ODISHA -THE LAND DIVINE


Sprinkled with architecturally celebrated temples, consecrated shrines and regal monuments, Odisha is among India’s hidden cultural treasures.
Bhubaneswar, the city of temples beckons through the brilliance and magnetism of ancient Kalinga age temples.The Jagannath Temple dominates the landscape around Puri and is famous for its annual RathYatra; the beach here conjures beautiful views of the sunrise and the shallow water allows walking up to a very large distance. Konark - Sun Temple, now a UNESCO heritage site, is an architectural marvel.
Come, unravel the hidden!
Friday, 2nd February 2018 – Arrive in Bhubaneswar for an overnight stay.On your arrival at the Biju Patnaik airport check into your hotel and relax.Later, venture on a private guided tour of Lingaraj Temple dedicated to Lord Harihara, a combination of Shiva & Vishnu and whose sprawling complex comprises of 64 smaller shrines followed by a visit to the small and compact Mukteshwar Temple renowned for its imposing ceiling that is adorned with an eight petal lotus in the porch and with sculptures & images of figures of ascetics & yogis in different meditation poses.
Saturday, 3rd February 2018 – Bhubaneswar to Puri - Following breakfast, check out and be taken on a guided tour of the cave complex of Udayagiri and Khandagiri dating back to 2nd century BC and once the home of Jain ascetics, complete with paintings and illustrations. Later make a stop at Dhauli which was the battlefield of the Kalinga War and has a grand peace pagoda.
Reach Puri by road (around 60kms) where on arrival by the afternoon,check into the hotel and relax. Later, be taken on a cycle rickshaw tour around Puri allowing you to take in its rich heritage in a relaxed and personalized manner.
The rickshaw tour is an award winning initiative by a local volunteer group to revive this non polluting mode of transport besides ensuring economy for the rickshaw pullers whose livelihood was once at stake. Over the close to three hour guided tour, cover some of the city’s prime sights including the 12th century built Jagannath Temple, the tallest temple in the state standing at 65m high crowned by the wheel of Vishnu and a flag. The temple complex also comprises of 30 smaller shrines besides the 16 pillared Nata Mandir (Dance Hall) and Bhoga Mandir (Hall of offerings). The tour will also cover Shankara and Haridas Math, Gambhira where the spiritual teacher Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu lived anda few other holy tanks.
Sunday, 4th February 2018 - Puri – Konark - Puri After breakfast,be taken to visit the heritage site of Konark (around 32 kms) along the Puri-Konark marine drive featured amongst the top 50 roads to traverse in India. Once at Konark, visit the 13th century built Sun Temple admiring the intricate carvings on its walls.
Return to Puri by the afternoon and relax.
Next, go on a visit to the artistic village of Raghurajpur (around 14kms from Puri) renowned for Pattachitra which is a traditional form of painting and other crafts such as palm leaf inscriptions, stone and wood carvings, paper mache, mural painting, wooden and cow dung toys,appliqué and terracotta works.You will also be treated to an exclusive Gotipua dance performance in the adjacent Gurukul Academy executed by a group of boys who perform acrobatic figures inspired by the life of Radha and Krishna.
Monday, 5th February 2018 – Puri – Chilka – Puri Depart to Satpada (around 50 kms from Puri) to embark on a close to a 3 hour boat ride on the Chilka Lake to watch dolphins including stops at the island of Kalijai housing a temple of Mother Kali and passing by the island of Nalabana declared a restricted bird sanctuary famous for
migratory birds such as flamingos, herons and storks.
Return to Puri by late afternoon and spend the evening at leisure.
Tuesday, 6th February 2018 – Puri - Pipli - Bhubaneswar
Following breakfast, check out and be transferred to Bhubaneswar with an en route stop at the village of Pipli famous for its appliqué art work flaunted across the several shops sellin g appliquéd handbags, bed sheets, wall hangings, purses and canopies.
Arrive at Bhubaneswar in time to board your return flight home.
Departure : 2nd February 2018 from Chennai
Arrival : 6th Febraury 2018
Cost : Approximately Rs 58,000/-
Last day to warn in – 30th November 2017
LAKSHMI MENON                                                   RIGMOR EKSTRAND


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