East Indian Traveller
A journey through history unfolds at this remarkable centuries-old temple complex. Enclosed within its historic walls, a sense of deep tranquility prevails, amplified by the presence of a small but beautiful water reservoir.
The gentle ripple of the water and the quiet atmosphere transport visitors to a time when this temple served as a center of culture, worship, and community, a legacy beautifully preserved in every stone and every drop of water.
Koraput, a land blessed with incredible nature and innocence had always been a dream destination for me. It sports an endless vista filled with greenery, wildflowers, waterfalls and dense forests, everything that a nature lover would drool over.
The air is so clean that it almost tastes sweet and the views are completely free of any kinds of distractions. Most of Koraput is clear, pure, and exactly as nature had created it without any human adornment.
Bhubaneswar is known as the temple city of India, owing to the vast number of temples the city boasts of. While exploring the Temples however, tourists and pilgrims alike, visit only the Lingaraj Temple complex, missing out on the other beautiful and intriguing temples lurking just a few Kilometres away.
A boat safari through one of the largest mangroove system in the country with giant Salt Water Crocodiles lining the shore is what summarizes a typical tour of Bhitarkanika. A sanctuary for the crocodiles, this National park, is both beautiful and wild, making the whole trip an unforgettable experience.
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.
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.
A 12th century temple perched atop a 2239 ft hill, provides for a perfect weekend gateaway, taking one close to both god and nature. The drive through the winding serpentine roads, hike through a forest and enchanting wood work makes the destination a crowning glory for Dhenkanal, Odisha
An island inside a mighty river holds a 12th century temple, that has made a mark for itself in both the pilgrimage and tourist landscape of the state of Odisha. Crossing the river on either boat or a pedestrian bridge, makes you realize the river is not just a water body but a living entity in itself.
East Indian Traveller