Orissa
Orissa has a chequered history which has successfully
assimilated and synthesised the best of Buddhist,
Jain and Hindu cultures. Orissa or Kalinga as
it was then called was a settlement of non-Aryan
and Aryan settlers. It was a formidable maritime
empire with trading routes stretching up to
Bali, Sumatra, Indonesia and Java. The key to
international trade and immense wealth, it was
coveted by many rulers. In fact, it was here
that the famous Battle of Kalinga was fought
in 261 BC, which made the great Mauryan Kshatriya
(warrior caste) king Ashoka forsake war. He
became a follower of Buddhism and spread the
spirit of ahimsa and peace, the message of Buddhism,
to Ceylon (modern day Sri Lanka) and the Far
East, Exquisite remains of the Buddhist past
still remain in the areas of Udaygiri, Lalitagiri
and Ratnagiri.
Kharavela, who came to power in Kalinga,
around 1st Century BC, was a staunch follower
of Jainism. It is to this period that Orissa
owes its Jain art and architectural tradition.
The sophisticated architectural style of
the Jain Monastic caves at Udaygiri and Khandagiri
are a story unto themselves. During the 7th
to the 13th Century AD, Orissa flourished.
Trade and commerce increased and along with
it evolved its art and architecture. The style
of Hindu temple construction, so unique to
Orissa also developed around this time.
To understand all that a Hindu temple stands
for one must realize that temples in India
are not merely abodes of deities but a shradhanjali
(offering) to the most sacred. Here a ’darshan’
is a communion between man and his creator.
Hence, Orissan temples are characterised by
profuse decorations, exquisite carving and
ornamentation covering the entire visible
area with Gods & Goddesses, kings and
queens, animals and flower motifs ranged against
each other. They radiate the artist’s
inner love and dedication. Orissa is probably
the only state where one can study temple
architecture in all its successive stages
of development.
Enchanting Odissi
Odissi, is the traditional dance form of
Orissa and probably owes its origin to the
temple dances of the devadasis (temple dancers).
Possibly the oldest classical dance form,
one must sit through a performance to experience
its sheer lyrical grace. Mentioned in inscriptions,
it is depicted on sculptures, in temples like
the Brahmeswara and the dancing hall of the
Sun temple at Konark. In fact in the 1950’s
the entire Odissi dance form was revitalized
with the help of the Abhinaya Chandrika and
sculpted dance poses found in temples. Orissa
enjoys a rich tradition of tribal and folk
dances as well. Chhau from Mayurbhanj District
is a martial dance form reminiscent of Orissa’s
earlier maritime tradition. Other folk and
tribal dances include Danda Nata, a daylong
performance ending in acrobatic sequences,
Ranapa or dances in which dancers perform
balancing acts on bamboo stilts.
Rare Artistry
Land of dextrous artists and craftsmen, Orissa
possesses a rich artistic tradition which
enjoyed liberal patronage from the temples
as well as the nobility. Diverse and varied,
the craftsmen artists of Orissa still retain
their indigenousness, trying to refine it
to suit a changing sensibility. Be it the
applique artists of Pipli or the stone carvers
of Orissa, proud descendants of sculptors
whose hands chiseled the unsurpassable designs
on Orissa’s famous temples, the essential
conflict between the traditional and the modern
is gradually being resolved. The progressive
attitudes of the Orissan artists coupled with
hereditary skills zealously perpetuated, has
given traditional Orissan arts and crafts
like weaving of Ikat, Bomkai and Sambalpuri
Saris, stone carving, applique and embroidery,
silver filigree work, patta painting and palm
leaf engraving, brass and bell metal work,
lacquered boxes and toys and basket weaving,
a unique place in the connoisseur’s
dictionary the world over. A visit to the
Raghurajpur artists village and Pipli, near
Puri, to see the artists at work is quite
a rewarding experience.
Gourmet Delights
The green coconut with its pure water and
the abundant sea food from Chilika lake and
the sea are as Orissan as pizzas are Italian.
