|
Advertise Here
Orissa
Tourists Places of Orissa -
Konark, the city of the Sun Temple, is situated 65 kms South of Bhubaneswar and is
easily accessible by a good motorable road. Built in the 13th century,
by Raja Narasimhadeva, the Sun Temple was designed as' the Chariot of Surya,
the Sun God, and is the most exquisite specimen of Orissan craftsmanship.
It stood by the sea and was christened 'The Black Pagoda' by European
sailors. Today it lies about 2 km from the shore and only the large audience
hall survives. The sun rises over the ocean and casts its first rays on the sanctum
sanctorum. Drawn by seven magnificent, straining horses carved in stone,
the temple chariot has twenty four intricately carved giant wheels (3m
diameter) whose replicas are seen today in many a hotel lobby. A classical dance
and music festival is held here every December. The "chhun
chhun" of ankle bells with every step of the dancer and the lilting strains of the
flute rising from this ancient monument, make for a haunting memory.
Puri - The Konark-Puri marine drive is 32 kms along
the coast. It takes you to one of the four Hindu 'dhams' (sacred pilgrim
centres), Puri, where the glorious, 12th century Jagannath Temple
stands in the heart of the town. The Rath Yatra in each June-July
(Chariot Festival of the Gods) witnesses thousands of devotees vying with each
other to pull three wooden chariots carrying the idols of Lord Jagannath, his
younger sister Subhadhra and elder brother Baibhadra. Difficult to get moving,
the immense chariots (14m high, llm square, 16 wheels each over 2m in diameter)
are virtually impossible to stop once they get rolling, and gave rise to the
English term "Juggernaut". The temple tower is 65 m high, topped by the mystic
wheel, the 'chakra' of Krishna. The temple is the abode of Lord Jagannath -
literally, 'the Lord of the Universe'.
Once the frenzied throngs depart,
the quiet little town of Puri gets a seaside resort atmosphere, and the place
to be at is the beautiful beach, great for swimming. The Puri Beach
Festival is held every year in early November when Orissa craft, cuisine
and culture are on show besides various cultural and entertainment programmes.
Chandipur, Gopalpur-on-sea, Konark and Talasari are some of the
other lovely beaches in the Orissa.
Natural Sightseeing - Chilika Lake, the largest brackish
water lake in Asia, lies Southwest of
Puri, encircled by hills. It spreads over a vast 1100 sq kms. A narrow inlet
connects it to the Bay of Bengal.
Dotted with many islands of intriguing
name, it is a sanctuary for resident and migratory birds of a wide variety.
White bellied sea eagles, grey legged geese, purple moorhen, jacana, herons and
flamingos make it a bird watcher's delight. Motor launches take you cruising to
Satapada island where dolphins can be seen playing the year round
at the entrance to the sea. The brackish water encourages prawn, crab and
mackerel fishing and hundreds of small fishing boats set sail each morning,
their sails rippling in the gentle breeze blowing in from the Bay of
Bengal.
Nandankanan Zoo, or 'the Garden of the Gods', lies some
20 km north of Bhubaneswar in the middle of the Chandka forest, where a large
population of the rare white tiger and many other species of animals flourish
in their natural habitat. A reptile park, recreation park, botanical garden, 34
aquaria, nature trails, boating, ropeway, lazing in the shade of the trees, a
lion safari and a white tiger safari are all added attractions. But,
more professionally, the park is renowned for successfully breeding the rare
white tiger, the gharial crocodile and the black panther, in
captivity.
Once the hunting preserve of the Maharajas of Mayurbhanj,
Simlipal National Park (2750 sq km), situated in the northeastern part
of the State, is a very picturesque tiger reserve traversed by twelve rivers.
It is also home to leopards, elephants, gaur (Indian bison), mouse deer, flying
squirrels, mugger crocodiles and numerous species of reptiles. A package tour
would be the best way to see the Park including the breathtaking
Barehipani (399 m) and Joranda (150 m) waterfalls, the lush
Bachhuri Chara grasslands and the Meghasani Peak
(1158m).
Located in the second largest mangrove forest in the country
(largest is Sundarbans National
Park in West Bengal), Bhitarkanika National Park has protected
the estuarine crocodile for 30 years and supports a large variety of bird life
including storks, egrets, six species of kingfishers, white ibis and migratory
ducks from Siberia. The neighbouring Gahirmatha coastal region is where
the giant Olive Ridley Turtles come in their thousands each year all the way
from the Pacific to lay eggs on the beach.
Hot sulphur springs at Atri (about 40 km from the state Capital), Taptapani (50 km from
Berhampur), Deulajhari and Tarabalo, believed to have medicinal
properties, are tourists popular destinations.
Handicrafts - The most famous arts and crafts of Orissa are
handloom weaving (including 'Tussar, a fine light silk, Ikat, Bomkai and
Sambalpuri saris), tarkashi (delicate silver filigree work),
patachitra, applique work, stone carvings, brass and bell metal work and
horn work. A visit to Raghurajpur crafts village near Puri, where
'patachitra' and stone carvings have been made for generations in every home,
is a rewarding experience.
|
