Attractions of Orissa

When to Visit Bhubaneswar / ORISSA
Bhubaneswar and other part of the Orissa can be visited round the year, but the ideal time would be from October to March when the rains are over and the temperature is just right. Remember, summer is extremely humid and hence an enervating time for travelers not used to the heat and humidity

Around / About Bhubaneswar
The city is too spread out to go about on foot. Most convenient and comfortable thing to do is rent a car, because there is no regular bus services or metered taxi in the city . Rented Cars are all chauffeurs driven and usually rented by the day, kilometers and hours. Sightseeing too is far easier this way, but what you need is a guided driver to drive you around the places. Swosti Travels can be contacted for the same. We have a fleet of comfortable & luxury cars & coaches with experienced & knowledgeable drivers who can take around not just in Bhubaneswar but any part of Orissa. For more details about our cars & coaches, please contacts us.

		Bhubaneswar This city of Temples is well known for exquisitely carved temples like Lingaraj temple, Mukteswar temple, Rajarani temple and many more. The city is bustling with Educational & Research Institutions, hospitals, IT related establishments and climatically favourable place. Other places of interest in and around the city are Dhauli, khandagiri & Udaygiri, Nandankanan.
		Dhauli Famous for the historic rock edict of Ashoka and the place of Kalinga. The Shanti Stupa – a 20th century structure by Japanese collaboration has great aesthetic appeal.
		Khandagiri & Udayagiri Known for well carved, polished Jain caves and rock edict of Kharavela. Most famous caves are Hati Gumpha ( Elephant cave) and Rani Gumpha (Queen’s cave).
		Nandankanan A beautiful natural setting is carved out of Chandaka Forest is one of the finest parks in the country. The white tiger safari, lion safari and many endangered species attract the attention of visitors. Boating, Toy trains, Cable cars and the Botanical garden are the added attractions.
		Chilka Largest inland lake of the country and this brackish water lagoon is home to diversified classes of fauna. This is also an important sanctuary and water resort for migratory birds. Other places of interest in and around Chilka are : Parikuda and Maluda: Populous island inside the lake. Kalijai: Rocky Island associated with many legends. Satapada: A retreat in the bosom of nature to witness thrilling sights of Dolphins.
		Konark Famous Konark temple here, is conceived has a gigantic chariot for ‘Sun God’. This ‘Black Pagoda’ ‘The Epic on Stone’ is a superb architectural monument bustling with power and grace beside the enchanted shoreline. Other places of interest in and around Konark is: Chandrabhaga: The beach here is longed for the scenes of sunrise on sea.
		Puri Famous for the temple of Lord Sri Jagannath. A tourist destination for the Golden beach with Sun, Sea and Surf. This ancient town is one of the pithas established by Shankaracharya. Other places of interest in and around this pilgrim town are: Sakhigopal Temple: This temple is well known for worship of Radha and Krishna. Lokanath Temple: This temple at Puri is the seat of Lord Shiva.
		Bhitarakanika This marine sanctuary of 672 sq.kms. is in the estuary of Brahmani River. This mangrove-dominated sanctuary harbours a wide variety of reptiles, birds and mammals.
		Nrusimhanath Temple The 15th century temple at the foot of Gandhamardan mountain is a famous pilgrimage destination.
		Simlipal One of the biggest wild life sanctuaries of the country well known for its sylvian beauty of valleys and waterfalls. This mesmerize the visitors. Other places in and around Simlipal are: Barehipani: The waterfall within a thrilling surrounding amuses visitors. Joranda: This waterfall is also full of amazing sights. Chahala: A place to witness wild life live.

