The landscape of the state of Orissa is dotted with numerous places of tourist interest. The variety of places includes magnificent temples, beaches, dense forests and wild life. Orissa boasts of a distinctive and rich cultural heritage. The coastal plains claim the highest concentration of historical and religious monuments which is Orissa`s principal tourist attractions. The deciduous forests in Orissa are perfect for adventure tourists. Orissa is blessed with around five hundred kilometers long coastline and has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Tourism in Orissa has expanded in recent times owing to the various attractions of Orissa, ranging from wildlife reserves and beaches to temples and monuments and the arts and festivals.

Pilgrimage Tourism in Orissa
Orissa is a home to a large number of temples. This holy place is flocked round the year by the pilgrims. The best known of these are the Lingaraja temple at Bhubaneshwar, Jagannath Temple at Puri and the Sun Temple at Konark. Orissa is also referred to as the seat of Lord Jagannath at times. These temples constitute the major part of the pilgrimage tourism in Orissa. Puri is the site of the famous Jagannath temple and one of the world`s most spectacular devotional processions, the Rath Yatra. The Jagannath temple of Puri is one of the most sacred pilgrimage centers in India. Built approximately in the 12th century this temple is one of the most revered of all temples of Lord Vishnu in eastern India. Konark has the ruins of Orissa`s most ambitious medieval temple. Pilgrims from all across the globe come here to offer their prayers. The Sun temple of Konark is of great religious significance. The sanctity of Konark dates back to the mythical times and is flooded by devotees during most of the time of the year. Bhubaneswar in Orissa is a home to many famous temples that are major tourist attraction. The important temples in Bhubaneswar are the Lingaraja temple, the Rajarani temple and the Mukteshwara temple among others. Orissa is also well known as a Buddhist and Jain pilgrimage destination. In the north east part of Cuttack there are Buddhist relics and ruins at the three hilltop complexes of Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves. These caves are visited by thousands of Buddhist pilgrims throughout the year. A place sacred to all, the Hindus, Jains and Buddhists, Orissa is a much venerated pilgrimage spot for devotees.

Nature Tourism in Orissa
Orissa is the perfect spot to get drenched in the nature`s endowments. Wildlife, lush green forests and zoological parks are scattered throughout the state. Wild life in Orissa is an integral part of its tourism. The Simlipal National Park t the center of Mayurbhanj district in the North-Eastern part of Orissa is surrounded by deciduous trees and Sal forests. Characterised by thick wooden slopes, ridges, lavish grassland and striking waterfalls; the park is situated amidst scenic hills. It provides a safe refuge to the leopards, Elephant, Langur, Flying Squirrel, Porcupine, Barking and Spotted Deer, Sloth Bear Mongoose, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Indian Trogon, Red Jungle Fowl, Hill Mynah and tigers. The Nandan Kanan National Park in Orissa is a picturesque park and offers an exceptional prospect to its flora and fauna to thrive in their most natural environment. Offering an array of services like boating, white tiger and lion safaris, a night-time animal house, reptile park, aerial ropeway and cable car; the park is a perfect hang out for people having a penchant for wildlife. The Chilka wild life sanctuary is located in the south west part of Puri is one of the most visited wildlife sanctuaries in Orissa. This wildlife sanctuary is home to various migratory and local birds such as Flamingo, Wigeon, Pintail, Spotbilled Pelican, Barheaded Goose, Openbilled Stork, Spoonbill, White Bellied Sea Eagle, Brahminy Kite, Brahimny Duck, Shoveller and Ibis. The Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most distinguished sanctuaries in Orissa. It is well known for its crocodiles and turtles. The sanctuary has a dense mangrove forest which is dwelling place for a number of endangered and migratory birds. The Indira Gandhi Park in Orissa features stunning gardens full of exceptional varieties of flowers, eye-catching grass meadow, doll museum, a mini zoo and an aquarium. The gardens comprise Japanese garden, rose garden and a fountain garden. The zoo has a train which goes around the park. It is an important tourist spot. Housing a significant number of wildlife sanctuaries and national parks, the state has established itself to be a pleasurable shelter to the nature lovers.

Leisure Tourism in Orissa
The landscape of Orissa is varied. As a result it will require a fair amount of time to unearth the hidden treasures of the state. Ideally the sea beaches are unrivaled as far as enjoying leisure is concerned. The clear blue beaches in Orissa are a tourist`s dream come true. For nature lovers Orissa is the best place to visit. The Baleshwar beach of Orissa is an interesting place where the tourist can spend some quality time. Chandipur in Orissa is a peaceful sea side resort where the sea recedes and proceeds five kilometers everyday. The Konark Beach is rated one of the finest beach in the world. The sunrise at this beach is a feast for the eyes and an ideal spot for sun-bathing. It is an upcoming tourist hub. One of the most pristine beaches of Orissa is the Gopalpur on sea. Once a buzzing seaport, Gopalpur offers its guests a slice of serenity in environs that are favorable to introspection and hospitality. The Chilka Lake in Orissa is noted for its long coastline, beaches and natural scenery and is the largest brackish water lake in Asia. Orissa is one of the most favoured tourist destinations in India. Being a land of great cultural heritage Orissa is home to numerous monuments of historical importance. Baripada, the district headquarters of Mayurbhanj in Orissa is a place of historical significance. It has suggestive ruins of palaces and temples built by the rulers of Bhanja dynasty who had made this their capital during the 15th century. The most imposing ruins include the Rasikaraya temple and the Durbar Hall of the Bhanja kings. Baripada has a small museum towards the eastern part of the town. I t preserves fine sculptures, coins and pottery found in the area. The most magnificent and stunning monument of Orissa is the Barabati Fort located to the northwest of Cuttack city. It is an important tourist destination. The remnants of the fort include its moat, gate, and the earthen mound of the nine-storied palace. Orissa State Museum is one of the best maintained museums in the country which displays wide-ranging objects of ancient origin. The exhibits consist of a rich collection of Buddhist and Jain sculptures, coins, and painted palm-leaf manuscripts etc. There are also compilations of ethnic art, conventional jewelry and musical apparatus. Tourists visit the museums to get a feel of the cultural heritage of the place.