Delicious prawns, crabs, sweet water fish,
lamb, chicken and eggs cooked by Orissan cooks
are widely available gourmet fares, while
specialty restaurants serve almost everything.
Milk preparations like Rasgulla, Rasmalai,
Khirmohan, Rasabali, Kalakand are delicious.
Pithas, sweet and savoury are served as local
snacks. This is a traditional preparation
requiring skill and care. Pithas like Mandas,
Kakara, Chhunchipatra are usually domestic
preparations much loved by the Orissans.
The Ethnic World of Orissa
Orissa is a modern state with an ethnic past
that is still vibrant. Most of her tribes
are to be found in the districts of Mayurbhanj,
Keonjhar Phulbani, Sambalpur, Kalahandi and
Koraput. As many as 62 tribes exist in Orissa
- Kondhs, Koyas, Bondas, Gadabas, Santals,
Juangs, Oraon, to name only a few are some
important tribes who have retained their individuality
and their close bond with nature. From the
last week of January to early February, the
Tribal Fair at Bhubaneshwar brings together
the ethnic world; their art, craft and culture
is on display. For those desirous of a closer
look trips are arranged by many tour operators
from Bhubaneshwar and other cities but it
is a hardier trail and more time consuming.
The Tribal Museum (T.H.R.T.I.) at Bhubaneshwar
(CRP Square) however is quite comprehensive
and provides adequate information on the art,
craft, housing and life-styles of the various
tribal groups.
Bhubaneshwar - Temple City of The East
Visit the ancient city of Bhubaneshwar (Bhuban
being world and Iswar God) and it is a walk
down centuries of temple architecture, With
600 temples still extant, temples are to this
ancient city as forts are to Rajasthan. It
is probably the only city in the world that
enables an authentic over-view of the stages
of development of Hindu religious architecture.
In the fast moving world of today these temples
are a gentle reminder of the splendour, the
heritage that was once India, It is not hard
to imagine what a temple would have been at
the time of its patron ruler. Regular dances
by the ’Devadasis’ or divine servant
girls, rituals and rites, recital of hymns
were all an integral part of temple culture.
Temples in Bhubaneshwar are built on a common
plan as prescribed by Hindu norms. The structure
is divided into four distinct parts connected
to each other. The external part or the outer
chamber is the ’Jagamohana’. The
Garbhagriha is the inner sanctum sanctorum
of the presiding deity. There is also a conical
beehive shaped tower which forms the third
part – the Nata Mandap and the fourth
is the Bhoga Mandap. All visible parts of
a temple are sculpted with motifs of priests,
kings, courtiers, pilgrims, celestial dancers,
couples in embrace, birds, animals or scenes
from religious epics and legends.
Area: 65.03 sq km.
Altitude: 45 metres (146 ft.)
Temperature (deg C):
Summer - Max.38, Min.27.1
Winter - Max.28.2, Min.15.2
Rainfall : Mid June-September 60 inches (152
cms)
Languages Spoken : Oriya, Bengali, Hindi,
English etc.
Best season : October to March
How to get there
Air: Indian Airlines and Vayudoot connect
Bhubaneswar with Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi,
Hyderabad, Nagpur, Varanasi, Raipur and Visakhapatnam.
Rail: Bhubaneshwar is directly connected
by rail with Calcutta, Puri, Madras, Delhi,
Bombay, Bangalore, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Tirupati,
Trivandrum.
Road: Bhubaneshwar is situated on the national
highway no.5 that runs between Calcutta and
Madras. It is 480 kms from Culcutta, 130 kms
from Chilika Lake (Barkul), 32 kms from Cuttack,
184 kms from Gopalpur-on-sea, 64 kms from
Konark, 1225 kms from Madras, 62 kms from
Puri.
Bus: Orissa State Transport operates regular
buses between Bhubaneshwar and Berhampur,
Chilika, Cuttack, Konark, Paradip, Puri, Rourkela,
Sambalpur and other places. Inter-state bus
services operate daily in between Calcutta
and Puri via Bhubaneshwar and Bhubaneswar-Tata
Nagar.