Oriya Festivals For The Year 2007

Oriya Festivals For The Year 2007
January
New Year Id-ul-juha Makara Sankranti Pongal Saraswati Puja Netaji Jayanti Republic Day Muharram	1 January 1 January 14 January 15 January 23 January 23 January 26 January 30 January
February
Agi Purmina Magha Saptami Kumbha Sankranti Pankodhara Ekadasi Mahasivaratri Phagu Dasami	1 February 4 February 13 February 13 February 16 February 26 February
March
Dola Purnima and Chandragrahana Holi Mina Sankranti Suryoparaga Ashokastami Rama Navami	3 March 4 March 15 March 19 March 26 March 27 March
April
Utkal Divas Chaitra Purmina, Hingula Yatra Good Friday Pana Sankranti, Hanuman Jayanti Akshaya Trutiya and Chandana Yatra Sudasa Brata	1 April 2 April 6 April 14 April 20 April 26 April
May
Shramika Divas Buddha Purmina Brusa Sankranti Sabitri Amabasya	1 May 2 May 15 May 16 May
June
Pahili Raja Raja Sankranti Sitalasasthi Debasnana Purnima	14 June 15 June 20 June 30 June
July
Netrotsav Rath Yatra Karkata Sankranti Bahuda Yatra Vyasa (Guru) Purmina	15 July 16 July 17 July 24 July 30 July
August
Chitau Amabasya Swadhinata Divas Simha Sankranti Sudasa Brata and Jhulana Yatra Gamha/Rakhi Purnima	12 August 15 August 17 August 23 August 28 August
September
Khudurukuni Osa Janmastami Suryoparaga, Satapuri Amabasya Balitrutiya Ganesh Puja Kanya Sankranti/Biswakarma Puja Radhastami Indrotsav Purnima	2 September 3 September 11 September 14 September 15 September 17 September 19 September 26 September
October
Gandhi Jayanti, Shastri Jayanti Id-ul-Fitr Garvana Sankranti Maha Navami Dasahara, Kumara Purnima, Gajalaxmi Puja	2 October 13 October 18 October 20 October 21 October 25 October
November
Sishu Divasa Bichha Sankranti Aanla Navami, Radhapada Darshan Bada Osa Rasa Purnima, Kartikeswar Puja, Bali Yatra Chhadakhai	14 November 17 November 19 November 23 November 24 November 25 November
December
Prathamastami Manabasa Gurubara Osa Dhanu Sankranti Id-ul-zuha Pandu Osa Christmas	1 December 6 December 16 December 21 December 23 December 25 December
Marriage Dates (2007)
January: 15,16,17,23,24,25,28,29 February: 4,6,7,8,9,10,15,19,21,24,25,26 March: 4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12 April: 19,20,21,26,28,29,30 May: 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,12,13 June: 19,20,21,22,23,25,27,28 July: 1,2,6,7,8,11,12 November: 22,25,26,30 December: 2,3,4,5,6
Bratopanayana (2007)
January: 24,25,29 February: 7,8,9,21,22,26,28,29 March: 1,8,11,12,25,28 April: 4,5,8,12,29,30 May: 9,10 June: 24,25,28 July: 4,5,8,9,12,15

Foreign tourists have nothing to do with Buddhist shrines

While the Orissa government has set up Buddhist circuit comprising Lalitgiri, Ratnagiri, Udayagiri and Langudi Hills and has been investing huge money for the overall development of these renowned shrines to attract more tourists, ironically, not a single foreign tourist has reported to have visited any of these shrines during 2006, according to government reports.

While the Buddhist shrines in the state come next to Puri and Konark as one of the major tourist destinations, generally the overseas tourists prefer to visit these three places. Even the Buddhists move in to Lalitgiri, Ratnagiri, Udayagiri and Langudi Hills in large numbers.

But, while the state government claims to have invested huge money for the development of these Buddhist shrines, on the other hand, it says that there is not a single tourist visiting these shrines. This can, under no uncertain terms, be described as sheer unfortunate for the state.
Going by the tourists’ inflow statistics maintained by the state government, not a single tourist has visited any of these Buddhist shrines during the year 2006.

On the other hand, the tourists have visited Puri, Konark, Bhubaneswar, Gopalpur, Taptapani, Chilika, Sambalpur, Rourkela, Ghatagan, Similipal, Chandipur, Cuttack, Paradip, Koraput, Jayapur, Angul and Kapilas during 2006. While a total of 52,39,896 tourists had visited the state in 2006, a total of 39,141 overseas tourists had visited the state in the same year.

The state government has claimed that the number of tourists have gone up in the state.
As per the statistics, in 2004 the inflow of the foreign and inland tourists to the state was 28,817 and 41,25,536 respectively. Similarly, in 2005, the inflow of the foreign and inland tourists to the state was 33,310 and 46,32,976 respectively.

As per the statistics for the year 2006, a total of 17,74,253 tourists have visited Puri of which 14627 are foreign tourists and the rest are inland tourists. Similarly, out of a total of 12,04,383 tourists visiting Konark, 7883 are foreign tourists followed by Gopalpur with 980 foreign tourists out of a total of 30727 tourists.

The number of foreign tourists visiting other tourist sites during 2006 are, Taptapani-155, Chilika-1667, Sambalpur-264, Rourkela-419, Similipal-182, Chandipur-189, Cuttack-182, Paradip-3431, Koraput-77, Jayapur-498, Angul-108 and Kapilas-15.

While 6,52,242 tourists comprising of 15287 foreign tourists have visited Bhubaneswar
Going by the statistics, there is an average rise of 5 to 6 lakh tourists’ inflow to the state every year.

However, the apathy of the tourists to visit the Buddhist shrines in the state has come as a rude shock to the state tourism. While the state government has earmarked Rs 7.16 crore in the state budget for the development of tourist sites, it has earmarked Rs 1.51 crore for the development of Buddhist shrines.

