Flying from Bangalore to Bhubaneswar on Dec 9th at 3.30 PM was a little easy to me and mom since waking up early wasn't needed.Parbati guest house near ID (Indradanush) Market was prebooked.
BSNL 3g was horrible throughout the journey.Had to take up a cab and finally we reached our guest house at 6.30 PM.Siaram was the only veg hotel as suggested by the hotel staff but since it was too early for dinner there, we managed to eat rotis and curd rice in a Himalaya , the hotel opposite to ours and ended the day with a peaceful sleep.
Day 2 : After waiting in Crown Bus station for 20 min, we had to catch an auto to Rasulgardh , the place which locals suggested for a bus to Puri but to our hard luck, we had to take another auto to Kalpana Square . The moment we stared negotiating price with the taxi fellows, a red govt bus just passed by and took us all the way to Puri.It was around 9.30 AM . We decided to enter the temple and completed our darshana by 10.30 AM.
After finishing a not so good Marwadi breakfast, we headed to Shankar Mutt, one of the 4 mutts established by Sri Adi Shankaracharya.
The weather began to heat up as we moved towards Puri beach.Spending time in Puri beach was not a good idea.We also visited Kanchi peetha which was opposite to the beach.Konark was our next destination plan.
It took almost 2 hrs to reach Konark from Puri in a local mini bus.It was 1.30 PM.Sun temple was mesmerizing ! Much bigger than my imagination."5.15 PM is the time for the last bus to Bhubaneswar", said our guide.So we moved towards a local hotel for a thali and took a mini bus at 4.30 PM.It was a super long journey to ID market.
Day 3 :Bhubaneswar local tour day ! Straight form our hotel to Bharateshwar & Shatrugneshwar temple was our first visit and from there to Lingaraja temple, the king of Lingas ! What an architecture ! Truly blessed to have visited such a magnanimous temple.
It was a 2 km walk to reach Kedar Gowri temple . Just few steps from there was the famous Mukteshwar temple.The most beautiful temple in the surrounding area.Raja Rani temple was at another 1 km from there.A total of 4 km walk through out :).We were hungry to the core and heat was rising up.We finally managed to get an auto which took us to ID market for our lunch at Krishna and Siyaram hotel !
Day 4 :Udayagiri was 20 kms from our stay.After exploring the cave by 11.30 AM , we headed towards Nandankanan zoo.That was really a huge zoo area . White Bengal tiger was the major attraction.Jackals,Lion,Giraffe,Tigers,Birds,Deer,Bear, Ostriches and the list goes on .. Very satisfying and tiring walk it was. It was time to say bye bye to Orissa at 4.30 PM and we landed safely in Bangalore late night.
BSNL 3g was horrible throughout the journey.Had to take up a cab and finally we reached our guest house at 6.30 PM.Siaram was the only veg hotel as suggested by the hotel staff but since it was too early for dinner there, we managed to eat rotis and curd rice in a Himalaya , the hotel opposite to ours and ended the day with a peaceful sleep.
Day 2 : After waiting in Crown Bus station for 20 min, we had to catch an auto to Rasulgardh , the place which locals suggested for a bus to Puri but to our hard luck, we had to take another auto to Kalpana Square . The moment we stared negotiating price with the taxi fellows, a red govt bus just passed by and took us all the way to Puri.It was around 9.30 AM . We decided to enter the temple and completed our darshana by 10.30 AM.
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| In front of Jagannath Temple,Puri |
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| Jagannath Temple,Puri |
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| Dolls |
After finishing a not so good Marwadi breakfast, we headed to Shankar Mutt, one of the 4 mutts established by Sri Adi Shankaracharya.
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| Shankar Mutt,Puri |
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| Shankar Mutt,Puri |
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| Shankar Mutt,Puri |
The weather began to heat up as we moved towards Puri beach.Spending time in Puri beach was not a good idea.We also visited Kanchi peetha which was opposite to the beach.Konark was our next destination plan.
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| Kanchi Peetha,Puri |
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| Puri beach |
It took almost 2 hrs to reach Konark from Puri in a local mini bus.It was 1.30 PM.Sun temple was mesmerizing ! Much bigger than my imagination."5.15 PM is the time for the last bus to Bhubaneswar", said our guide.So we moved towards a local hotel for a thali and took a mini bus at 4.30 PM.It was a super long journey to ID market.
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| Sun Temple , Konark |
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| Sun Temple , Konark |
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| Sun Temple , Konark |
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| Sun Temple , Konark |
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| Sun Temple , Konark |
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| Sun Temple , Konark |
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| Sun Temple , Konark |
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| Sun Temple , Konark |
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| Sun Temple , Konark |
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| Sun Temple , Konark |
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| Shops near the temple premises |
Day 3 :Bhubaneswar local tour day ! Straight form our hotel to Bharateshwar & Shatrugneshwar temple was our first visit and from there to Lingaraja temple, the king of Lingas ! What an architecture ! Truly blessed to have visited such a magnanimous temple.
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| Bharateshwar & Shatrugneshwar Temple |
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| Bharateshwar & Shatrugneshwar Temple |
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| Bharateshwar & Shatrugneshwar Temple |
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| Kedar Gowri Temple |
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| Kedar Gowri Temple |
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| Kedar Gowri Temple |
It was a 2 km walk to reach Kedar Gowri temple . Just few steps from there was the famous Mukteshwar temple.The most beautiful temple in the surrounding area.Raja Rani temple was at another 1 km from there.A total of 4 km walk through out :).We were hungry to the core and heat was rising up.We finally managed to get an auto which took us to ID market for our lunch at Krishna and Siyaram hotel !
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| Mukteshwar Temple |
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| Mukteshwar Temple |
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| Mukteshwar Temple |
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| Mukteshwar Temple |
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| Mukteshwar Temple |
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| Raja Rani Temple Entrance |
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| Raja Rani Temple |
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| Raja Rani Temple |
Day 4 :Udayagiri was 20 kms from our stay.After exploring the cave by 11.30 AM , we headed towards Nandankanan zoo.That was really a huge zoo area . White Bengal tiger was the major attraction.Jackals,Lion,Giraffe,Tigers,Birds,Deer,Bear, Ostriches and the list goes on .. Very satisfying and tiring walk it was. It was time to say bye bye to Orissa at 4.30 PM and we landed safely in Bangalore late night.
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| Udayagiri Caves |
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| Udayagiri Caves |
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| Udayagiri Caves |
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| Udayagiri Caves |
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| Udayagiri Caves |
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| Udayagiri Caves |
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| Nandankanan Zoo |
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| Nandankanan Zoo |
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| Nandankanan Zoo |
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| Nandankanan Zoo |
