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Photo Essay

Smrutivana – A Photo Essay on The Best Walking Trail of Bhubaneswar

Smrutivana (Smrutivan), in Bhubaneswar was originally intended to be a memorial garden, where people could plant saplings in memory of their departed family members. Over time however, the place has metamorphosised into a beautifully landscaped park, arguably the best walking trail in Bhubaneswar.

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Travel

A night at Taptapani Springs Resort (earstwhile Taptapani Panthanivas)

Set amidst a serene natural surrounding, the Taptapani Panthanivas is a state run guesthouse, that was supposed to serve as a night halt during my southern Odisha explorations.
It however turned out to be a destination in itself, surrounded by hills and forrest, devoid of any human settlements nearby. Easy on the budget, providing for ample privacy, this humble property is in fact a resort, masquerading as a guesthouse.

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Travel

Jirang (Chandragiri) – The Tibetan village in Odisha

Jirang also known as Chandragiri, is a small village in Gajapati district of Odisha, which boasts of a small but significant Tibetan population. The village had maintained a very low profile untill it became home to the largest buddhist monastery of Eastern India in 2010.

Since then, slowly and steadily its popularity has grown within the tourist circles of India and abroad. Visitors from all parts of the world now flock the small village to experience the unadultrated village life, get bowled over by the mighty Eastern ghats and get wowed by the beautiful Padmasambhava Mahavihara Monastery.