9 Best Places To Visit In Odisha, Best Cuisine & FAQ’s

Odisha lies in the Eastern region of the Bay of Bengal. It was formerly known as “Orrisa”. The state of Odisha is known for its abundance of temples and natural resources like minerals, forests, and lakes. This state is the 11th largest by population.

During the winter season, the atmosphere of this state gets very pleasant and it’s the ideal time to visit this region. People of this state speak in Odia, also spelled as “Oriya”. This state is known for its tribal nature and having many many Hindu temples that are intricately carved. 

Let us look closely at the beautiful and the best places To visit In Odisha worth visiting in this state that cannot be missed- 

1. Shree Jagannath Temple

This temple lies in the ancient city of Puri and is one of the four Dhams in India, which are the four most revered pilgrims in India. This temple receives over a million devotees per year. Jagannath temple as the name suggests is dedicated to Lord Jagannath, who is the lord of the universe, Lord Vishnu according to Hindu mythology. The Rat Yatra which takes place on the second day of the Asadha month of the Hindu calendar is something you cannot miss. There are no entry fees and the temple premises are open daily from 5:30 am to 9:00 pm. 

2. Puri Beach

Puri beach is also called the “Golden Beach”, due to the presence of golden sand. This beach is one of the safest beaches around the globe and hence attracts many tourists and also the devotees paying visits to Jagannath temple. The devotees take a dip in the water of this beach since it’s like paying respects and revering Lord Jagannath. This beach dons a “Blue Flag certification” in 2020, which highlights its safety, accessibility, and other factors. This beach is just as beautiful in the morning and evening, till night.

3. Sun Temple

This temple resides in the city of Konark. It is a prime tourist spot and a renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site. this temple is an engineering and architectural masterpiece and has been standing for over two thousand years now. This temple’s structure resembles a Rath (a chariot) of the Sun God and is being pulled by a set of seven horses. It has four horses on the left side and three on the right. It takes about 2-3 hours to cover this temple. The temple is open to devotees from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm.

4. Nandankanan Zoological Park

This zoo and botanical park extend over 437 hectares and lies in the city of Bhubaneswar. It opened to the public for a visit in 1979. The name ‘Nandankanan’ in the local language means ‘Garden of the Heavens’.

This zoo was the rare and prestigious White Tiger breeding, born from naturally colored parents. This zoological park remains closed on Mondays and is open for the rest six days of the week. The timings for April to October are 7:30 am – 5:30 pm and 8:00 am – 5:00 pm in the months of October to March.

5. Raghurajpur Artist Village

This is a heritage crafts village on the outskirts of Puri. it is widely known for its Pattachitra paintings, as well as other art forms like palm leaf engraving, wood and stone carvings, papier mache, and Gotipua folk dance. This place is full of artists and paintings. The traditional decoration of the throne of Lord Jagannath, Patas, is made here. Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) declared Raghurajpur a ‘heritage village’. This allowed the artist to explore more of their art and make a nice earning.

6. Lingaraja Temple

The Lingaraja temple is one of the oldest temples in Bhubaneswar city. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple was built in the 7th century by King Jajati Keshari. This Linga is said to be manifested naturally and hence is revered a lot. One of the major events held here is the Mahashivratri, where the entire temple is decorated with flowers, lanterns, and lights. During Mahashivratri, the temple has 200000 visitors. It takes around a couple of hours to visit this temple and the temple is open from 5:00 am to 9:00 pm.

7. Dhauli Giri Hills

This is best known as the site of Peace Pagoda. This is the site where Emperor Ashoka chose to follow the path of Buddhism. Dhauli Giri hills are also the site where the Kalinga war was fought, between Mauryan Kingdom and Kalinga Kingdom. located on the banks of the Daya river, this pagoda is a very important tourist attraction for its historical background. It is open for visitors from the hours of 6:00 am to 6:00 pm. The light and sound show is certainly something you must attend.

8. Museum of Tribal Arts & Artifacts

It is known as “Odisha State Tribal Museum”, and was established in 1953. This museum shows the lifestyle, tradition, and culture of over 60 different tribes in a beautiful way. It is regarded as the best tribal museum in India. Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes Research and Training Institute (SCSTRTI), a wing of the Government of Odisha does the maintenance of this museum on a daily basis. Visitors can visit this place from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

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9. Mangalajodi

Mangalajodi is located around 70km away from the capital city of Bhubaneswar city and is mainly a small tour of bird spotting. This small tour includes a pick-up in the morning and a drop-off in the evening. The village lies on the banks of Chilika Lake, and its vast wetlands offer a place for many migrating birds and give us scenic beauty. November to March harbors the most population of birds here, altho December and January have the maximum of different species of birds. 

Best Cuisine of Odisha

Now that we have seen the note-worthy sites of this beautiful state, likewise, this state has some amazing dishes native to it. Let us cover a few mouth-watering dishes- 

1. Khichdi

Khichdi is the more famous name of this dish. Although very common, this dish is important to the cuisine of Odhisha. This is because khichdi is served as a dish to bhog for Lord Jagannath in Puri temple. It is prepared with rice and lentils and lots of ghee which makes it taste very unique.

2. Macha Ghanta

This dish consists of curry and fried fish. Macha Ghanta is offered to Maa Durga on Dussehra. The Macha Ghanta can be prepared to the needs of vegetarians by skipping the fish and only having curries. This dish is served with steaming hot rice and salad. 

3. Dahi vada-Aloo dum

This chat dish will surely tempt everyone. Dahi vada and Aloo dum is made as two different dishes in other states, but Odisha intends on blending them into perfect street food. Even at 5:00 am in the morning, the thela walas are ready to sell this unique blend. 

4. Rasabali

This is offered to Lord Jagannath as one of the many “Chappanbhog” (56 items) dishes. This sweet dish is garnished with cardamoms and soaked in flavored milk. This dish is known to originate from the Kendrapara district in Odisha.

The state is filled with temples with intricate and beautiful architecture and unique yet thrilling wildlife. It is truly an incredible state and you must visit the state of Macha Ghanta and Rasabali. Visiting this state will bring a certain calm and will your heart with incredible beauty. True to its tourism tagline, “The Soul of Incredible India”, the state of Odisha does not disappoint you. 

Hope we were helpful to you with this article. We would love to hear from you in the comments.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) For Places To Visit In Odisha