Local Transport: Unmetered taxis, cycle rickshaws
and autos are available. Tourist taxis and
deluxe buses are available on rent from Transport
Manager, Orissa Tourism Development Corporation,
Panthniwas, Lewis Road, Bhubaneshwar, Tel
: 55512.
Excursions
Dhauligiri (8 km) has Ashokan edicts carved
on rocks. These date back to 2nd century BC.
Also has Buddhist temple built with Japanese
collaboration. Udaygiri, Khandagiri (8 km)
have a series of cave temples belonging to
the Hindu and Jain faiths. Local guides required
for the labyrinthine caves. Nandan Kanan Zoo
(25 km) for viewing the Royal Bengal Tiger
and white tigers. Chandipur (16 km) is a seaside
resort with one of the finest beaches in Orissa.
Pipli (29 km) is a village famous for its
appliqué work, originally only made
for the temple Gods. Atri Springs (42 km)
has sulphur springs and the famous Hatakeshwara
Temple. Sun Temple, Konark (65 km) is a magnificent
13th century temple visualized as the chariot
of the Sun God, as he glides through the firmament
from dawn to dusk. The ruins have sculptures
detailing every aspect of human life. The
city also has a beautiful beach.
Udaygiri Khandagiri
7 kms from Bhubaneshwar are the twin hills
of Udaygiri and Khandagiri. Built by Kharavela
around 1st - 2nd Century BC for Jain monks,
they are excellent examples of Jain Cave art.
The famous caves of Hathigumpha (elephant
cave) in Udaygiri, RaniGumpha (Queen’s
cave) also in Udaygiri, with upper and lower
stories, spacious courtyards and extremely
delicately designed friezes bear witness to
the sophistication the architectural styles
had attained as early as the first Century
BC.
Dhauli
Driving down the Puri-Konark Highway from
Bhubaneshwar one comes across Dhauli hill
on the banks of the River Daya. Surrounded
by the soothing greenery of paddy fields,
lies the 3rd Century BC Ashokan Rock Edict,
a memory of the gruesome war that transformed
Ashoka, the great Warrior into a Buddhist
missionary. The Peace Pagoda built in collaboration
with the Kalinga – Japanese Buddhist
Sangha, on the opposite hill, is completely
modern and is an excellent foil.
Puri
The seat of Lord Jagannath, Site of Renowned
Rathyatra Festival and one of the most popular
sea side resorts on the Bay of Bengal, Puri
is an ideal travel destination all the year
round.
How to get there
Air: The Nearest Airport is Bhubaneswar (65
kms).
Rail: Puri is connected to Berhampore (Orissa),
Bhubaneswar, Calcutta, Cochin, Delhi, Guwahati,
Hyderabad, Madras, Tirupati, Trivandrum, Varanasi
etc.
Road: By road Puri to Bhubaneshwar-62 kms,
Calcutta-541 kms, Chilika-167 kms, Konark-31
km, Madras-1285 km, Sambalpur-362 km, Vishakhapatnam-486
kms.
Bus: Government State Transport and Orissa
Road Corporation buses connect Puri with Bhubaneshwar,
Calcutta, Chilika, Konarak, Madras, Sambalpur,
Visakhapatnam etc.
What to see
Shri Jagannath Temple, Daria Hanuman and Sonar
Gouranga Temple, Gundicha Char, Indradyumma
Tank, Narendra/Chandan Tank, Loknath Temple,
Swarga Dwar, Sea Beach at Puri.
Excursions
Sakshigopal - 19 kms, Konark - 31 kms, Bhubaneshwar
- 63 kms.
Konarak
Renowned for its magnificent sun temple, which
was constructed by Narasinha Deva of Ganga
dynasty of Orissa in mid 13th century, Konark
is also a lovely beach resort. It is easily
approachable from BhubanesHwar-64 kms &
Puri-32 kms by coaches and tourist cars. Regular
bus services including conducted sigthtseeing
tours are available for Konark from BhubanesHwar
and Puri.
