Odisha
East-coast state of temple towns, long beaches, Chilika lagoon, mangrove and tiger forests, and tribal highlands.
Base yourself in Bhubaneswar for the temple city and the Puri-Konark-Chilika circuit, then add a wildlife park (Bhitarkanika or Similipal) or the southern highlands (Daringbadi, Koraput) depending on season.
Highlights: Konark Sun Temple (UNESCO World Heritage Site) · Jagannath Temple and Rath Yatra in Puri · Old temples of Bhubaneswar and Udayagiri-Khandagiri caves · Irrawaddy dolphins and birds on Chilika Lake · Saltwater crocodiles in Bhitarkanika · Similipal tiger reserve and waterfalls · Tribal markets and hills of Koraput
When to go
Green best · blue good · red avoid · this month outlinedDestinations
Towns, valleys and cities worth the trip, with how they rate this month.
Bhubaneswar
State capital known as the Temple City, with old Kalinga-style temples and Jain rock-cut caves.
Konark
Site of the 13th-century Sun Temple shaped as a giant stone chariot, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Koraput
Highland district town of tribal markets, waterfalls and Odisha's highest peak, Deomali.
Gopalpur
Quiet old port town with a wide beach near Berhampur.
Daringbadi
Cool hill town in Kandhamal, nicknamed the Kashmir of Odisha, with pine forests and coffee gardens.
Similipal National Park
Tiger reserve and biosphere reserve with sal forests, waterfalls and melanistic tigers.
Bhitarkanika National Park
Mangrove national park in the Brahmani-Baitarani delta, home to large saltwater crocodiles.
Top sights
Tara Tarini Temple
Hilltop shrine of the twin goddesses Tara and Tarini on Kumari hill above the Rushikulya river, near Purushottampur in Ganjam.
Ratnagiri
Hilltop Buddhist monastery complex of the 5th-13th centuries with hundreds of votive stupas and an ASI site museum.
Biraja Temple
Shakti Peetha of Goddess Biraja (Durga) at Jajpur town, about 125 km north of Bhubaneswar, important for ancestor rites.
Rajarani Temple
Eleventh-century temple of red-gold sandstone with no presiding deity, known for its carved celestial maidens and dikpalas.
Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves
Rock-cut Jain caves on twin hills, carved in the 2nd century BCE under King Kharavela, with the Hathigumpha inscription.
Dhauli
White peace pagoda on Dhauli hill near the Kalinga War battlefield, beside Ashoka's 3rd-century BCE rock edicts.
Lingaraja Temple
Eleventh-century sandstone temple of Shiva as Harihara, the largest temple of Bhubaneswar, with a spire close to 180 ft.
Odisha State Museum
State museum founded in 1932, best known for palm-leaf manuscripts, stone sculptures, coins and tribal objects.
Nature and outdoors
Bhitarkanika National Park
Mangrove national park and Ramsar site in Kendrapara with India's largest population of saltwater crocodiles, seen by boat.
Satkosia Tiger Reserve
Reserve around a 22 km gorge of the Mahanadi, with river boating, eco-camps and gharial and mugger crocodiles.
Gopalpur Beach
Beach of the old port town of Gopalpur in Ganjam, with a colonial lighthouse and fishing boats on the sand.
Chandipur Beach
Beach near Balasore where the sea recedes 3-5 km at low tide, leaving a wide walkable seabed.
Satapada
Chilika lake jetty in Puri district for boat trips to see Irrawaddy dolphins and the sea mouth.
Barkul
Chilika lake base on the western shore in Khordha district, with boat trips to Kalijai island and the Nalabana bird sanctuary.
Mangalajodi
Community-run wetland on the north edge of Chilika where former poachers guide birding boats among winter migrants.
Similipal National Park
Tiger reserve and biosphere reserve of 2,750 sq km in Mayurbhanj, known for black tigers, elephants and the Barehipani and Joranda falls.
Things to do
Where to eat
Chhadakhai Restaurant
Restaurant at Hotel Janpath serving everyday Odia food.
Dalma
Odia restaurant chain named after the lentil-and-vegetable dish, with outlets on Sachivalaya Marg and near KIIT Square.
Hare Krishna Restaurant
Vegetarian restaurant near Bhubaneswar railway station.
Country Kitchen
Bapuji Nagar restaurant known for spicy non-vegetarian food, with a separate vegetarian section.
Bikalananda Kar
Sweet shop brand named by Incredible India for chhena poda and Odia sweets.
Chhappan Bhog
Sweet shop named by Incredible India for chhena poda in Bhubaneswar.
Pahala Rasagola Stalls
Pahala sweet stalls named by Incredible India for rasagola and chhena poda.
PG Parathe Waali
Shopping
Raghurajpur Crafts Village
Heritage crafts village near Puri where almost every house paints pattachitra or carves palm leaf, stone and wood.
Pipili Applique Market
Town on the Bhubaneswar-Puri highway lined with shops selling GI-tagged chandua applique umbrellas, canopies and wall hangings.
City Centre Mall, Sambalpur
shopping mall in Odisha, India
Food to try
Festivals
- Rath Yatra (Puri): Months: 6 · 7; Description: Chariot festival of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra from the Jagannath Temple to Gundicha Temple; in 2026 it ran from 16 July with the return (Bahuda) on 24 July
- Konark Dance Festival: Months: 12; Description: Classical dance festival held in early December at an open-air stage near the Sun Temple
- Puri Beach Festival: Months: 11; Description: Beach festival with sand art, music and crafts held in Puri in late autumn
- Durga Puja: Months: 9 · 10; Description: Big pandal celebrations, especially in Cuttack with silver filigree decorations
- Raja Parba: Months: 6; Description: Three-day festival of the earth and womanhood in mid-June with swings and pitha sweets
- Dhanu Jatra (Bargarh): Months: 12 · 1; Description: Open-air theatre festival in which the town of Bargarh becomes the stage for the Krishna and Kansa story