The fact is that while none of the tourists have visited these Buddhist shrines, then why the state government has been spending so much for the development of these shrines?

source: www.pragativadi.com

Tribes of orissa- souras

Tribes of orissa- souras

Souras are mainly concentrated in and around the paralakhemundi and the gunupur area of south orissa. They are called by various names such as sabara, soura, sora etc and have their racial affinity with the proto -austroloid physical feature which are dominant among the aborgines of central and southern india. The soura from their appearance resembles the other predravidian tribes.They have long heads, flat noses, with expanded alae.The brow ridges are prominent , but not to a great extent like the kondhs. There is a depression at the root of the nose. The hair is generally waivy and curly and the skin colour is brown to dark brown. The souras are not strongly built like the kondhs, but they are better in body built in comparison to the tribes of north orissa.

The most noteworthy point is their efficiency in climbing and walking on hills. There is hardly anything distinctive about the dress of a soura man which consists of loin cloth about 6 ft long and 10 inches breadth. This may be plain or may be decorated with red tarsels at the ends. Occassionally they wear a single necklace of beads, a traditional dress of a soura womam is a waist cloth with grey border which hardly reaches the knee. The skirt is about three ft in length and about two ft in breadth and for the upper part they wear another piece of cloth.

The soura women do not use huge bundle of necklaces of beads and metals. A few necklaces of beads, round wooden plugs, spiral rings made of grass, bell metal or alluminium in the fingers and toes,little rings in the alae of nose, and metal anklets are worn by the women . The soura villages are situated in the most in-accessible areas and in many cases lie hidden in forest clad hills making it difficult to reach them except through zig -zag steep hill paths. They build their houses on the slope or foot of the hills. Souras are the best terraced cultivators.

The souras grow pupkins, cucumber, bean, pine apple, tobacco, maize, and ginger in their kitchen garden . All the varied aspects of their environment are associated with some gods or other. the soura gods differ from one another in composition, function, character and nature.Some are benevolent, some are natural and some other malevolent.All these gods and spirits have constant demand on the living beings. If their demands are not met ,souras believe they can cause harm .The malevolent spirits are a cared more than their benevolent counterpart.

The souras are very famous for their wall pantings known as "IKONs" .In side the house on the wall one can oftern find a group of sketches elaborately drawn, which are of religious significance and therefore called italons or icons.Icons are generally drawn to flatter and please the gods and ancesters so that they may spare the members of the house hold from their invidious attention.

Orissa floods photo gallery

Orissa floods photo gallery

---

Tens of thousands of people were living in tents after their homes were inundated or washed away.

Photo by PAWEL KOPCZYNSKI
Villagers transport food relief on a boat through flooded fields 100 km northeast of Bubaneshwar in the eastern Indian state of Orissa.

Photo by PAWEL KOPCZYNSKI
Villagers watch the falling water level of the river Nuna, 80km northeast of Bubaneshwar in the eastern Indian state of Orissa.

Photo by PAWEL KOPCZYNSKI
Shibani Verma sits with her granddaughter at a temporary village 80 km northeast of Bubaneshwar.

Photo by PAWEL KOPCZYNSKI
People carry sandbags to strengthen an embankment against raging river water in Orissa.

Photo by PAWEL KOPCZYNSKI
People affected by floods wait for food at a relief center in Orissa.

Photo by PAWEL KOPCZYNSKI
Aula Smaul, 35, looks at her flooded house in the village of Samalsai, Orissa.

Orissa Photo Gallery - Misc.

Jagannath temple. Puri. Orissa Alone. Puri Cooking. Puri Colors. Puri At sea. Puri
Holy Cow. Puri Smoking. Puri
Morning walk. Puri Fishermen. Puri Walking .... Puri Chicken. Puri
Cleaning. Puri Preparing Offerings. Puri Offerings to the Gods. Puri
Selling Dates. Puri Beggars. Puri Puja in Puri Puja. Puri
Portrait during the Puja. Puri the chariots. Puri Yatra. Puri The carts . Puri
Working. Puri Home. Puri Beauty. Konark Gods. Puri
Light. Puri Temple. Puri Devotion. Puri Poverty. Puri
Looking for the shade. Puri Chariot. Puri Chariots. Puri Brahmeswar Temple. Bubaneshwar
Shrine. Bubaneshwar Vaital mandir.Bubaneshwar One day's earnings....Bubaneshwar A Nice woman in a temple. Bubaneshwar
Brahmin in a temple. Bubaneshwar The sun temple . Konark. Orissa A friendly shop. Konark
Jagannath temple. Puri. Orissa
Alone. Puri. Orissa
Yatra. Puri