India is the land of Incredible jewels and Odisha can aptly be called the priceless Kohinoor. Tucked in the eastern region of the peninsula, Odisha is a land of  natural and artistic marvels. 

Odisha’s tourism dates back to the ancient Kalingan era of 400-500 B.C.E. when Jain & Buddhist monks used to travel to Odisha for its calm & serene environment and majestic landscapes.

On the occasion of World Tourism Day, let’s unravel India’s best-kept secret!

Glorious Beaches 

Sharing its coastal front with the Bay of Bengal, Odisha is home to some notable and famous beaches : Puri Golden Beach, Chandrabhaga Beach, Gopalpur Beach, Paradeep Beach, Ramchandi Beach etc. 

Each beach has its own unique characteristic. In Chandipur beach, the sea recedes by as much as 5 km every day and returns during the high tide, thus playing hide-and-seek with the onlookers. The Blue Flag beach in Puri is one of the cleanest beaches in India and boasts of amazing vibes with a crystal clear sea. Likewise, Chandrabhaga beach near the popular Konark Sun Temple is very scenic and famous for its picturesque Sunrises and Sunsets.  

Pristine Temples & Heritage Sites 

Bhubaneswar is popularly known as the “ City of Temples”. Odisha is famous for its ancient and historic temples, their splendid architecture & sculpting style which is widely appreciated globally. Many of these are Humongous structures that have withstood the test of time and still stand tall with pride. 

If you’re planning a trip to Odisha with your friends and family, don’t forget to witness the magnificent Kalingan & Utkal architecture at Jagannath temple,  Konark Sun Temple, Mukteswar Temple, Raja Rani Temple, Lingaraj Temple, Bramheswar Temple besides the Kalijai Temple in Chilika & Tara Tarini Temple in Berhampur.

Magnificent Waterfalls

Odisha is home to magnificent waterfalls spread out in various districts. 

Let’s start with the famous & scenic Badaghagara Waterfall. Located in the town of Kendujhar, this charismatic waterfall is surrounded by beautiful, lush greenery. Likewise, Khandadhar waterfall located in Sundargarh district is India’s 12th highest waterfall and serves as a great hiking trail as well. Harishankar falls, located in Bolangir district, besides being a scenic spot, is also a popular pilgrimage site. The waterfall is a great place for picnics & to have fun with friends and families. Some of the other significant waterfalls that you must plan to visit on your Odisha trip are Duduma waterfall in Malkangiri, Joranda waterfall in Mayurbhanj and Lulung waterfall near Simlipal forest. 

Panoramic Lakes

Apart from the vast bay of Bengal stretched along the state, many marvellous lakes accentuate Odisha’s tourism with their scenic beauty and thrilling watersports. Odisha has recently renovated many such lake sites and added viewing towers, clean and spacious piers besides providing facilities for water sports activities. Lake trips in Odisha have truly transformed and one should definitely plan to experience the incredible aqua beauty of Odisha.

Some of the lakes that are in the spotlight currently are Chilika Lake at Rambha, Tampara Lake, Anshupa Lake & Kanjia Lake. Whether you travel in summer or winter, lakes are evergreen and can be visited any time of the year. 

Stunning Hill Stations 

With the onset of puja vacations soon to be followed by Diwali and Christmas break, it’s time to pack your bags and take a break in nature’s lap. Check out these videos to learn about Odisha firsthand, before you venture out. Let us know how you plan to explore Odisha in the comments below & keep following us for more such blogs. Have a happy & safe journey!

The other outstanding hilly destination in Odisha is Daringbadi which is also popularly known as the “Kashmir of Odisha”. Filled with lush pine forests and cascading waterfalls Daringbadi is the perfect destination for a digital detox.