J N Rao Tours

Orissa - Land of the White tiger

Hills and forests, lakes and waterfalls, wildlife and tribals; Orissa has it all – the whole enchilada. A treasure house of temples & traditions, language & literature, art & architecture; the state offers the most to visitors, while retaining its pristine glory. One of the best known examples of temple architecture, the magnificent 10th century Konark Sun Temple, also a World Heritage monument, is designed as a celestial chariot of the Sun God, pulled by seven straining horses. As the sun rises over the ocean, it casts its first rays in the sanctum sanctorum.

Often called ‘Cathedral City,’ the state capital is home to 600 temples, built over hundreds of years. The annual chariot festival of Lord Jagannath, involving pulling of the massive chariots by hordes of devotees, is in fact the origin of the word ‘juggernaut.’ Home to Odissi, believed to be the oldest dance from in the country, Orissa also boasts of Nandankanan, the white tiger reserve. Visit Chilika, the largest brackish water lake in the continent or go spotting Irrawady dolphins and exotic migratory birds in the pear-shaped lagoon.

Of Tourist Interest

• Konark Temple
• Rath Yatra (Chariot Festival)
• Nandakanan Reserve
• Temple Towns of Konark
• Puri
• Bhubhaneshwar
• Chilika Lake
• Gopalpur-on-sea Beach
• Konark-Puri Marine Drive
• Satapada Island
• Jagannath Temple
• Lingaraj Temple
• Patachitra Folk Paintings
• Handloom Weaving
• Soapstone & Wood Carvings