10 beautiful places to visit in Odisha

Odisha, which was originally called Orissa, is a land of the ancients. The state entails a rich history and the present-day existing monuments are proof of it. These structures represent the wonderful architectural skills that prevailed during the ancient period have become famous tourist places in Odisha.

This is further clubbed with the limitless beauty of Odisha, which is enough to attract tourists from all over the world. The ancient temples are more than an association with religious beliefs. Their architectural splendor is undoubtedly a reflection of the skills possessed by the artisans of the land in the bygone era. We have listed down a few places to visit in Odisha.

Top places to visit in Odisha

Bhubaneswar

Did you know? Bhubaneswar is known as the ‘Temple city of India.’ Therefore, this is the recognition which the place has received all over the world. The land is known to be over 2500 years old and offers a blend of ancient monuments as well as modern constructions that tourists can dwell on. There is a rich underlying history when Bhubaneswar is spoken about.

Most of these structures were destroyed by Muslin invaders back during the time of Mughals. However, there are still many of them that stand strong. Bhubaneswar is one of the top places to visit in Odisha because of the Lingaraja temple that stands like a pillar of strength. The temples are built in Kalinga style of architecture which is unique to Odisha.

Top tourist places in Bhubaneswar: Parasurameswara Temple, Mukteswar Temple, Lingaraja Temple, Udayagiri and Khandgiri Caves, Dhauli Hill, Nandankanan Zoological Park, Odisha State Museum, Ram Mandir, Astasambhu Siva Temples, Ananta Vasudeva Temple.

Cuttack

Cuttack used to be the capital of Odisha, however, it was later replaced. It is now identified as being the business capital of the state of Odisha. It has an ancient experience to provide to its visitors along with a wide range of tourist attractions with it. It would be an understatement to say that Odisha is home to picturesque destinations and pilgrim centers. It is most famous for handicraft and cuisines as well. It one of the top places to visit in Odisha.

Top tourist places in Cuttack: Kataka Chandi temple, Lalitgiri, Barabati fort, Bhitarkanika mangroves, Netaji birthplace museum.

Sambalpur

Sambalpur is the land rich in culture as well as natural beauty. It is also among the most important tourist places in Odisha. Visitors of Sambalpur describe the region as being the gateway to Western Odisha. The land is blessed with an abundance of rich natural habitat coupled with lush-forests and picturesque waterfalls.

Top tourist places to visit in Sambalpur: Samaleswari Temple, Cattle Island and Hirakud Dam, Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary.

Puri

Puri holds utmost religious importance in Odisha. The city has a lot to offer to those with a particular religious faith, which includes the popular Jagannath temple and the Sun temple as well. Nature lovers need not worry as Puri is lined with an array of beautiful beaches with a plethora of modern-day-like experiences to offer. The vibrant and colorful land is truly lit up, especially when there’s a particular festival taking place in the temple-rich destination.

Top tourist places to visit in Puri: Pipili, Gundicha Ghar temple, Jagannath temple, Chilika wildlife sanctuary, Puri temple, Sun temple, Atharnala Bridge.

Rourkela

Rourkela is the second largest city in the whole of Odisha. It is immediately recalled at the mention of steel plants as it is rich with those commodities. In fact, it is home to the largest steel plant in India. The place provides its visitors an insight into its rich cultural past through some of the most wonderful tourist destinations. There are many other reasons why Rourkela should be one of the top tourist places in Odisha. These reasons are mentioned below.

Top tourist places to visit in Rourkela: Vedavyas temple, Vaishno Devi temple, Badaghagra Falls, Khandadhar falls.

Konark

This is one of the most popular tourist places in Odisha. Konark is naturally beautiful, especially when it comes to providing plenty of peaceful vibes to your mind. The place is especially famous for its Sun Temple, which is the 13th-century religious structure, standing tall in the minds of thousands of tourists without fail. Konark has a few other ancient temples on its land. It is because of this that Konark is a fun-filled place for both history lovers and religious minds.

Tourist places to visit in Konark: Sun temple, Konark beach, Konark Museum, Ramachandi temple, Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary.

Barbil

Barbil might not be massive in size but has the potential to massively blow your mind away with vibrant experiences. Situated on the banks of Karo River, the place is filled with plenty of lush-green hills and spectacular views. Barbil owns the credit of possessing the world’s fifth largest iron and manganese deposits. Keonjhar district, in which Barbil is situated, has a 38000 million-year-old rock, which is one of the oldest in the world.

Top tourist places to visit in Barbil: Murga Mahadev Waterfalls, Gonasika, Sanaghagara Waterfalls, Badaghagara Waterfalls.

Jeypore

Do you enjoy the presence of undivided nature? Jeypore, in that case, is one of the perfect tourist places in Odisha for you to visit. This beautiful and picturesque land is located amidst lush-green hills. There is an abundance of scenic waterfalls as well as natural parks for you to enjoy. You will surely love Jeypore as it has a rich, ever-lasting history to back it up as well.

Tourist places to visit in Jeypore: Kolab Botanical Garden, Bagara, Gupteshwar Caves, Raja Mahal, Deomali.

Paradeep

Paradeep, also known as Paradip, can be found in the confluence of river Mahanadi and the Bay of Bengal. The beautiful land will stun all of its visitors with a series of amazing views. It is among the top tourist places to visit in Odisha as the views offered herein, are something that should not be missed.

Tourist places to visit in Paradeep: Paradip Port, Gahirmatha Beach, Gahirmatha Sanctuary, Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, Paradip Port, Light House.

Bargarh

Bargarh is situated on the Western border of the state of Odisha. It was earlier a part of Sambalpur itself, however, the region was only recently geographically separated. Even though the region is not that expansive, there is a lot of tourist value that Bargarh holds. One of its major highlights is the Gandhamardan temple, one of the destinations here is associated with the period of Ramayana and it finds mention in the notes of Hieun Tsang, the famous Chinese traveler. Scenic, ancient Bargarh makes your visit memorable. This also makes the list of top places to visit in Odisha.

Tourist places to visit in Bargarh: Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Gandhamardan, Nrusinghnath Temple, Nrusimhanath Waterfalls, Chaldhar Waterfalls, Papaharini, Papanga Hills.

These are some tourist places in Odisha

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