake, provides a beautiful view of the lake and also views of the dolphins. Hundreds of boats here provide tours of the lake for tourists. * Barunkuda, a small island situated near Magarmukh, mouth of the lake, has a temple of Lord

Varuna Varuna (; sa, वरुण, , Malay: ''Baruna'') is a Vedic deity associated initially with the sky, later also with the seas as well as Ṛta (justice) and Satya (truth). He is found in the oldest layer of Vedic literature of Hinduism, such ...

. * Nabagraha is an ancient deity located along the outer channel. * Chourbar Shiva Temple is located near Alupatna village, along the outer channel. * Manikpatna, located on the outer channel has historical evidence of a

port A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as H ...

which was used for trade with Far East and also has the Bhabakundeswar temple of

Lord Shiva Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...

, an old

Mosque A mosque (; from ar, مَسْجِد, masjid, ; literally "place of ritual prostration"), also called masjid, is a place of prayer for Muslims. Mosques are usually covered buildings, but can be any place where prayers ( sujud) are performed, ...

whose entrance door is made of the jaws of the

whale Whales are a widely distributed and diverse group of fully aquatic placental marine mammals. As an informal and colloquial grouping, they correspond to large members of the infraorder Cetacea, i.e. all cetaceans apart from dolphins and ...

. * Sand-Bar and Mouth of the Lake is a striking and un-explored stretch of of empty

beach A beach is a landform alongside a body of water which consists of loose particles. The particles composing a beach are typically made from rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles, etc., or biological sources, such as mollusc sh ...

across the sand bar which separates the lake from the sea.

Museums

* Odisha State Museum * Regional Museum of Natural History, Bhubaneswar * Tribal Research Institute Museum * Odisha Crafts Museum

Odisha Tourism Development Corporation

The

promotes tourism in the state and operate some of the existing tourist bungalows and transportation fleets in commercial line. OTDC's tourist bungalows are called ''panthanivas''. Odisha Forest Development Corporation manages

eco-tourism Ecotourism is a form of tourism involving responsible travel (using sustainable transport) to natural areas, conserving the environment, and improving the well-being of the local people. Its purpose may be to educate the traveler, to provide fund ...

destinations in the state.

Locations of ''panthanivas''

Gallery

File:Beauty of LingrajTemple.jpg, Lingaraja Temple File:Temple-Jagannath.jpg, The Jagannath Temple File:Konark Sub Temple Front view.jpg,

Konark Sun Temple Konark Sun Temple is a (year 1250) Sun temple at Konark about northeast from Puri city on the coastline in Puri district, Odisha, India.UNESCO World Heritage Site A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for ...

File:Muktesvara deula.jpg,

Muktesvara deula Mukteshwara Temple (; also spelt Mukteswara) is a 10th-century Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. The temple dates back to 950–975 CE and is a monument of importance in the study of the development of Hind ...

File:Udayagiri Caves - Rani Gumpha 01.jpg,

, 2nd Century BCE File:Shanti_Stupa,_Dhauli_01.jpg, Shanti Stupa at Dhauli File:Rajarani Temple 2.jpg, Rajarani Temple

Outline of tourism in India

* List of World Heritage Sites in India *

List of national parks of India National parks in India are IUCN (International Union of Conservation of Nature) category II protected areas. India's first national park was established in 1936, now known as Jim Corbett National Park, in Uttarakhand. By 1970, India only h ...

* List of lakes of India *

List of waterfalls in India This is a list of waterfalls in India sorted by States in India, state. The Indian state of Karnataka has more waterfalls than any other state. Karnataka has 544 waterfalls which are at least 10 metres in height. Maharashtra comes second with ...

List of State Protected Monuments in India This article contains lists of State Protected Monuments of India. Table of monuments The State Protected Monuments are designated by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The state governments of India are authorised to maintain, protect and ...

