| Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa is
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| | beautiful carvings. The Rani Gumpha
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| known as the temple town due to its many
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| | (Queen's Cave), one of the largest and
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| temples in the extravagant Orissan
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| | double-storied, is ornately embellished
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| architectural style. At one time the
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| | with beautiful carvings. In the Hati
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| Bindusagar tank had over 7000 temples
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| | Gumpha, King Kharavela has carved out the
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| around it. Today there are about 500 but
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| | chronicles of his reign.
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| most of these are just decayed fragments.
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| | Chilka Lake
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| Perhaps a dozen are of real interest
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| | Situated south of Puri, this 1,100 sq. km
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| including the great Lingaraj Temple, one
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| | shallow lake is Asia's largest salt water
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| of the most important temples in India.
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| | lagoon and is separated from the sea only
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| Places to see in Bhubaneswar:
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| | by a narrow sand bar. The lake is
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| Bhubaneswar, "The abode of the Lord of
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| | peppered with many small rocky islands
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| the World" and the gateway to Orrisa, has
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| | and is a vast reserve for aquatic flora
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| slowly started to unbosom its mysteries
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| | and fauna. Hire a kayak and look for
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| for the past few years. Tour around the
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| | Irrawaddy dolphins along with Siberian
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| splendid Lingaraj Temple, ancient
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| | cranes or you can hike through the
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| Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves and enjoy
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| | jungles to discover white sand converging
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| a superb boating experience at the Chilka
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| | into blue water.
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| lake and Taptapani excursions. Once
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| | Brahmeswar
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| called the Kalinga or Utkala, this city
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| | About a km east of the main road,
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| now boasts of cool avenues, upscale
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| | Brahmeswar Temple stands in a yard
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| hotels, shopping malls and excellent
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| | flanked by four smaller streets. The
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| dining out options.
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| | temple from the 9th century. Close by a
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| Dhauli Giri
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| | other temples which are not so great
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| Just 8 km away from Bhubaneswar looking
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| | interest. The Bhaskareswar unusual
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| down on the plains that bore witness to
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| | 'stepped' design in order to accommodate
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| the gruesome war waged on Kalinga by the
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| | an unusually large (three metre) lingam
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| Mauryan emperor Ashoka, stand the rock
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| | it once contained. The Megheswar is in a
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| edicts of Dhauli. It was here that King
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| | courtyard and its shrine entrance is
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| Ashoka, full of remorse after the Kalinga
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| | topped by a figure. Beside it there is a
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| War in 261 BC, renounced his
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| | tank.
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| blood-thirsty campaign and turned to
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| | Museum
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| Buddhism. Ashoka erected two main edicts
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| | The museum is opposite the Hotel Ashok
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| in Kalinga, one in Dhauli and the other
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| | Kalinga and has an interesting collection
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| in Jayagarh. The principles of Ashoka
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| | relating to Orissan history, culture and
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| which reflect his compassion were
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| | architecture and to the various Orissan
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| inscribed on all the other edicts in his
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| | tribes. The Tribal Research Bureau is
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| empire except Kalinga. This is in sharp
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| | also located here. The museum is open 10
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| contrast to all of his other edicts and
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| | am to 5 pm daily except Mondays.
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| proof of his political acumen. The edicts
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| | Ekamra Haat
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| are so remarkable that they have been
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| | Located near the exhibition ground, this
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| excellently preserved, despite the fact
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| | Haat is a hub for tourists who are
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| that they date back to the 3rd century
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| | interested to get some stuff with Oriya
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| BC.
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| | touch along with their unforgettable
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| Lingaraj Temple
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| | memoirs. Ekamra Haat is aesthetically
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| Dedicated to the Lord Vishnu and Shiv
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| | designed to create a relaxed ambiance to
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| Linga, the Lingaraj temple is one of
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| | browse through ethnic handlooms and
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| Orrisa's famous temples, notable for the
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| | handicrafts from all over the country.
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| symmetrical sculptures carved on its 45m
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| | The walls are embellished with attractive
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| high spire. The deity of Lingaraj is an
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| | terracotta sculptures and vibrant folk
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| uncarved block of granite 8 feet in
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| | paintings.
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| diameter raised 8 inches above the ground
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| | How to Get There:
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| and is bathed daily with milk, water and
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| | Air
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| bhang (marijuana). Plan your trip during
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| | Indian Airlines and many private airlines
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| March-April to enjoy the joyous four-day
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| | fly on regular basis to Bhubaneswar.
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| chariot festival, when Lingaraj is drawn
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| | Bhubaneswar Airport is 3 km from the city
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| on his chariot to Rameswara temple.
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| | centre and almost all the major cities
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| Bindusagar
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| | are connected from here. Indian Airlines
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| Bindusagar or "Ocean Drop" is a tank
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| | has flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkotta,
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| placed north of the Lingaraj temple and
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| | Delhi, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam and
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| is said to contain water from every
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| | Varanasi.
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| river, lake and holy stream of India
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| | Rail
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| brought by Lord Shiva. Taking a bath here
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| | Bhubaneswar also have good railway
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| and drinking the water of this pool is
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| | network connecting it to major cities of
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| said to cure any disease of the stomach.
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| | India Kolkatta, Puri, Bhubaneswar, Delhi,
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| A famous pilgrimage site for Indians, the
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| | Mumbai, Hyderabad and Tirupati.
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| tank is surrounded by numerous temples
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| | Road
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| and shrines. The best time to come here
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| | The national highway no.5 touches this
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| is around sunrise.
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| | capital city. The main bus stand is at
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| Khandagiri & Udayagiri
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| | Barmunda, 8 km from the city centre.
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| The twin hills of Khandagiri & Udayagiri,
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| | There are regular interstate bus services
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| 8 km from Bhubaneswar, served as the site
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| | from the nearby towns and cities.
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| of an ancient Jain monastery which was
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| | Inter-state bus services operate daily in
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| carved into cave like chambers in the
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| | between Calcutta and Puri via Bhubaneswar
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| face of the hill. Dating back to the 2nd
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| | and Bhubaneswar-Tata Nagar.
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| century BC, some of the caves have
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