Thanks to the efforts of the Odisha government, the state now figures prominently on the priority list of tourists from different parts of the country. The state is now a must-do for domestic travellers wanting to see the best of India. That the government has worked hard on showcasing Odisha’s tourism wonders is evident from the fact that the state shared with Rajasthan the honour of ‘Best State’ in the domestic destination category of the 10th edition of India’s Best Awards 2021, a readership poll of Travel+Leisure India magazine.
The magazine paid glowing tributes to Odisha and its tourism wonders. “Touted as ‘India’s best kept secret’, Odisha is a treasure trove of surprises. Visitors can embark on the Nirvana Trail that journeys through the Buddhist monuments of Dhauligiri, Lalitgiri, and Udaygiri. Make sure you tuck into the state’s unique cuisine, which features dishes like pakhala and chhena poda. Wildlife lovers will be delighted by the mesmerizing Irrawaddy dolphins of Chilika Lake and the Olive Ridley turtles that nest at Gahirmatha Beach every year. Explore the state’s tribal arts and crafts like Pattachitra and appliqué work at Pipili village. The famed Jagannath and Lingaraj temples are unmissable, as are the serene beaches on Odisha’s 480-kilometre-long coastline.” That sums up almost everything good that Odisha has to offer to its visitors.
What is more, Mayurbhanj was voted as the ‘Best Offbeat Destination’. “Mayurbhanj is one of the best surprises of Odisha. It has spirituality, wildlife, and natural marvels to offer visitors. The Maa Ambika Temple in Baripada, whose deity is believed to be ‘the living goddess’, lights up during Durga Puja celebrations. The Jagannath Temple here, also known as the Haribaldev Temple, was constructed by Shri Baidyanath Bhanj in 1575 CE. It hosts the annual Car Festival the day after the main one in Puri. Similipal Biosphere Reserve is sprawled across 2,750 square kilometres and is among the Tiger Projects and National Parks of India. Other points of interest include Devkund and Bhimkund,” wrote the magazine.
Odisha’s great tourism potential has never been in doubt. The state has almost everything that the footloose and the fancy-free crave for. On the ethno-cultural front, it boasts beautifully carved temples, including the fascinating Sun Temple at Konark which has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Describing this great cultural monument, the global body wrote: “On the shores of the Bay of Bengal, bathed in the rays of the rising sun, the temple at Konark is a monumental representation of the sun god Surya’s chariot; its 24 wheels are decorated with symbolic designs and it is led by a team of six horses. Built in the 13th century, it is one of India’s most famous Brahman sanctuaries.”
While the 12th-century Jagannath temple at Puri and the 11th-century temple of Lord Lingaraj in Bhubaneswar also remain great tourist attractions, the other side of Odisha’s ethnic culture is its tribes, each one with its own distinguished dialect, dress and ornaments. They constitute a huge attraction for tourists eager to learn more about tribal culture and languages.
Odisha’s unparalleled natural beauty gives it a distinct advantage over many other Indian states as a tourist destination. It has scores of fascinating beaches, wildlife sanctuaries and waterfalls. With the government working smartly to market Odisha’s eco-tourism spots, we can expect a significant rise in the tourist footfall in the state in the coming days.
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