Top 6 Must-Visit Places In & Near Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar is an ancient city of Odisha famous for its temples, beaches, waterfalls and nature parks nearby. Bhubaneswar has many famous tourist places nearby such as the State Museum, Nandankanan Zoo, Khandagiri and Udayagiri Caves, Tikarpada Wildlife Sanctuary, Chilika Lake, Konark Sun Temple, etc. Named after the Tribhuvan Eshwar or the 'lord of the three worlds' Bhubaneswar is known as the temple city since it has more than 2,000-year-old temples. The oldest temple in the city is the Parsurameswara Temple built in the 7th century, dedicated to lord shiva. Some of the famous places to visit in Bhubaneswar include caves, hills, zoological parks, museums, art galleries, temples, and amusement parks. Here you can relish the famous dishes of Odisha such as pahala rasagulla, the Odia version of rasagulla. Also, other dishes include malpua, Kora-Khaii, Ghanta Tarkari, Chhena Jalebi, Maccha Ghanta, Dalma, etc.

If you wish to feel the essence of the culture of Odisha you can visit Bhubaneshwar during the time of its special festival known as the Chandrabhanga Mela. It is believed by many Hindu devotees that people suffering from different ailments can cure themselves by taking a dip in the Chandrabhaga River. Many people from all over India come here to participate in the Chandrabhanga Mela. The legendary story behind it is that Samba, the son of Lord Krishna had once walked in on his parents while they were sharing a private moment. Lord Krishna got angry with his son and cursed him to suffer from Leprosy. Later Narada Muni intervened and helped Samba since he was unaware and did not intend to do anything wrong. Narada Muni suggested the boy to go to the shore of the Chandrabhaga River to seek a cure for leprosy. Samba, Lord Krishna’s son then meditated for 12 whole years, prayed to the Sun God and bathed in the river. After he got cured that same spot became a sacred spot and people believed it to have curative properties.

Top 6 Places to Visit In and Around Bhubaneswar

Here is a list of places that you can include in your Bhubaneshwar trip:

• Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary
• Konark Sun Temple
• Bhitarkanika National Park
• Puri
• Mukteshwar Temple
• Museum of Tribal Arts & Artefacts

1. Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary

Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary is a nearby tourist place located within 100 km of Bhubaneswar. This wildlife sanctuary is present along the shores of the Bay of Bengal located between Puri and Konark. It is home to the beautiful rivers Kushabhadra and Nuanai. Besides this,  rivulets such as the Kadua River and Prachi River also travel across this wildlife sanctuary. It is full of distinctive animals that you can witness such as the beautiful blackbucks, striped hyenas, jackals, spotted deer, monkeys, egrets, herons, squirrels, jungle cats and mongoose, all along your jungle safari at Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary. It is a major eco-tourism spot in Odisha and one of the best places to visit nearby Bhubaneshwar because of its lush green vegetation full of mangrove trees, sandy beaches, and good road network including marine drive road.

2. Konark Sun Temple

The Konark Sun Temple is one of the best tourist places to visit near Bhubaneswar. Located near the shore of the Bay of Bengal, the Sun Temple’s authenticity of form and design is maintained through its sculpture and architecture. Konark where this temple is located is significant as it holds testimony to the 13th-century kingdom of Odisha. This factor of the Sun Temple got it added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites. The Sun Temple is built in the form of a giant chariot of the Sun god. It also consists of a Konark Museum maintained by the archaeological survey of India. The temple hosts the Konark Dance Festival every year in February dedicated to the Sun god. If you wish to visit this temple, it is suggested that the ideal time to visit is during the months of September to March. People travelling to Bhubaneswar are sure to visit this nearby tourist place as it lies within a 100 Km radius and is a sight not to be missed.

3. Bhitarkanika National Park

Odisha offers a wide choice of wildlife reserves with nearly one-third of the state under forest cover, and 18 sanctuaries, including two national parks. One of them is Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park called the mini-Amazon of India. This place is a favourite tourist spot near Bhubaneswar famous for its saltwater crocodile, Indian python, king cobra, black ibis, darters, etc. Moreover, it has the second-largest mangrove ecosystem in India. People who wish to visit Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park also have the provision of a guest house and a place to eat. They can even stay in nature camps such as Dangamal Nature Camp, Habalikhati and Gupti Nature Camps for a luxurious stay in the park. Many eco-tourists come to visit this place nearby Bhubaneswar to spot Asian Open Bill, Black Ibis, Cormorants, Bottle-Nose Dolphin, Irrawady Dolphin and Finless Porpoise Dolphin.

4. Puri

Puri is home to one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in India i.e. Shree Jagannath Temple. This temple is famous for the annual Rath Yatra where millions of devotees take part. Moreover, this pilgrim town has many famous tourist spots one of which is the ‘Golden Beach’ called Puri Beach. It is one of the best places for sightseeing near Bhubaneswar. Puri Beach Festival is organised on this beach every year in the month of November where it hosts various cultural programs, fashion shows and exhibitions. Besides this, traditional sporting events like kabaddi, malkham, beach volleyball, regatta boat or yacht races are also held. This attracts many national and international tourists here all throughout the year. What makes it an ideal picnic spot near Bhubaneswar is all the fun activities to enjoy your leisure time. Here you can take camel rides and horse rides at the beachside. Moreover, you can also enjoy wonderful picturesque views of the beach along with taking part in activities such as scuba diving, surfing, swimming etc. It truly is a visual and adventurous treat!

 5. Mukteshwar Temple

Bhubaneswar is the temple city of India as it is home to many famous temples such as Rajarani Temple, Lingaraj Temple, Dhauli Buddhist Monastery, etc. Mukteshwar is one such prestigious temple located in Bhubaneswar. It is one of the most visited tourist places in Bhubaneswar as many Hindu devotees come here to pay their obeisance to the revered Shivalinga. It has the finest Odiya sculptures and architecture and inculcates diamond-shaped windows featuring lattice design, intricate carvings, and sculptures of characters from the tales of Panchatantra. Many tourists come to visit this place in Bhubaneswar to experience one of its kind  Mukteswara Dance Festival organized by Odisha Tourism every year in the month of January. It showcases events of Odissi dance (one of the oldest dance forms in India).

6. Museum of Tribal Arts & Artefacts

If you are someone who wants to have an insight into the lives of the indigenous tribal community then you can visit this tourist place in Bhubaneswar. The Museum of Tribal Arts and Artefacts exhibits a wide range of tribal costumes, jewellery, art, household objects and musical instruments that depict the lifestyle of the local tribe. Some of the tribal costumes exhibited here are phute saree of the Santhal tribe, ringa of the Bonda tribe and gatungkap of Lanjia Saora. Along with this the museum also consists of the idols of tribal deities with replicas of 14 tribal shrine crafts. It was established in the year 1953 in order to promote the tribal culture of Odisha. One must for sure visit this place in Odisha to experience its true tribal culture.

Plan a longer holiday to rejoice in the bounteous nature and rich wildlife of Odisha by exploring its lesser-known corners. Plan your trip today!