Bhubaneshwar Excursion : Places nearby Bhubaneshwar - Orissa

Places to visit nearby destination - Bhubaneshwar

Chilika Lake

The largest brackish water lake in Asia, the Chilika Lake is situated at a distance of 121 km from Bhubaneswar. The lake supports a great variety of aquatic birds which arrive from as far as the Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, Aral Sea, remote parts of Russia, Kirghiz steppes of Mongolia, Central and South East Asia, Ladakh and the Himalayas, to feed and breed in its fertile waters. The shimmering blue waters of the lake attract large number of tourists to this place year after year. The shoreline presents some exciting trekking routes and beach camping facilities. For those in search of leisure or adventure, Chilika makes for an ideal getaway from Bhubaneswar.

Gopalpur-on-Sea

Gopalpur-on-Sea is a beautiful and small beach resort located along the Bay of Bengal at a distance of around 180 km from Bhubaneswar. Originally a small fishing village on the coast of Orissa, it was so named when a temple dedicated to Lord Krishna was constructed some time in the 18th century. Apart from its temple, Gopalpur is distinguished for its magnificent beach where boating, yachting, and a seaside run invite visitors to share the expanse and have fun.

Konark

The Sun Temple at Konark, 65 km away from Bhubaneswar, is a magnificent 13th-century temple. On the shore, Surya, the Sun God, speeding across the sky in a gorgeous chariot has been captured in stone. With its 12 pairs of giant, marvellously sculpted wheels and seven richly caparisoned horses straining their necks to pull the massive weight, the Sun is often described as /”an allegory in stone/”—the highest point of achievement in the Kalinga school of architecture.

Lalitgiri and Ratnagiri

Situated 90 km to the northeast of Bhubaneswar are the isolated hills of the Assia range—Lalitgiri and Ratnagiri. These hills possess the ruins of the most unique Buddhist monastic complex in the world. Recent excavations at Lalitgiri have yielded some evidence of an ancient Buddhist complex. On the basis of iconographical similarities, the chronology of this site now dates back to the Sunga period, i.e., the second century BC. Among the many noteworthy discoveries at this site is an ancient stupa containing relics preserved in caskets of stone. Its antiquity and its silver and gold contents have led to speculations that these are relics of Lord Buddha. Further findings of black polished inscribed pieces of pottery of Ashokan Brahmi script and a number of inscriptional evidence such as Kushan inscriptions, ornamental Brahmi, etc., have corroborated in establishing Lalitagiri as a flourishing Buddhist centre of the second century BC. The excavations at Ratnagiri, on the other hand, have revealed the remains of an imposing stupa, two quadrangular monasteries, a single-winged monastery, eight temples, a large number of small stupas, sculptures, and architectural pieces indicative of an establishment that can be compared with the major Buddhist sites in the world. The site also yielded a rich crop of antiquities. Particularly noteworthy are the bronze and stone images of the Buddha and a host of idols of the Buddhist pantheon. A large head of the Buddha found on top the hill indicates the colossal nature of the original images.

Puri

Situated on the eastern coastline of the country, Puri is an important town of Orissa, around 60 km from Bhubaneswar. The wonderfully wide beaches, the fishing farms and the superb resorts make it an inviting place for tourists from all over the world. For the Indians, especially the Hindus, Puri has been a popular destination because of the famous temple of Lord Jagannath. The town becomes a hub of activity during the annual Rath Yatra festival when thousands of pilgrims from all over the country flock to participate in this stately event.

Udaygiri and Khandagiri Caves

The twin hills of Udaygiri and Khandagiri, 7 km away from Bhubaneswar, are important sites in the archaeological history of India. There are 18 caves in Udaygiri, of which Hathigumpha (elephant cave) is the most important. Khandagiri, on the other hand, houses 15 caves and gives a hilltop view of the city of Bhubaneswar. Most of the caves inside have a definite Jain influence. They are decorated with statues, panels, and friezes displaying amorous and war legends. The most attractive are the Rani Nur Gumpha (2nd century BC) and Ganesh Gumpha that carry the inscription of Kalinga king, Kharavela, of the Chedi dynasty. Portraits of Kalinga royalty are depicted in the Rani Nur and Manchapuri caves. The other caves illustrate Jain legends, mythology and iconography. The style of sculpture demonstrates a technique quite advanced to its age and is suggestive of the stage of development seen in Sanchi. There is a plethora of frozen scenes in stone such as the hunt of a winged deer and the abduction of a woman.