Odisha, primarily called Orissa, is the state of India with its great history and rich religiosity. It is situated in the northeastern part of India with neighboring states Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and also by the Bay of Bengal.
The coastal plains of the state bring forward many of the best places to visit for nature lovers, adventure seekers, spiritual souls, and newly-wed couples for honeymoon.
The present capital of the State is Bhubaneswar. The area covered by Odisha is about 60,000 square miles and has a population count of around 40,000,000.
There are various best places to visit in Odisha, including heritage sites, enchanting views, adventurous activities sites, beaches, sacred pilgrimages, and many sightseeing opportunities.
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The best time to visit Odisha is during or with the start of the winter season, i.e., in the months of October to March. It’s quite uncomfortable to travel during monsoons and summer seasons.
Table of Contents
(1) List of Best Places to Visit in Odisha
In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best tourist places in Odisha and what makes them so special.
(a) Deomali Peak
Deomali Peak is the tallest peak in Odisha and the best place to visit in Odisha. Having an altitude of approximately 1600 meters. It is located near Doodhari village, 70 km away from Koraput district, Odisha.
It’s one of the best tourist places out there but is quite underrated; the Odisha Tourism Department has been putting a lot of effort into making it popular amongst tourists.
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The whole mountainous area is covered with lush greenery, and one can capture the scenic beauty of the waterfalls and the surroundings from the top of the peak. Couples can spend quality time here, especially newly-wed couples, for their honeymoon.
(b) Sambalpur
Sambalpur is one of the best tourist places to visit. This place is worth witnessing the perfect blend of culture and urbanization in a very charming way. The city is popular for its temples like Devi Samaleswari, majestic Hirakud Dam, handlooms and textile works, and shopping centers. March to September will be the best time to visit this city.
(c) Cuttack
Being the cultural capital of Odisha, this commercial city has many tourist places. The city is also called ‘Silver City’ as it is famous for its silver work.
Cultural activities have their own significance here, like the celebration of Durga Pooja, the Kite Festival, Baliyatra, etc. Barabati Fort, Paradeep Beach, and Stone Revetment are some main attractions to visit here.
(d) Rourkela
Rourkela, also titled the ‘Steel City of Odisha,’ is one of the first cities in India to become the first commercially producing steel.
Rourkela is beautifully surrounded by rivers and hills, giving a captivating experience to all the tourists and moments to cherish. This place has got a remarkable reputation in the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Ghogar, Khandadhar Waterfall, and Vedvyas are some impressive tourist places to visit. October to March will be the best time to visit this place.
(2) Best Beaches to Visit in Odisha
(a) Puri Beach
The city of Puri is one of the most pious places and is the place of many sacred temples. Many devotees visit this beach for the deep cleansing of their souls and mind.
Many sports activities can be performed on the beach, and the gorgeous sunset gives a panoramic view of the sky.
(b) Chandipur Beach
Chandipur Beach is a tranquil beach located near Balasore village, Odisha. Interestingly, this beach is called a “hide and seek beach” because of its surprising nature of water, retracing its path nearly 5 kilometers, and when the water level comes to its original state, it brings fascinating red crabs and horseshoe crabs at the high tide time.
The place is perfectly suited to the people who want peace from this hustle and bustle world. This place is like a dream doorway for newly wedded couples for their honeymoon trip.
This place is not a commercialized one and offers picturesque views for creating dreamy moments.
(c) Aryapalli Beach
Aryapalli Beach is located 30 kilometers from Berhampur and around 6 kilometers from Chhatrapur. The staggering waves with peaceful climate make it one of the best tourist spots to visit for a true nature lover.
The visitors can enjoy a facile body spa and sunbathe on this goldy-sandy beach. It also offers enthralling water sports for adventure seekers.
(d)Gopalpur Beach
Gopalpur Beach is situated at the border of Andhra Pradesh and approximately 16 kilometers away from Berhampur. The town of Gopalpur is very colorful and is the place of fish-eating lovers more than anyone else.
