Eastern India:
Orissa
These
days the states of Rajasthan, Kerala, Goa are overrun with visitors from Europe it is
refreshing to promote a state which has a huge amount to offer the visitor but is
relatively unknown. The capital, Bhubaneshwar is a holy city with some of the finest Hindu
architecture in the whole of India and some fascinating caves boasting fascinating
sculpture. This is also the site of one of the greatest events in the history of India
when Mauryan Emperor Asoka renounced violence and adopted Buddhism as the official
religion of the Empire. His famous rock edicts are located at Dauli just outside
Bhubaneshwar.
South
of the capital on the coast is the holy city of Puri, a mecca for Hindu pilgrims and home
of the greatest annual festival the Rath Yatra.
Puri
is home to the Lord Jagganath who with his sister Subhadra and brother Balbhadra inhabit
the Jagannath temple in Puri. Each year Jagannath accompanied by his siblings makes the
mile long journey to his birthplace a spectacular scene with over 200,000 towing the huge
mobile temples along the route accompanied by musicians drummers etc.
Nearby
is the one of the largest and one of the most impressive temples in India dedicated to
Surya the Sun God, Konark is a wonder of Hindu architecture and is adorned with sculpture
of the highest quality.
The
warm seas of the Bay of Bengal lap the shores of Orissa and there are some delightful
beaches as well as wildlife sanctuaries boasting the largest turtle hatchery in Asia and
one of the best bird sanctuaries in the country.
The tour flies into and out of
Calcutta. |
