Orissa

The Bay of Bengal washes the shores of this colourful eastern state,bestowingit liberally with quiet and sunny beaches. Green fields, groves and forests   abound, and  set amongst them are the majestic reminders of a glorious past ancient, beautiful temples and monuments built a thousand years ago and more.

It is not everywhere in the world that monuments and other edifices can be seen in so continuous a chronology. The temples of Bhubaneswar which once numbered about 7,000 and now only 500 date from the 6th century AD right upto the 13th century AD. The 11th century Lingaraj Temple is surely an architectural feat. Constructed without mortar, the temple stands up to a height of 45 metres. The Jagannath Temple of the 12th century at Puri is one of the four most important pilgrimage centres of the Hindus. The Temple rises to a sheer 65 metres, making it a prominent landmark for miles around. And there is the Chariot Temple of the Sun God at Konark, where every nook and corner, every available inch of space is a celebration of life. The Peace Pagoda atop the Dhauli Hill was built by the Japan Buddha Sangha and the Kalinga Nippon Buddha Sangha.

Orissa has been a haven for various dynasties, reigns and kingdoms. It has witnessed the rise and fall of Jainism, Buddhism and Hinduism. This was the land where King Ashoka renounced the mundane life and accepted Buddhism as a way of life, a life of peace and compassion. The modern Orissa is picture of peaceful progress. Big dams and hydroelectric power projects bridge the gap between the old and the new. And, for the traveller, Orissa offers a rewarding mix of culture, beach and wildlife tourism.

Bhubaneshwar, Puri, Gopalpur-On-Sea, Konark, Nandan-Kanan, Lalitgiri Ratnagiri & Udaigiri, Cuttack, Chandipur, Chilkalake,

Bhitarkanika Sanctuary

For further information please contact: The Director of Tourism, Government of Orissa, "Paryatan Bhawan", Museum Complex, Bhubaneswar; or The Assisstant Director, Orissa Tourist Office, B-4 State Emporia Complex, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, New Delhi-110001.

The Rath Festival

The Rath Yatra or the Car Festival of Puri, held annually aroundthe months of June/July, is a very sacred and important festival, and a large number of pilgrims come from all over the country to witness this festival.

Although the journey is only about a mile, it may take more than twenty-four hours as the chariots inch their way through the thousands of people who have thronged to witness the festival.

The   Konark Festival

The famous Konark town comes alive every year to the musical notes of the Konark Festival. Held in the open air auditorium at the backdrop of famous Konark temple the festival has endevoured towards revival, preservation and continuation of the unique temple dance tradition of Orissa. Various other dance forms from India are also performed during the festival, and the audience comprises domestic as well as foreign tourists. It is a joyous occasion giving an opportunity for mutual interaction resulting in better understanding and wider exposure. There is innovation and experiment in choreography, lighting and sound effects, melodies of vocal and instrumental ragas and tales, beautiful movements of dancers' feet and much more. There are excellent performances of Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Mohiniattam, and Odissi.

The dance forms, styles and gestures learnt from temple sculptures, acquire a kind a grace that is simply poetry in motion. And, there are new-fangled innovations and synchronisations. The Konark Festival is accompanied by a lively Crafts Mela, providing a venue to the craftsmen to run their workshops and display a small Orissan Village where craftsmen are busy carving, moulding, chiselling, painting, and weaving. Visitors can go around the village and also get an opportunity to actually interact with the craftspersons

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