It is one of the cleanest and bluest beaches of Odisha, with a lot of water sports to performing, plus the natural beauty consisting of the sandy beach with Palms, Coconut, and Casuarina trees gives mesmerizing views to observe and enjoy.
(e) Paradeep Beach
Paradeep Beach is one of the commercial seaports of Odisha and is popularly significant because of its rich culture and heritage. This beach is located 125 kilometers and 94 kilometers away from Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, respectively.
One can witness the splendid view of the conglomeration of the Mahanadi river and the Bay of Bengal here. It is one of the best tourist places for sunbathing and capturing the great sunrise and sunset.
Some other beautiful beaches are-
- Talasari Beach
- Beleswar Beach
- Ramchandi Beach
- Astaranga Beach
- Balighai Beach
- Chandrabhaga Beach
- Balramgadi Beach
(3) The Great Historical Places to Visit in Odisha
(a) Sri Jagannath Puri Temple
Sri Jagannath Puri Temple is one of the most pious pilgrimages for Hindus and is a part of the holy Char Dham Yatra.
The temple was constructed by King Indradyumna in the 11th century. The sacred temple is devoted to Lord Jagannath, one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu.
There are many other glorious temples there that create a godly environment in that holy place. The four gates at the temple are beautifully carved and prove the outstanding Oriyan architectural work.
The Mahaprasad of the temple should not be denied, made at one of the biggest kitchens in India. The appetizing food is prepared in a great traditional way for thousands of devotees who arrive every other day.
The most awaited festival celebrated there is Rath Yatra which attracts thousands of enthusiastic devotees every year from the country.
(b) Sun Temple, Konark
The Sun temple is situated on the northwest side of Puri, being a UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the significant places to visit in Odisha. The temple is designed in the form of a huge Ratha or chariot of the God Sun, which portrays that the chariot is being pulled by seven horses. There are three divine idols of the God Sun, which receive direct sun rays in the morning, afternoon, and evening.
The Konark Dance Festival is held every year, generally in February. Celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm, it attracts many tourists from all over the world.
| Timing | Opened at 6:00 am and Closed at 8:00 pm |
| Entry Fee for Indians | 30Rs./person |
| Entry Fee for Foreigners | 500Rs./person |
| Konark Dance Festival Entry Fee | 400Rs./person |
(c) Barbati Fort
The Barbati Fort is located in the Cuttack city of Odisha, about 7 kilometers away from the city.
It was built in the 14th century under the Ganga dynasty. The fort covers an area of approximately 100 acres and has a beautifully carved entrance with nine storeys, a Barbati stadium, and a temple named katak chandi.
| Entry Fee for Indians | 1 Rupees/- |
| Entry Fee for Foreigners | 10 Rupees/- |
(d) Dhauli
Dhauli is a small town located on the banks of river Daya and about 10 kilometers away from Bhubaneswar. This place is also called ‘the land of Kalinga War’ as it is said that war took place in this region during the 3rd century. The war caused a huge loss of mass and property, which led to the reformation of King Ashoka’s character. He then eventually adopted Buddhism as his religion.
Ashoka has constructed numerous pillars and stupas. The place is home to a highly peaceful Pagoda which attracts several visitors every year.
Ashoka Rock Edicts, Dhauli Shanti Stupa, Dhabaleshwar, and Bahirangeswar temple are the prominent sites to visit in the town.
(e) Humaduma
Humaduma also called as ‘Leaning temple of Huma,‘ is one of the popular places to visit in Odisha. The temple is built to worship Lord Bimleshwar and is the only leaning temple in the world. Interesting to know if the temple’s structure is tilted or leaned in the right direction.
Other Historical Places include,
- Patalganga, Nuapada
- Nrusinghanath Temple, Bargarh
- Harishankar Temple, Bolangir
- Ranipur Jharial, Balangir
- Lingaraj and Brahmeshwara Temple
