If a peaceful swim and enjoying the warmth of the sun are a tourist`s top priorities then he or she may be visit the Puri beach. In the west end of town, along Marine Parade, the atmosphere is more akin to a British Victorian holiday resort, with a row of hotels looking across the parade to the beach. This stretch is very much the domain of the domestic tourist industry. It is an agreeable place to stroll and becomes highly animated after sunset when the nightly souvenir market gets going.

Local fishermen patrol the beach as lifeguards; recognizable by their triangular straw hats and dhotis, they wade with their punters into the surf and literally hold their hands to keep them on their feet. When not saving lives, the fishermen are busy at the CT Road end of the beach, engaged in the more traditional industries of mending nets and boats.

Konark`s own beach is 3 km down the Puri road. It was once picturesque but remains thoroughly windswept and forlorn following the impact of the 1999 cyclone in October. Although far from ideal for swimming or sunbathing, it is still a good place to wander in the evening or watch the local fishing fleet at work.

The wilderness of Orissa is equally interesting. The virgin forests and the thickly wooded slopes and ridges of the Eastern Ghats are a thrill to explore. West of Baripada, the landscape suddenly changes from simple plains to the mixed deciduous forests, perennial streams and glades of savannah grasslands draped around its flanks have allowed for an uncommonly rich diversity of flora and fauna. Simlipal National Park deserves to be one of eastern India`s major attractions. The reserve boasts of tigers, leopards, sloth bears, sambar and spotted deer, barking deer, gaur, rhesus and langurs.

Evening walks near the forest rest houses might yield sightings of mongoose, ratel badgers, porcupines, civets, jungle cats, foxes and jackals. Herds of wild elephant are also common and the park`s pools and lakes also support marsh crocodiles, pythons, fishing cars and monitor lizards near the water.

There are 231 species of birds here, too, including colourful trogons, barbets, hornbills, thrushes, orioles, woodpeckers, parakeets, bee-eaters, spurfowl and jungle fowl. The landscape itself is equally rich, with a backdrop of beautiful granite hills, and a tranquil and pristine old-growth Sal forest; no less than 1076 species of plant have been recorded here, including an impressive 87 different varieties of orchid.

The park remains open for visitors from November to mid-June. The tours are allowed between 6am till 12pm.

Were it not for its glass like surface, Chilka Lake, Asia`s largest lagoon, could easily be mistaken for the sea. From its mud-fringed foreshore one can barely make out the narrow strip of marshy islands and sand-flats that separate the 1100 square kilometre expanse of brackish water from the Bay of Bengal. A variety of birds, from flamingos, pelicans and painted storks to fish eagles, ospreys and kites can be seen here. Many of these are migratory birds from Siberia, Iran and the Himalayas. Chilka is also one of the few places in India where the Irrawady dolphin can be seen. The best way to see the lake and the birds is by a boat trip. Most of the birds head to Nalabana Bird Sanctuary from here.

Nandan Kanan is a zoo, botanical garden and sanctuary. It is located at a distance of around 20 kilometers from Bhubaneswar, the state capital. The main attraction of this zoo is the white tiger. In addition to these there are threatened species of Asiatic Lions, macaque, crocodiles, mouse deer, pangolin and various other wild species and birds.

Gopalpur, formerly the ancient port of Paloura, must have been a swinging place. a visit here will enable the travelers to undiscovered beach paradise, and the armies of industrious fishermen (katias) hauling in hand nets on Gopalpur`s endless empty shoreline, dressed in traditional pointy straw bonnets. Moreover for those who are looking forward to unwind and enjoy the warm sea breezes, this is as appealing a place as any. Since it is tucked away from the usual beach crowd it is truly the right place to spend the leisurely hours.

This tourist place can be accessed through the town of Berhampur, which lies on the main coastal highway and train line. From Berhampur, frequent minibuses and jeeps depart from the central bus stand for the 16-kilometer trip.

Every year around February and March, a strip of beach at the end of Orissa`s central river delta witnesses one of the world`s most extraordinary natural spectacles. Having swum right across the Pacific and Indian oceans, an average 200,000 female Olive Ridley marine turtles crawl onto the sand; each looks for a safe spot, then sets about digging a hole with its hind flippers in which to lay its annual batch of eggs. Twenty minutes later, after a quick breather, they are off again into the surf to begin the journey back to their mating grounds on the other side of the world.

No one knows quite why they travel such distances. A special wildlife reserve was set up to protect the giant turtles at the personal behest of Indira Gandhi. Today, the Bhitarakanika Sanctuary on Gahirmatha Beach, 130km northeast of Bhubaneswar, is a safe haven for the creatures. Weeks before the big three or four day invasion, coastguards monitor the shoreline and armed rangers ensure that poachers are kept at bay. For wildlife enthusiasts it is a field day.

With so many new destinations to explore the nature tourism in Orissa will surely be quite exciting for the tourists.