Unique Odisha experiences for the curious traveller in you

Odisha is a land of vibrant cultures, unique traditions, yet it remains one of the less popular tourist destinations in India. What if we were to tell you that Odisha needs to be on your travel bucket list and needs to get ticked as soon as possible?

You can expect a lot from a state with an approximately 450 km long coastline, six major rivers that have carved gorges and lush fertile valleys, and history that goes back to 261 BCE, the time of Ashoka the Great. Odisha has a lot of stories to tell to the discerning travellers. Here are some of the best and unique Odisha experiences to think about.

What better than starting your Odisha tour with a visit to the Odisha State Museum? The palm leaf manuscripts of the 5th century BCE are on display here. The state museum has the largest collection of these, now rare, palm leaf manuscripts. One of the oldest forms of Indian calligraphy.

Barehipani Falls is India’s second largest waterfall. Located in the Megasini mountain, Barehipani Falls has a two-tiered drop. You can expect it to be dramatic and gorgeous at the same time. It also comes under the Simlipal National Park.

The park is located in the Mayurbhanj district, and is both a national park and a tiger reserve. Simlipal is also a part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves. A wide variety of flora, fauna and avifauna inhabits Simlipal National Park.

The most popular Puri beach, the quiet Gopalpur-on-Sea beach, the picturesque Chandrabhaga beach, the adventure hub Ramchandi beach, and the unique Chandipur beach, all have unique characteristics. FYI, Chandipur is in the intertidal zone, meaning where land and sea meet. So here, you, twice in a day, can see seawater receding 5 km from the shoreline. Fun!

The two villages of Pipli and Raghurajpur are the main centres of arts and crafts in Odisha. Pipli is famous for its applique and patchwork technique. Raghurajpur is the centre for the popular patachitra art form. Visit these two important villages and see how the artisans work.

A collection of 32 rock-cut caves make up Udayagiri. It is an important archaeological site dating back to the 2nd century BCE. For the followers of Jainism, this is an important place.

Konark is not new to the world. One of the most popular attractions in Odisha, the massive Konark Sun Temple is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, you will find carvings similar to the ones in Khajuraho.

Ratnagiri-Udayagiri-Lalitgiri circuit is an important Buddhist site. It dates back to the 7th-10th century. The remains of the erstwhile ancient Buddhist site were excavated recently, which also means that the area is pretty much unexplored.