Places To Visit In Odisha That You Can’t Miss

Tourist places in Odisha are very well linked to the rest of India. Both foreign and domestic visitors are lured to the tourism destinations in Odisha. Odisha enables visitors to best experience the delight of an immersive trip.

What if we told you that Eastern India is where you may find the most life-changing travel experiences? Simply add Odisha to your list of must-see destinations. Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and West Bengal are located on each side of this state in Eastern India. 

Tourist places in Odisha are very well linked to the rest of India. Both foreign and domestic visitors are lured to the tourism destinations in Odisha. Odisha enables visitors to best experience the delight of an immersive trip. 

How to Reach Odisha?

By Air

You can feasibly take  a flight to Biju Patnaik Airport in Bhubaneswar from any major Indian city. From there, you can opt to take a taxi or a bus to reach anywhere in the city from the airport.

By Train

You can feasibly take  the train to any train station available in Odisha. Hail a bus or a cab from there to reach the desired destination. Pre-booking is always a better option.

By Road

You can feasibly take  a bus or hire a taxi or drive yourself to Odisha since it has a well-connected road network.

15 best tourist places in Odisha

Chandipur Beach

15 best tourist places in Odisha

Source: Pinterest

Of all the sites to visit in Odisha, this has to be the best choice if you’re seeking a seaside resort. In addition to its distinctive vanishing sea caused by the low and high tides, Chandipur is renowned for its seafood— you must try the pomfret and prawns. The town is also quite quiet. It is a little beach community that provides total peace and tranquillity.

Visit this place to have some time with your loved ones.

Chandipur Beach offers opportunities to stroll on the seafloor to see and gather seashells, red crabs, turtles, and other undersea marine debris since the sea recedes there by up to 5 kilometres.

Distance: 212km from Bhubaneswar Airport

Best Time to Visit: October-March

How to Reach: You can feasibly take a train from Bhubaneswar Railway Station to Balasore Railway Station. From there, you can opt to take a taxi or a cab to Chandipur Beach, which is nearly 15km from the station.

 

See also: Top 10 tourist places to visit near Kolkata for a short vacation

Konark

15 best tourist places in Odisha

Source: Pinterest

Konark is one of the top places to visit in Odisha and a centre for ancient sculpture and art. The sculptures of the Konark Sun Temple, one of India’s seven wonders, draw throngs of tourists all year long. One of the main attractions of Odisha, particularly for art enthusiasts, is undoubtedly the Konark Sun Temple, which houses some of the world’s best sculptures and works of art. The city also offers a peaceful beach and an interesting archaeological museum to visit, in addition to its magnificent temples. 

Distance: 61.3km from Bhubaneswar Airport

Places to Visit: Sun Temple, Chandrabhaga Beach, Sri Jagannath Puri Temple, and many more.

Best Time to Visit: October-February

How to Reach: You can feasibly take a Konark Express from Bhubaneswar Railway Station to Konark Railway Station or Puri. From there, you can opt to take a taxi or a cab to Chandipur Beach, which is nearly 30km from the station.

Khasada Waterfalls

15 best tourist places in Odisha

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The waterfall has the name of a tiny village in Odisha’s Gajapati district called Khasada. This waterfall is a stunning sight for tourists and continues to flow all year round. For tourists who wish to take in the quiet of nature, this magnificence is a must-see.

Distance: 265km from Bhubaneswar Airport

Best Time to Visit: October-March

How to Reach: You can feasibly take  a train from Bhubaneswar Railway Station to Brahmapur railway Station. From there, you can opt to take a taxi or a cab to Khasada waterfalls, which is nearly 102km from the station. You can feasibly take  a bus from Bhubaneswar to Khasada Falls too.

Sri Jagannath Puri Temple

15 best tourist places in Odisha

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Jagannath Temple honours the three primary deities of Lord Odisha: Lord Krishna, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra. The most significant factor is that Jagannath Temple is one of Odisha’s Puri district’s must-visit locations since it is one of India’s Bada Char Dhams. 

The primary deities of Jagannath Temple’s sculptures are carved and moulded from wood as opposed to the other temples. 