In Konark, the "Natya Mandir",
the dance hall of the Sun Temple probably
remains as the last remnant of the glorious
temples of Orissa an extant example of the
architectural excellence of the times. Built
in the 13th Century, here a collossal image
of the chariot of the Sun, drawn by seven
horses and 24 wheels symbolises the divisions
of time. The main tower of Konark stood as
high as 227 feet, superceding both Lingaraja
and Jagannath Temples. The Jagmohana (Porch)
structure and the tower are both situated
atop the stone platform supporting the 24
wheels. The Konark Sun Temple also houses
a Natamandira or dancing hall. Only two subsidiary
temples out of the 22, that were also situated
inside the temple precincts, exist today.
The VaishnadeviMayadevi Temple stand to the
West of the towers. The Sun temple of Narasimhadeva
is a depiction in stone of the life of those
times – royal, social, religious and
military. The intricate carvings on the walls
and wheels of the chariot are unprecedented
in history. The fine sculptures depicting
Court life, hunting, scenes, celestial deities
are epitomes of precision and grace. Graceful
sculptures from the world of the Kamasutra,
epic of eroticism also adorn the structures.
The Sun Temple standing in solitary splendour
is the relic of a great past. The history
lovers can regale themselves at the Archaeological
Museum at the site of the Konark Sun Temple.
The majestic Sun Temple silhouetted against
the setting sun remains indelibly etched in
the spectator’s memory.
Area: 2.5 sq.km.
Altitude: Sea level
Temperature (°C): Summer- Max. 43, Min.
32.2; Winter- 26.7, Min. 10.6.
Rainfall: 152.4 cms (July to September).
Clothings: Summer- Light tropical & cottons,
Winter- light woollens.
Languages spoken: Oriya, Bengali, Hindi,
English.
Best season: Throughout the year, but preferaby
October to March.
STD Code: 067581
How to reach
Air: Nearest airport Bhubaneshwar (64 kms)
is connected with Calcutta, Delhi, Hyderabad,
Madras and Nagpur by Indian Airlines flights.
Rail: Nearest railheads Puri (31 kms) and
Bhubaneshwar (64 kms) are connected by rail
with all the major places in India.
Road: Konark is well-connected by regular
bus-services with Puri, Bhubaneshwar as well
as all the major places in Orissa.
Chilka Lake
Chilika Lake, spreading over an area of 1100
sq. kms is the largest brackish water lake
in the country and attracts large number of
migratory birds besides resident ones. Barkul
and Rambha are two places on the lake which
serve as the base. Though the lake can be
visited throughout the year, October to March
is the best season.
Flora: The lake hourbours the "aquatic
vegetation" of its own and is typically
represents by Algal forms (e.g. Chaetomorpha
and Enteromorpha widely distributed algae
followed by Lyngbya, Ulva, Cladophora and
others like Gloeocapsa, Nostoc, Sprigyra,
Oedogonium, Chara, Nitella, Gracilaria etc.),
a number of Diatoms/Phytoplanktons and a few
species of brackish water submerged phanerogams
like Potamogeton pectinatus, Halophila ovalis,
Ruppia maritima, Naja faveolata, Hydrilla
verticellata and Ceratophyllum demersum etc.
Some floating plants like Eichhornia crassipes,
Pistia stratiotes and Azolla pinnata etc.
enter the like with flood water but disappear
after a few months. The communities of Schoenoplectus
littoralis in association with Eleocharis
dulce, Phragmites karka, Myrostachya wightii
& many other grasses and sedges also exist
in shallow muddy areas. Species like Salicornia
brachiata, Suaeda maritima, Sesuvium portulacastrum,
Phyla nodiflora, Heliotropium curassavicum
& some others occur in marshes and salt
fields along the edges and other shallow areas.
The present scanty littoral and scrub jungles
on lake margin, islands and rocky faces are
represented by the species like Salvadora
presica, Pongamia pinnata, Colubrina asiatica,
Cassipourea ceylonica, Aegiceras corniculatum,
Azima tetracantha, Pisonia aculeata, Clerodendron
inerme, Carmona retusa, Carissa spinarumm,
Crateva spinarumm, Meytinus emarginatus, Opuntia
dillenii, Ficus sps., Crateva adansonii spp.,
Lepisanthes tetraphylla, Streblus asper etc.
and a number of climbers/twinners and herbaceous
ground flora. The dunes & sandy areas
of the beaches near lake have the floral composition
of their own, favoured in the conditions they
offer. The land lying between Sea and Lagoon
exhibits rich growth of casuarina equisetifolia,
planted by Forest Dept.