Tribal Tourism in Orissa
The number of tribes that reside in Orissa is the highest anywhere in India. All the districts of Orissa have a tribal population in it. Breaking away from the trodden paths of travel the visitors can make their trip more colourful by trying out tribal tourism. In fact, almost a quarter of the populations are adivasi or tribal people. They are believed to have descended from the area`s pre-Aryan aboriginal inhabitants. In the more inaccessible corners of the state many of these groups have retained unique cultural traditions and languages. Their entire social set up is quite different from the usual Indian ones. As tourists people can enter into their worlds and find out more about their customs, rites, rituals and beliefs in supernatural norms. Different tribes have dissimilar culture, ethnicity, language and rituals. This facilitates a tourist to get an insight into many diverse cultures at the same time. Mayurbhanj is the traditional home of the Santhal tribes who are settled agriculturalists. They practice a blend of ancestor worship and Hinduism and comprise around seventy percent of the local adivasi population. Chhou dances at this part of Orissa will be quite fascinating to watch out for.

Village Tourism in Orissa
Mostly located on the coast along the Bay of Bengal, the villages of Orissa are gifted with virgin beaches, serpentine rivers, rich wildlife, etc. Their wonderful scenic beauty attracts several tourists from all over India every year. A trip to the spa village of Taptapani, nestled in the ghats fifty one kilometers west from the town of Berhampur in Orissa, will convince one that why village tourism in Orissa is a different experience all together. Tourists come here in large numbers for the legendary hot springs. It is believed that waters from this spring have the power to cure infertility. The boiling sulphurous water bubbles out of a cleft in the mountainside and is piped into a small pool where little rocks smeared with vermilion and hibiscus petals mark the presence of the living deities who are believed to reside in the water. The villages of Orissa have a rich tradition of art and cultural activities. The rural people celebrate various fairs and festivals throughout the year with pomp and cheerfulness. The festivals have always been a part and parcel of village life in Orissa.

Visiting information on Orissa

How to Reach Orissa
Tourists will find no problems whatsoever in arriving at this South-East Indian state. Orissa is well connected by air, road and railways.

Air: The airport is located at Bhubaneswar and is called the Biju Patnaik International Airport. Major public and private airlines operate regular flights to and from the city. The flights plying from here are well connected with almost all the major Indian cities, such as, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Nagpur and others. Airports in Orissa have the best of facilities and services for the travelers who arrive over there.

Rail: Bhubaneshwar is the main railway station in Orissa. With the help of Indian Railways the state has regular trains for Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi and other cities. Apart from Bhubaneshwar there are several other Railway Stations in Orissa.

Road: The roads within the state are in good condition and transports are also easily available. As a result the tourists will have no trouble in traveling in and around the state. Buses are the best way to travel. Regular government and ever-expanding private services cover all the main routes and most of the more remote stretches. Orissa has an extensive road network system which makes it effortlessly reachable from any part of the country.

In Orissa, the travelers can shop to their heart`s content. From Kotki silk to tribal jewelry; from the images of the gods and goddesses to handicrafts and ornaments of shells and pearls, Orissan markets have something or the other to offer to every kind of travelers. Capital Market, situated in a residential area along Jan Path in Bhubaneshwar, is the place to buy typical Orissan handicrafts and jewelry. Orissa is famous for its Kotki fabrics. Both dress materials and saris are available here. On the seaside there are a lot of products available that are made out of shells and white gleaming pearls. Conches are also scattered around these markets. Bamboo products are not uncommon in this part of India. Appliqué works and metal ware are also popular buys here. Traditional Orissan restaurants would consist of seafood dishes like prawn curry or delicate pomfret combined with rice, fresh vegetables, coconut, yoghurt and spices. Another Orissan specialty to look out for is chenna poda and other sweets like raswadi and gajar ka halwa. Orissa enjoys a fairly pleasant climate for most of the year. However the best season to visit Orissa is between November and March, particularly around Makar Sankranti, in January, when Orissan villages celebrate the end of the harvest with colourful festivals. A host of festivals take place in Orissa. Some of these include Makar Mela, Panashankranti, Rath Yatra, Konark Festival and others. Orissa is also famous for stone sculptures and paintings. Paffa chitra, classical Orissan painting, is closely connected with the Jagannath cult. Besides these the chitra pothi is also an interesting thing to check out. There are adequate accommodation units available in Orissa. If the travelers want they can also book the hotel rooms beforehand. Both deluxe and budget hotels are to be found here.