Every year as part of a rite, the temple administration changes the wooden deities. During the yearly, renowned Rath Yatra Chariot Festival, which takes place in June or July, you must go to Jagannath Temple. 

Distance: 60.2km from Bhubaneswar Airport

Timings: 05:00 AM to 11:30 PM

Rath Yatra: It starts Mid-June or July 

Best Time to Visit: October-February

How to Reach: You can feasibly take  a train from Bhubaneswar Railway Station to Puri Railway Station. From there, you can opt to take a taxi or a cab to Jagannath Puri Temple, which is nearly 2.8km from the station. You can feasibly take  a bus/ cab from Bhubaneshwar to Puri too.

Simlipal National Park

15 best tourist places in Odisha

Source: Pinterest

Don your binoculars to find the elusive plants and animals in Northern Odisha’s Simlipal National Park. One of the greatest winter vacation destinations for animal sightings on escorted safaris is this top wildlife sanctuary in Odisha. 

Simlipal National Park has shorter walking paths and covers an area of 2,750 square kilometres. Instead, one of the captivating activities for environment enthusiasts is migrating bird viewing in Simlipal National Park.

Distance: 194.5km from Bhubaneswar Airport

Timings: 05:00 AM to 11:30 PM

Entry fee: INR 40 for Indians, INR 20 for students, INR 1000 for foreigners

Tiger Reserve Entry Permit Timings: 06:00 AM to 09:00 AM

Tiger Reserve Timings: 1 November – 15 June 

Best Time to Visit: November to June

How to Reach: You can feasibly take  a train from Bhubaneswar Railway Station to Balasore or Baripada Railway Station. From there, you can opt to take a taxi or a cab to Simlipal which is nearly 100km from the station. You can feasibly take  a bus/ cab from Bhubaneswar to Baripada then hail a taxi or cab to Simlipal too.

Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary

15 best tourist places in Odisha

Source: Pinterest

For all of the explorers out there, Debrigarh is the ideal place to go. This is the spot to be if you want to see the wild in all its splendour. This wildlife sanctuary in Sambalpur is large and spread out across a large region. 

It is close to the Hirakud dam. The sanctuary is renowned for its waterfalls, which are found in the nearby mountains. Veer Surendra Sai, a freedom warrior who engaged in guerilla warfare against the British, found sanctuary in this deep forest at an intriguing period in the forest’s history.

Distance: 312.7km from Bhubaneswar Airport

Timings: 07:00 AM to 05:00 PM

Entry fee: INR 40 for Adults, INR 50 for camera excluding entry fee) price varies for Safari and Parking. You can online book the accommodation to reside in the sanctuary premise.

Best Time to Visit: November to March

How to Reach: 

By Air:

You can feasibly take  a flight from Bhubaneswar Airport to Jharsuguda Airport which is 59km from Sambalpur.  From Sambalpur, you can take a bus or cab to Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary which is 39km away.

By Train:

You can feasibly take  a train from Bhubaneswar Railway Station to Sambalpur Railway Station. From there, you can opt to take a taxi or a cab to Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary which is nearly 33km from the station.

By Road: 

You can feasibly take  a bus or a cab or drive yourself there. 

Pir Jahania Beach

15 best tourist places in Odisha

Source: Pinterest

If you value tranquillity and peace above all else, this is an excellent spot to spend your vacation. One of Odisha’s undiscovered beaches, Pir Jahania Beach is gorgeous. 

This beach, far from the city’s bustle, is ideal for strolls along its sandy shores and admiring the sunset. The fact that this location is home to the well-known shrine of Pir Jahania, thus the name, is another intriguing feature. Anybody is welcome to visit this temple and get blessings because it does not adhere to any particular faith.

Distance: 75.4km from Bhubaneswar Airport

Best Time to Visit: November due to the Beach Festival every year

How to Reach: You can hail a taxi or a cab to Pir Jahania Beach from the airport.

Cuttack

15 best tourist places in Odisha

Source: Pinterest

The 2nd-largest city in Odisha and the state’s previous capital is Cuttack. This city is where local handicrafts from this state are shown and sold. Cuttack is always humming with cultural events and is the site of several festivals, including the Baliyatra, which honours the historical trade connections between Java, Bali, and Sumatra, Durga Puja, and the Kite Festival, which takes place in January.