Fauna: There is a wide varity of animal life
forms representing various groups of Animal
Kingdom (ranging from Protozoa, Porifera,
Polyzoa, Brachiopoda, Coelenterata, Ctenophora,
Isopoda, Echiura, Sipuncula, Chaetognatha,
Platyhelminthes, Annelida, Crustacea, Arachinida,
Insecta, Mollusca to Fishes, Amphibians, Reptiles,
Birds and Mamals). The more details of some
of these fauna arefurnished here.
Around 158 species of fishes and prawns have
so far been recorded.Crabs like Scylla serrata
& Neptunus pelagicus are the predominent
types available here.
Oyster (e.g. Ostrea talpur, Arca, Meretix
etc.) occurs in small patches. Nearabout countless
types of Amphibians Reptiles viz. Snakes,
Lizards, Turtles & Crocodiles. Discovery
of Limbless skink (Barakudia insularis), a
rare reptile which was reported first time
from loose soil of Barakudia island by Annandale
(1917), attaches much significance to this
place. The Dolphins have been reported mostly
near Satapada-Magarmukha area and occasionally
between Kalijai and Balugaon. Other mammals
reported from small pockets in the surrounding
hlls/forests/scattered islands & amidst
the vegetation of sandy ridge facing Chilika
and Sea include Black bucks (Antilope cervicara),
Spotted deer, Fox, Jackal, Hyaena, Jungle
Cat, Hare, Rat, Pachyura (an insectivora),
Common bat, Otter, Common mongoose, Monkey,
Squirrel, Porcupine etc.
Area: 1100 sq. kms. ( Wildlife Sanctuary
area- 15.53 sq. kms.)
Temperature (deg C):
Summer- Max. 37, Min. 30
Winter- Max. 24, Min. 17
Rainfall: 1160 mms. (Mainly July to September).
Clothings: Tropical.
Languages Spoken: Oriya, Bengali, Hindi,
English.
Best Season: Throughout the year
How to get there
Air: Nearest airport Bhubaneshwar is 105
kms from Barkul & 135 kms from Rambha.
Rail: The nearest railheads are at Balugaon
(7 kms from Barkul) and Rambha on South-Eastern
Railways which are directly connected to Calcutta,
Puri, Madras, Hyderabad and Bombay via Secunderabad
etc.
Road: Both Barkul & Rambha are situated
on the National Highway No.5. Regular buses
ply between Bhubaneshwar and Berhampur with
stops enroute at Balugaon (for Barkul) and
Rambha. Barkul to Bhubaneshwar (105 kms),
Puri (167 kms), Cuttack (133 kms), Berhampur
(78 kms), Gopalpur-on-Sea (75 kms) and Rambha
(30 kms) etc.
Local Transport: Auto and Cycle rickshaws
available at Balugaon, Rambha, Barkul.
Places of interest
The lake with several of its islands, main
among them being, kalijai, Nalabana, Honeymoon,
Breakfast islands etc. Satpada towards the
South Eastern stretch of the lake is closer
to puri and is fast developing as a tourist
spot on the shore of Chilika.
CRUISE ON THE LAKE: To visit various islands,
particularly, Kalijai & Nalabana as well
as to cruise on the Chilika Lake, motorised
Yatch and speed boat services are available
at fixed rates from the Manager, O.T.D.C.,
Panthniwas, Barkul.
Excursions
Narayani (22 kms from Rambha)
Gopalpur-on-Sea (45 kms from Rambha and 75
kms from Barkul)
Taptapani Sulphur Spring (100 kms from Rambha
and 130 kms from Barkul)
Gopalpur-on-Sea
Gopalpur-on-Sea is a quiet and charming sea
resort along the Bay of Bengal, in the district
of Ganjam, Orissa. It offers secluded environment
and magnificent sun, surf and sand for most
of the year.