List of beaches in India There are many beaches on the Indian coast which stretches for 7517 km both on the eastern and western coast. This is a list of the notable beaches in India sorted by states anti-clockwise. Blue Flag beaches As of October 2022, India has follow ...

Incredible India Incredible India (stylized as ) is the name of an international tourism campaign maintained by the Government of India since 2002, to promote tourism in India. The "Incredible India" title was officially branded and promoted since 2002. The excl ...

* List of Geographical Indications in India * Medical tourism in India *

List of botanical gardens in India A botanical garden is a place where plants, especially ferns, conifers and flowering plants, are grown and displayed for the purposes of research and education. This distinguishes them from parks and pleasure gardens where plants, usually with be ...

List of hill stations in India The hill stations are high-altitude towns for recreation, enjoyment and used as a place of refuge to escape the blistering heat in India during summertime. As India is a vast country with limited amounts of the coastal area most of its towns and ...

List of gates in India List of gates in India Assam * Northbrook Gate Bihar *Sabhyata Dwar Delhi *Ajmeri Gate *Alai Darwaza * Bahadur Shahi Gate * Delhi Gate * Delhi Gate (Red Fort) * Entrance to Humayun's Tomb * Entrance to Jama Masjid * Entrance of the Mausoleum of ...

* List of zoos in India *

List of protected areas of India There are four categories of protected areas in India, constituted under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Tiger reserves consist of areas under national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. There are 52 tiger reserves in India. the protected area ...

List of aquaria in India This is a list of public aquariums in India. Aquariums are facilities where aquatic animals are confined within tanks and displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred. Such facilities include public aquariums, oceanariums, marine mam ...

List of forts in India This is a partial list of forts in India. Andhra Pradesh Coastal Region # Anvika Fort # Addanki Fort - Prakasam district # Bellamkonda Fort - Guntur district # Bobbili Fort – Vizianagaram district # Dharanikota Fort – Guntur distri ...

List of forests in India The following table is a non-exhaustive list of forests found in India. See also *Lists of forests *Communal forests of India *Protected areas of India *Reserved forests and protected forests of India *Tropical rainforests of India *List of count ...

Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India In religion and spirituality, a pilgrimage is a long journey or search of great moral significance. Sometimes, it is a journey to a sacred place or to a shrine of importance to a person's beliefs and faith. Members of every major religion par ...

Hindu pilgrimage sites in India In Hinduism, the yatra (pilgrimage) to the tirthas (sacred places) has special significance for earning the punya (spiritual merit) needed to attain the moksha (salvation) by performing the darśana (viewing of deity), the parikrama (circumamb ...

List of rock-cut temples in India This is a partial list of Indian rock-cut temples by state or union territory. Andhra Pradesh * Akkanna Madanna Caves, Vijayawada * Belum Caves, Kurnool district * Bhairavakona Caves, Hindu temple caves located at Ambavaram Kothapalli, ...

Wildlife sanctuaries of India A Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, or features of geological or other interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide opportunities for study or research. The Wild Life (Protection) ...

List of rivers of India This is a list of rivers of India, starting in the west and moving along the Indian coast southward, then northward. Tributary rivers are listed hierarchically in upstream order: the lower in the list, the more upstream. The overall discharge of r ...

List of mountains in India Highest major summits in India Other significant mountains * Agastyamalai * Anamudi * Anginda * Apharwat Peak * Bamba Dhura * Bandarpunch * Betlingchhip * Blue Mountain * Brammah * Burphu Dhura * Chandrashila * Changuch * Chaudhara * ...

* List of ecoregions in India * Coral reefs in India *

List of stadiums in India The following is a list of stadiums in India. Due to differences often arising between the planning and implementation stages for infrastructure in India, the list has been now divided into currently existing stadiums and future grounds. Current g ...

References

External links

Official site

7 Greatest Temples Of Odisha Other Than Jagannath Temple
{{Hindu temples in Odisha Articles containing video clips