Due to its renowned silver craftsmanship, Cuttack is sometimes referred to as the “silver city.” Having a multitude of tourist attractions and being a well-planned city, Cuttack would make a visitor’s journey here one to remember.

Distance: 30.1km from Bhubaneswar Airport

Places to Visit: Nandankanan Zoological Park, Barabati Fort, Paradeep Beach, and many more.

Best Time to Visit: October-March

How to Reach: You can feasibly take  a train from Bhubaneswar Railway Station to Cuttack Junction. From there, you can opt to take a taxi or a cab to reach anywhere in Cuttack. 

You can also hail a bus to Badambadi Bus Stand or a cab to reach the city.

Gopalpur

15 best tourist places in Odisha

Source: Pinterest

A charming, little town named Gopalpur, which was a seaport teeming with trade and business during the Colonial Era is situated along Odisha’s southern coastline approximately 15 kilometres from the city of Berhampur.

What was once a thriving port city that was later abandoned is now one of the nicest beaches along the country’s eastern coast. It is renowned for having a unique location and a tranquil setting. One of India’s most beloved beaches is still there, even though the seaport is mostly in ruins.

Distance: 169.3km from Bhubaneswar Airport

Places to Visit: Gopalpur Sea Beach, Dhabhaleshwar, Gopalpur Lighthouse,  and many more.

Best Time to Visit: November to February

How to Reach: You can feasibly take  a train from Bhubaneswar Railway Station to Brahmapur  Junction. From there, you can opt to take a bus or cab to Gopalpur.

Rourkela

15 best tourist places in Odisha

Source: Pinterest

The business hub of this Eastern Indian State is Rourkela, one of the developed towns in Odisha. Rourkela became well-known as a public sector steel factory in 1955. Rourkela has succeeded in overtaking other iron and steel production bases since that time. Shopping centres, posh eateries, lovely green lawns, and playgrounds for families may all be seen while looking through a tourist’s lens.

Distance: 327.3km from Bhubaneswar Airport

Places to Visit: Shree Hanuman Vatika, Vaishno Devi Temple, Indira Gandhi Park,  and many more.

Best Time to Visit: November to February

How to Reach: You can feasibly take  a flight to Jarsuguda from Bhubaneswar Airport. From Jharsuguda Railway Junction, board a train to Rourkela. You can directly board a train from Bhubnaeshar station to Rourkela Junction.

Bhubaneshwar

15 best tourist places in Odisha

Source: Pinterest

The Indian city of Bhubaneswar, formerly renowned for its architecture and magnificent temples, is today a bustling hub for trade and business. It is also one of the most famous places in Odisha.

The stunning historical temples in the old city of Bhubaneswar draw pilgrims and visitors from all over the nation. The number of temples and the zeal of the people’s religion are well reflected in the city’s name, which translates as “Lord of the Universe.” 

The past of this thriving metropolis is now intricately woven with its contemporary and forward-thinking current. As the epicentre of religious Odisha tourism, Bhubaneshwar is home to a variety of magnificent temples that date back hundreds of years and have kept their original design.

Distance: 134.8km

Places to Visit: Lingaraj Temple, Mukteshwar Temple, Udayagiri & Khandagiri Caves and many more.

Best Time to Visit: October-March

How to Reach: 

By Air

You can feasibly take  a flight from any major city to Biju Patnaik Bhubaneswar Airport, which is located in the heart of the city,

By Train

You can feasibly take  a train to Bhubaneswar Station from any railway station.

By Road

Bhubaneswar has a very well-connected road network. Hail a bus or cab or drive yourself there.

Tikarpada Wildlife Sanctuary

15 best tourist places in Odisha

Source: Pinterest

Tigers, leopards, gaurs, simbal, spotted deer, four-horned antelopes, sloths, gharial, and many more animals may be found at the Tikarpada Wildlife Sanctuary. To raise their population and provide the best environment and care, the Gharial Sanctuary engages in the process of breeding.