Altitude: Sea level.
Temperature (deg C):
Summer- Max. 35, Min. 23
Winter- Max. 27, Min. 16
Rainfall: 118.7 cms (46.7 inches)
Languages Spoken: Oriya, Hindi, English
Best Season: Throught the year, but preferably
October to April
How to get there
Air: Bhubaneshwar is the nearest airport
(180 kms).
Rail: Berhampur (16 km) on Howrah-Madras
line of South-Eastern Railway is the nearest
railhead.
Road: Gopalpur is connected by motorable
road to Barkul-75 kms, Berhampur-16 kms, Bhubaneshwar-180
kms, Puri Via Bhubaneshwar-242 kms. Frequent
bus services connect Berhampur with Gopalpur.
Local Transport: Auto-rickshaws and cycle-rickshaws
are available.
Places of interest
Gopalpur is situated right on the Bay of Bengal
with a beautiful sea-beach.
Excursions
Chilika Lake (Rambha-45 km and Barkul-75 km)
Nirmaljhar (56 km)
Taptapani sulphur-spring (67 km)
Simplipal
Nestled in the centre of Mayurbhanj, the northernmost
district of Orissa is the similipal National
Park one of India's better known wild life
sanctuaries, covering a large forested area
of 2750 sq.kms. The variation in topography,
climate and vegetation has supported large
varieties of animals, birds and reptiles.
Similipal is one of the earliest and finest
of India's fifteen Tiger reserves under Project
Tiger.
Area: 2750 sq.km
Altitude: 559.31 metres above sea level.
Temperature (°C):
Summer- Max.40, Min.20
Winter- Max.20, Min.4.4
Rainfall: 1648 mm ( Mid. June to Mid. September
).
Best Season: 1st November to 15th June. December
to February is extremely cold. (The reserve
remains open from 15th Oct. to 15th June).
STD Code: 06792
Entry Permit:
Issued from: Office of Assistant Conservator
of Forest, National Park, Jashipur.
Range Officer, Pithabata at Pithabata Check
Gate.
Time: For Day Tourists- 0600 to 1200 hours.
For Reservation Holders- 0600 to 1400 hours.
NOTE: TOURISTS ARE ADVISED TO TAKE ANTI-MALARIAL
DRUG BEFORE ENTRY INTO THE PARK
How to get there
Air: Nearest airports are Calcutta 250 kms
and Bhubaneshwar 300 kms.
Rail: Balasore, on the South Eastern Railwaly,
76 kms from Lulung. Jamshedpur, on the South
Eastern Railway, 115 kms from Jashipur.
Road: Lulung, on the eastern periphery of
the park can be approached through Baripada
(20 kms) is on National Highway No.5. Visitors
taking National Highway No.6 can enter the
park through Jashipur where enough transport
facilities are available. Some Road distances
from Lulung are:- Baripada 20 kms, Jashipur-
114 kms, Bhubaneshwar- 320 kms, Calcutta-
250 kms etc.
Local Transport: Jeeps and private cars are
allowed.
What to see
Fauna found at the Park include the tiger,
leopard, elephants, bison, sambar, porcupine,
pangolin, flying-squirrel, hill myna, hornbill,
python etc.
Excursions
Kiching (50 kms from Joshipur).
Chandipur
Chandipur (16 kms) away from Balasore Railway
Station on Howrah-Madras line of South Eastern
( S.E.) Railways annique beach where the sea
water recedes about 5 kms during low-tide
and advances to the shore line again during
high-tides each day. An ideal beach resort
of Orissa.
How to get there
Air: The nearest Airport is Bhubaneshwar
which is 230 kms from Chandipur.
Rail: The nearest railhead Balasore (16 kms)
is on the South Eastern Railway.
Road: Chandipur is connected by road to Balasore
16 kms, Bhubaneshwar 230 kms, Cuttack 230
kms, Calcutta 240 kms etc.
