Orissa

The best beach with numerous food stalls that offer the best seafood in Puri.  Puri beach is known for its roaring waves and fine golden sands. It offers opportunities to the daring souls to challenge the sea waves. It is one of the places to see in Puri since you can't miss the views of the sunrise and sunset.It is on the shore of the Bay of Bengal. To reach Puri beach, one can take the train, which is 2kms from the beach or travel by air from the nearby airport, which is 60kms away. It is the largest in the country and stretches up to seven kilometers. The beach hosts sand art displays by international award-winning local sand artists and camel and horse riders. There are no restrictions on visiting the beach except it's not visited at night.Location: Puri, Odisha 752001, India.Timing: 24-hrs.

The best time to visit the beach is from October to march. The beach boasts serenity and good experience in the city. Swargadwar means Door to Heaven and thus holds religious significance. It is believed in Hinduism that those who take a dip gain salvation to reach heaven after death.Hence, devotees visit the nearby Mahanadi bathing spot to take a dip in the holy waters. The beach is near the Swargadwar market and Jagannath Temple. Nearby is Swargadwar cremation ground, for it is believed to be holy. One of the places to visit in Puri in two days for a picnic and learn its religious significance and enjoy the beach’s breeze.Location: Puri, Odisha 752001.Timings: 12:00 AM - 12:00 PM.

It was built by the Hoysala Empire king and inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in dedication to Laxmi Narayana. The temple was built inside a seven-foot-tall stone wall enclosure with an entrance through a porch with a roof supported by circular lathe-turned pillars.Lakshmi means the goddess of wealth, love, prosperity, and fortune. It is one of the earliest temples built in the Hoysala style, and it was made with soapstone material.  Lakshmi temple is one of the places to visit in Puri in two days and explore all the architectural styles used in designing it. The best time to visit the temple is early in the morning when there is a minimal rush.Location: Near Jagannath Temple Behind Sri Jagannath Temple,on the left hand side, Puri 752001 India.

It is located in Khandagiri Digamber Jain temple and is one of the places to see in Puri. It is six kilometers west of the city and topped with a temple. It is believed to be over 2000 years and inhabited by Jain scholars. Khandagiri has other 15caves like; to the entrance curved as a tiger mouth is Bough Gumpha, to the tiny door is Sarpa Gumpha and Pavana Gumpha.The furthermost entry is Chota Hathi Gumpha with elephant carvings and Jaya Vijava cave with a Bodhi tree curved in the central area. To the right path goes Anatha cave curled with figures of athletes, women, and geese carrying flowers. There is no charged fee to visit the place. Khandagiri offers exceptional views over Bhubaneswar from its pinnacle. The best time to visit is from 9 am or 10 am and take about 4hours to see Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves.Location: Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751030.Timings: 9 AM to 6 PM.

The temple is located on Bada Danda, three kilometers from Jagannath temple. The temple is named after the queen of Indradyumna Gundicha. The temple serves as a temporary home of Lord Jagannath during Rath Yatra.The temple also houses a seat called Ratnavali. It remains vacant most of the year, and it is occupied by images of Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra and their sister Subhadra for seven days during the festival of Rath Yatra. The temple is built using light grey sandstone, and its architectural style is Kalinga.It has two gates; the western entrance, which is the main gate through which deities enter during Rath Yatra and the eastern gate, which is used by gods for departure after the festival. The temple remains empty for the rest of the year. It is when foreigners are allowed inside after paying an entry fee.Location: Gundicha temple, Puri, Odisha 752001.

The name of the two caves, comes mainly from their location on the hills with the respective names. Located across a road, the two caves literally stand facing each other. They are believed to have been carved out as residential accommodation for Jain monks during the reign of King Kharavela. Udaygiri, popular as the sunrise hill, has 18 caves, while Khandagiri has 15. These caves mingle between religious and historical relevance in their time, with many of them depicting deities and idols of different gods. These caves, which date back to the first century, provide visible evidence and insight into the Jain aesthetics. More precisely, these caves depict epic court scenes, royal processions and leisure of the era, through motifs and engravings, which are stark and unique in every sense, which is why it is one of the most popular Places to visit in Bhubaneshwar. Location: Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751030Price: Indians – Rs 20; Foreigners – Rs 200Timing: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PMBest Time to Visit: October to March

Located on the confluence of River Kushabhadra and the Bay of Bengal, Ramachandi Beach is one of the best tourist places in Bhubaneswar for nature lovers. It is named after Goddess Ramchandi, the main deity in Konark and also known as the consort of Sun God. Believed to be one of the most beautiful beaches in India, it offers some gorgeous sunsets and sunrise views for the tourists. The beach offers many tranquil moments for the tourists to soak in the sunshine and appreciate the glittering sands all around you. When you are here, you will forget all the worries hovering over your mind and enjoy the little moments of peace all by yourself.The splendid beach attracts many couples, college goers and regular tourists to admire its shining blue waters, white sand on the beach fringed by long palm trees. The pristine beach has the advantage of being away from the knowledge of many tourists and blessed with gentle waves of the ocean. Located 65 kms away from Bhubaneswar, this beach calls everyone to take a break and admire the ferocious beauty of nature. The major activities which you can enjoy here are water activities like motorboating, scuba diving, jet skiing, water skiing, etc.Location: Ramachandi Beach, Odisha Best time to visit: September and October

Perpetually, one of the most renowned temples in Bhubaneshwar, the Lingaraj temple happens to be one of the largest temples in the city. Built in the 7th century, the temple is religiously dedicated to Lord Shiva, and is the only one to display the phallic form of Lord Shiva, believed to have appeared naturally at this spot. The linga stands as high as 8 inches, unlike any other lingas that are known to exist in temples around India. The temple gives an insight into the Odissi style of architecture, built precariously with stone vaults that mount over the main structure. Following the rituals and cultures handed down over the years, the temple allows entry only to Hindus. During the festival of Mahashivratri, the entire temple precinct is adorned with flowers and lights to commemorate the occasion. While the temple receives a footfall of almost 6000 visitors on a daily basis, it can go up to 2 lakh during major events. Location: Lingaraj Nagar, Old Town, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751002Price: No entry feeTiming: 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM Best Time to Visit: October to March