While you’re here, you get the opportunity to experience nature in its purest form. The lush foliage and the presence of wild creatures around you charm your spirit. The Mahanadi River offers opportunities for fishing, motorboating, and river rafting when it is both thundering and quiet. You might decide to hike or camp inside the refuge. For those who enjoy the outdoors, animals, and adventure, this is the ideal Odisha famous place.

Distance: 145km from Bhubaneswar Airport

Entry Fee: None

Timings: 09:00 AM to 06:00 PM

Best Time to Visit: October-March

How to Reach: You can feasibly take  a train from Bhubaneswar Railway Station to Angul Junction. From there, you can opt to take a taxi or a cab to reach Tikarpada Wildlife Sanctuary, which is 42km away. 

Hirakud Dam

15 best tourist places in Odisha

Source: Pinterest

The Hirakud Dam’s charming setting and wealth of luxuriant vegetation would appeal to any lover of nature. Located between the Burla and Hirakud Hills, the dam produces hydroelectricity and inundates 7,500,000 hectares of land with breathtaking natural beauty. 

A hill known as Budharaja Hill, which has the Budharaja Temple at its summit, is located close to the Hirakud Dam. This temple, devoted to Lord Shiva, provides stunning views of the dam. The Ghanteswari Temple, another important temple in Hirakud, operated as a beacon for approaching ships by sounding bells to alert the sailors. For a peaceful retreat amid nature, go here.

Distance: 297.3km from Bhubaneswar Airport

Places to Visit: Nandankanan Zoological Park, Barabati Fort, Paradeep Beach, and many more.

Best Time to Visit: May to June for underwater temples

How to Reach: You can feasibly take  a train from Bhubaneswar Railway Station to Sambalpur Junction. From there, you can opt to take a taxi or a cab to reach Hirakud Dam.

You can also board the flight from Bhubaneswar Airport to Jharsuguda airport. From the airport, you can hail a taxi or bus to Hirakud Dam.

Daringbadi

15 best tourist places in Odisha

Source: Pinterest

Odisha’s Daringbadi is a mountainous town. This hill station, which is concealed in a state known for its beaches and temples, sits calmly at the height of 3000 feet and begs to be discovered. 

Daringbadi is referred to as the “Kashmir of Odisha” because of its abundance of pine trees, coffee estates, and beautiful valleys. The weather is welcoming, battling the heat in the summer and providing snow in the winter, and you may stay in charming cottages between trees and valleys. The area is abundant in both flora and animals in addition to its lush, dense woods. The nicest thing about this hill station is that you may go there all year round.

Distance: 246.3km from Bhubaneswar Airport

Places to Visit: Sunset Point, Coffee Garden, Herbal Garden Picnic Spot, and many more.

Best Time to Visit: September-May

How to Reach: You can feasibly take  a train from Bhubaneswar Railway Station to Berhampur Railway. From there, you can opt to take a taxi or a cab to reach Daringbadi, which is 125km away from the station. 

Barbil

15 best tourist places in Odisha

Source: Pinterest

Barbil is a lesser-known tourist place in Odisha and is situated along the Karo River in the Keonjhar district. The location, which is surrounded by lush woods, offers spectacular beauty and a respite from hectic daily life. The Hawa Mahal, Gonasika, Thakurani Hills, Murga Mahadev Waterfalls, Uliburu Reserved Forest, and the Hanuman and Shiva temples are the main attractions.

Distance: 295.3km from Bhubaneswar Airport

Places to Visit: Murga Mahadev Temple and Waterfalls, Jateswar temple, Kirriburu, and many more.

Best Time to Visit: October-March

How to Reach: You can feasibly take  a flight from Bhubaneswar Airport to Jharsuguda Airport.  From there, you can opt to take a taxi or a cab to reach Jarsuguda station, and after reaching there, board a train to Jaraikela. After reaching Jaraikela you can board a bus or a taxi to reach Barbil.

 

FAQs

Which place is given the title “Kashmir of Odisha”?

Daringbadi

When should one visit Odisha?

During winters, it is pleasant for sightseeing.

 

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