Simply Orissa
7 days and 6 nights
Bhuvaneshwar - Bhitar Kanika - Cuttack - Puri - Konark - Chilika - Bhubaneshwar - Delhi
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Arrival at Bhubaneshwar, welcome, a panoramic tour of the city, then transfer to hotel. Overnight in hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel and departure for excursion to the caves Khandagiri and Udaigiri. Near Bhubaneshwar, we visit the caves of Udayagiri, Khandagiri, located on a beautiful hilly site. Visit especially the Palace of the queen (a cave), with beautiful verandah's and pillars, elephant Cave, Ganesh cave dating back to 2000 years. On the other side of the hill, Jain Site, with its representations of Tirthankara is equally interesting. Visit the museum called (Tribal museum).
Back to the hotel. In the afternoon, visit Nandan Kanan Zoo (Beware the zoo is closed on Mondays) Possibility for a ride on the elephant back. It is also possible to do jeep safari and boat ride on the lake. In the zoo, you can see - white tigers, black panthers, and elephants among other animals.
Back to the hotel. In the afternoon, visit Nandan Kanan Zoo (Beware the zoo is closed on Mondays) Possibility for a ride on the elephant back. It is also possible to do jeep safari and boat ride on the lake. In the zoo, you can see - white tigers, black panthers, and elephants among other animals.
Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Bhitar Kanika(145 kms/4 hrs). On the road you will see monasteries and stupas built between 6th-12th century. Arrival and accommodation and breakfast at the palace. Then in the afternoon, visit the Museum Palace, the royal garden with cashew and coconut trees.
Visit also the local market. Dinner and overnight at the palace. (Opportunity to meet the royal family)
Visit also the local market. Dinner and overnight at the palace. (Opportunity to meet the royal family)
Breakfast and departure to the palace for an excursion to visit the forest reserve of Bhitarkanika. It is a boat trip and you can see crocodiles, deers, bears etc. Packed lunch is served on board the boat.
Back to the palace in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Back to the palace in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast and departure for Puri via Cuttack.
On the way visit the fort Barbati which dates from the year 980.
Continue to Puri. Arrival and check in at your hotel. Afternoon free at leisure. Situated along a beautiful beach, Puri is devoted to the city Vishnu, Jagannath, the "Master of the World".
Puri is one of the greatest Vaishnava pilgrimage centers of India, famous for its festive procession of floats, the "Rathayatra" which takes place every year in summer. This festival is one of the most spectacular in India, when the faithful take the gigantic chariots (ratha) carved in wood carrying the idols of Jagannath, Subhadra and Balabhadra.
The Jagannath temple is visible from the outside, for non-Hindus. At Puri, the sight of the beach is also entertaining, with its multiple stalls. Overnight at the hotel..
On the way visit the fort Barbati which dates from the year 980.
Continue to Puri. Arrival and check in at your hotel. Afternoon free at leisure. Situated along a beautiful beach, Puri is devoted to the city Vishnu, Jagannath, the "Master of the World".
Puri is one of the greatest Vaishnava pilgrimage centers of India, famous for its festive procession of floats, the "Rathayatra" which takes place every year in summer. This festival is one of the most spectacular in India, when the faithful take the gigantic chariots (ratha) carved in wood carrying the idols of Jagannath, Subhadra and Balabhadra.
The Jagannath temple is visible from the outside, for non-Hindus. At Puri, the sight of the beach is also entertaining, with its multiple stalls. Overnight at the hotel..
Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Konark(150 kms 4hrs).
At Konark, the sun temple is one of the most famous temples of India, the extraordinary temple dedicated to Surya, the sun god. It suffered over the centuries, first the unstable sandy subsoil on which it was built, then an earthquake in the nineteenth century. But it remains quite impressive Built in the thirteenth century by a ruler of Orissa, Narasimha, it is the representation of the solar chariot, with its 24 gigantic wheels made of stone, finely carved delicately decorated with motifs. This "sun chariot" is drawn by seven horses (only six remain).
The walls of temple are decorated with a profusion of bas-reliefs : hunting scene, field work, celestial dancers, musicians and embracing couples. We especially admire the great Statue of chlorite (green stone) of the god Surya in a large niche the Vimana. We appreciate the elegant architecture and carved pillars of its mandapa (or Natya Mandir, dance hall) on the high platform. We will also visit a small temple located in the same enclosure main, where the Nine Planets (Navagraha) are honoured.
Return to Puri. Continue the visit of Puri or afternoon free at leisure. Night at the hotel.
At Konark, the sun temple is one of the most famous temples of India, the extraordinary temple dedicated to Surya, the sun god. It suffered over the centuries, first the unstable sandy subsoil on which it was built, then an earthquake in the nineteenth century. But it remains quite impressive Built in the thirteenth century by a ruler of Orissa, Narasimha, it is the representation of the solar chariot, with its 24 gigantic wheels made of stone, finely carved delicately decorated with motifs. This "sun chariot" is drawn by seven horses (only six remain).
The walls of temple are decorated with a profusion of bas-reliefs : hunting scene, field work, celestial dancers, musicians and embracing couples. We especially admire the great Statue of chlorite (green stone) of the god Surya in a large niche the Vimana. We appreciate the elegant architecture and carved pillars of its mandapa (or Natya Mandir, dance hall) on the high platform. We will also visit a small temple located in the same enclosure main, where the Nine Planets (Navagraha) are honoured.
Return to Puri. Continue the visit of Puri or afternoon free at leisure. Night at the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Chilika(120 kms-03 hrs). This lake is very brackish and is known for its giant shrimp (exported). We meet many species of migratory birds in winter. We can see dolphins too. (Possibility to have lunch with seafood )Return and overnight at the hotel.
After breakfast, transfer to airport for flight to Delhi and Bhubaneshwar.
