Orissa

1. Diamond Triangle ~ Buddhist Heritage Sites of Orissa:

The Diamond Triangle, consisting of the three Buddhist sites of Ratnagiri, Udaygiri & Lalitgiri. Belonging to the Vajyarajyan sect of Buddhism, which is popularly known as the Diamond Vehicle, and hence the name Diamond Triangle. Located about 100 km North – East of Bhubaneswar the Diamond Triangle, is the most important Buddhist site in Orissa, but sadly it is least promoted. Read more…

2. Bhubaneswar ~ Buddhist & Jain Heritage:

It was in the vicinity of Bhubaneswar the great Kalinga War was fought in 261 BC, which resulted in Emperor Ashoka embracing Buddhism. No wonder Bhubaneswar has its share of Buddhist historical sites. After the Kalinga war Hinduism and Buddhism along with Jainism flourished in the region, turning Bhubaneswar into an interesting religious hub. Dhauligiri along with the twin hills of Udaygiri & Khandagiri consists of Bhubaneswar’s Buddhist & Jain heritage. Read more…

3. Rajarani Temple ~ Oriya gem not quiet Oriya:

Raja – Rani is considered as one of the finest temples of not only of Bhubaneswar but also of entire Orissa. Strangely the temple architecture of Orissa differs significantly from the traditional Oriya Temple Architecture. In fact Raja – Rani has remarkable resemblance with the temples of Khajuraho Temples.  Wiyh its unique architectural style and intricate curvings Raja – Rani is a must vist for tourist visiting Bhubaneswar. Read more…

4. Bhubaneswar ~ A Temple Town:

According to legend the city once housed a thousand temples, sadly many of these have crumbled to dust and many more have been reconstructed into modern structures, but the few have survived the test time and still stands to this day are worth a visit and can offer an interesting mix of pilgrimage and history. This article is a compilation of the temples of Bhubaneswar but it is not exhaustive, it would be updated from time to time. Read more…

5. Kuruma, Buddhist site near Konark:

Kuruma, a Buddhist site near the famous Konark Sun Temple. A unknown Buddhist heritage site that can be explored during a day trip from Puri to Konark. Kuruma lies in the Puri District and is probably the only Buddhist Monastery, in Odisha,  which is near the coast. According to historical records Kuruma reached its peak during the 7th and 8th century. It was during this time the famous Chinese traveler Hiuen T’sang, also known as Xuanzang (who traveled in India in 634 – 45 AD), visited Kuruma. The site also exhibits a few statues found in the region, including a crowned statue of Lord Buddha.  Read more…

6. Sisuplgarph:

Sisupalgarh is a excavated fortified citadel on the south eastern edge of Bhubaneswar. Several archaeological excavations have confirmed that the fortified settlement was continuously inhabited  from the 5th century BCE to the 4th century CE. Whats sets Sisupalgarh apart from the other ancient cities of India, or perhaps in the world, is its town planning. Intelligent traffic management, pedestrian-friendly pathways, grand gateways with guard houses, wide roads and a vast open space were some of the key features of the ancient citadel. It can be considered as the country’s first “Smart City” and it existed almost 2500 years ago! Read more…

7. Raghurajpur:

Every house in the village is a studio, which doubles up as a museum, and every villager is an artist, this is the Ragurajpur, the heritage village, located just 15km away from the popular tourist destination of Puri, in Odisha. Situated amid coconut groves the village of Raghurajpur has two streets lined with about 100 + identical houses, whose outer walls are covered with the most intricate frescoes and murals. Although known for its patachitra, scroll painting, the artists of Raghurajpur have diverted into other art forms like the palm leaf engraving, bamboo mat painting, stone and wood curving and paper mache toys and mask. Read more…

8. Puri, Beyond Temples and Beaches (A FAM Tour of Sterling Holidays):

The Sterling Resort Puri is located 5 km from Swargadwar the heart of Puri’s tourist attraction. It is located next to the sea mouth of River Dhaudia, which in turn is the distributary of River Bhargabi. The place is popularly known as Mohana (literally meaning sea mouth). The first day consisted of a visit to the Raghurajpur Heritage Village famous for its scroll painting. The second day consisted of a visit to Satapada and then a boat ride to the sea mouth of Chilika Lake. Read more…

9. Sterling Resort, holiday differently in Bengali’s favourite tourist spot:

The Sterling Resort Puri is located 5 km from Swargadwar the heart of Puri’s tourist attraction. It is located next to the sea mouth of River Dhaudia, which in turn is the distributary of River Bhargabi. The place is popularly known as Mohana (literally meaning sea mouth). Sterling Holiday Resort is a leading holiday company in India. Established in 1986 today it houses 33 resorts spread over 30 locations across the country. Its 3000 + employs host over 15 lakh guest every year. Read more…

10. Satapada, Dolphins and Chilika Sea Mouth (Mohana):

Geographers define a “lagoon” as a special type of lake separated from the sea by a narrow natural embankment with small openings connecting it with the sea. On the other hand biologists claim that these small openings allow salt and sweet water to intermingle and thereby form a unique, but fragile, ecosystem found nowhere else in the world. For a layman like myself, it is a place where one can cruise through the endless expanse of blue water, laced with green hills in the company of egrets, herons, flamingoes, kingfisher, kites and the last but not least the elusive jumping dolphins – it’s paradise! Satapada, on the banks of Chilika offers this paradise. Read more…

11. Gotipua, majestic folk dance from Odisha:

For centuries Gotipua dance have been performed in Odisha by young boys who are dressed up as girls to praise Lors Jagannath and Lord Krishna. It is a traditional dance form of Odisha and is considered as a precursor of classical dance of Odissi. In Odiya language Gotipua means single boy (Goti = single and pua = boy), but the dance is performed by a group of boys. The acrobatic dance form is not an easy one to master, as it requires rigorous training and regular practice. Read more…