Orissa

Orissa

Day 1, BHUBANESWAR

Arrive in Bhubaneswar and transfer to your hotel. The capital of the state of Orissa, Bhubaneshwar is a pleasant city containing a real contrast between the modern new buildings and the famous old temples, of which there are many hundreds (it seems impossible to establish an exact number!). The most famous is the large Lingaraj Temple. Afternoon at leisure to explore.

Stay at Mayfair Lagoon

Day 2, BHUBANESWAR TO PURI

Drive to Puri (1 1/2 hrs) via the splendid Sun temple at Konarak, built in the 13th century. This wondrous temple complex is located on a beach side location in the town of Konarak. With its enormous Shikhara, the finesse of its carvings and the pleasing proportions, this is surely India's best example of temple architecture. The entire temple is shaped like a giant chariot of the sun god as he traverses the universe.

Stay at Hans Coco Palms for two nights

Day 3, PURI

Take an excursion to Chilika Lake, Asia's largest salt-water lake. The lake supports a staggering variety of aquatic life and birds, both resident and migratory. Winters, the lake gets surrounded by migratory birds' nesting colonies, including the delicate pink flamingos. The lake is also home to dolphins that can be seen regularly near the islands. Chilika is also an important place for turtles that come in large numbers in winter to lay their eggs in hundreds. A boat trip is an ideal way of spotting some of the lake's interesting inhabitants.

Day 4, ONWARDS FROM PURI

Morning free in Puri to enjoy the beach or to take an excursion to the nearby idyllic village of Raghurajpur, where every thatch-roof dwelling houses a family of artisans. Their skills in stone-and-wood carving, palm-leaf paintings, and fine drawings on silk or cloth are passed down from one generation to almost every member of the next generation.

In the afternoon you can take the overnight train back to Kolkata (9 hrs) or take a flight out of Bhubaneswar - just let us know and we'll advise you of the additional costs. Feel free to add any special requirements to your enquiry form.

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