DAY 01: Bhubaneswar
Upon arrival at Bhubaneswar Airoprt/ Rly. Stn. Transfer to hotel. Bhubaneswar Known as the “Temple City”,founded during the Kalinga empire over 3,000 years ago, Bhubaneswar today boasts of a cluster of magnificent temples, which once boasted of more than 2000 temples.still preserves over 500 of India’s finest temples.
If time permits visit Lingaraj Temple Constructed in 650 A.D. this temple is a unique specimen of Oriyan style of architecture. The most special feature of this temple is the presence of one thousand lingas in the north-west corner of the complex.. Dedicated to Lord Shiva as the name suggests, the temple was built sometime in the 7th century by the King Jajati Keshari. The Lingraj Temple houses a Shivalingam that rises to a massive height of 8 inches above the floor level and is about 8 feet in diameter as well. Lingaraj Temple is a spectacular specimen of Orissa style of temples with a hint of Kalinga style of architecture, covering a vast area of 2,50,000 sq ft., stand tall 180 ft.As many as 150 smaller shrines dot the temple complex. Non Hindus are not allowed inside the temple.
Rajarani temple A popular 11th-century the Raja Rani Temple is locally known as the ‘love temple’ because it contains some sensuous carvings of women and couples. No images can be found inside the sanctum, and hence the temple is not associated with any particular sect of Hinduism. This is perhaps exactly where the charm of the temple comes from: the temple belongs to no specific sect and is open to all people irrespective of the deity that they worship and admire. However, the figures of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati carved on the walls strongly indicate that the temple has certain associations with Shaivism.
Brahmeshwar Temple was built during 11th century A.D in honor of the presiding deity Brahmeshwar, who is a form of Lord Shiva. The 60-feet tall temple was the first to exhibit iron beams in construction and splendid iconography of dancers and musicians on the walls. The porch features carved ceiling with lotus, while the walls have motifs of lion head in abundance.
Mukteshwar Temple is one of the most compact and smallest temples in Bhubaneswar, but is renowned for its imposing ceiling that is adorned with eight-petal lotus in the porch, and astounding stone archway. It was for the first time that carved images appeared in temple architecture, exhibiting beautiful lion-head motifs. “Mukteshwar” means “Lord who gives freedom through Yoga.”
Parshurameswar temple The small but luxuriantly designed temple was built during 7th century and is one of the oldest in Bhubaneswar. The temple exhibits marvelous architectural artwork.
After breakfast drive to Puri enroute Dhauli, where a modern peace pagoda and ancient rock edictsmark the emperor Asshokas conversion to Buddhism. Dhauli , a sacred Buddhist ssite on the banks of then river Daya, where the greatKalingan war was taken place. Revered by Buddhists as the place where ancient Indian emperor Ashoka renounced violence and embraced Budddddhism, the site pagoda , and see two of the rock-carved edicts declaring Ashoka’s new religious principles that date from 260 BC. Then view some rock-cut caves, medieval Hindu temples, and the renovated Shiva temple near Pagoda.
Then visit Hirapur – 15 km southeast of Bhubaneswar, situated on the eastern bank of river Kuakhai, the shrine Chausath Yogini Temple in the village of Hirapur is dedicated to 64 manifestations of the goddess Shakti, who symbolizes female creative energy. All the images, called Yoginis carved out of the black chlorite stone in standing posture (0.6m tall) are placed in niches in the sanctum. The inner enclosure of the temple is a circular enclosure with no roof overhead, resembling a Buddhist stupa. In the centre, there stands a mandapa enshrining the image of ‘Ekapada Shiva’, an incarnation of the Shiva. The outer wall has nine ‘Katyayani’ images depicting feminine charm at its best housed in its niches. The miniature size of the shrine and its hypaetheral shape makes it an interesting monument.
Afte lunch visit khandagiri and Udaygiri caves and explore the age-old caves of Khandagiri and Udaygiri, carved by jain Monks in the 1st century BC, and were usssed as dwellings aaand meditation quarters, were built under King Khaarvela of the Mahameghavahan dynasty.
Overnight at hotel.
DAY 02
After breakfast visit state museum, are housed archaeological objects, art and craft objects, natural history objects, Bronze Age tools and stone sculptures also contains bronze images, traditional and folk musical instruments, coins, copper plates, prehistoric objects, ethnological objects and armoury. Also its huge collection of manuscripts on palm-leaves, tourists can view palm leaf manuscript of 12th century devotional poem Gita Govinda. By a collection of traditional and folk musical instruments and sculptures of different shapes and sizes, the museum expresses the vivid history and cultural traditions of Orissa.Collections of the museum also include copper plates, coins, stone inscriptions, manuscripts written on the palm leaves and age-old bronze tools. At the museum, tourists can also get an insight into rare epigraphic records stored in Epigraphy Gallery, handicraft, small paintings, collection of patta paintings, brassware, stone sculptures.
Tribal Museum, known as Orissa Museum of Tribal Art and Artifacts, provides a detailed information about the tribal life and culture of Orissa. It reveal about more than sixty varied tribal groups of Orissa, their way of living, handicrafts, musical instruments, songs, dances and festivals.The Tribal Museum has a rich collection of stone and wood sculptures, metal objects and images, weapons, wooden objects, anthropological objects, jewelry, textiles, terracotta, tribal dresses and also some remarkable records, which have been conserved about these tribes. The museum also exhibits the huts of the tribes.
Visit Nandan kanan zoo, Nandankanan Zoological Park is a 400-hectare zoo and botanical garden in Bhubaneswar, The name Nandan Kanan refers to garden of pleasure. Nandan Kanan is a combination of zoo, sanctuary and botanical garden. It is located 20 kms from Bhubaneswar amidst the splendid surroundings of the Chandaka Forest You will also get to see several endangered species that are well protected within the wildlife sanctuary and zoo of Nandan Kanan. These species consist of three categories of Indian Crocodiles, Lion tailed Macaque, Asiatic Lion, Nilgiri Langur, Mouse Deer and Indian Pangolin. There are numerous species of birds (81), fishes as well as reptiles. You can go on safaris to the Nandan Kanan Wildlife Sanctuary to see these rare white tigers, and some majestic Asiatic lions who roam freely in their natural habitats. You can enjoy rope way and boat riding facilities in lake also.
Evening Viist Ekamra haat situated in the heart of Bhubaneswar. It is a popular place for purchasing handicraft and handlooms products. It has 42 handlooms and handicraft shops and 8 open display corners which provide consumers with natural and original artisan products.You can find craft and textile products of artisans from different parts of the state.The shops in Ekamra Haat displays various crafts like stone carving work, wood carving work,applique, pattachitra,cane & bamboo work, dhokra,bell metal,terracotta.work, palm leaf engraving, and art textiles such as Bandha sarees from Sambalpur & Nuapatana.
DAY 03
On time pick up from hotel and provide departure transfer to Airport or Rly. Stn.for onward Journey.
