HOT TOURISM

NANDAN KANAN ZOO IS 25 KM. FROM BHUBNESWAR, OPEN FROM 8A.M TO 5P.M. EVERY DAY (MONDAY CLOSED), IS ONE OF INDIAN’S FINEST ZOOS. ROYAL BENGAL TIGERS ARE WHAT NANDAN KANAN IS FAMOUS FOR. FROM 10 A.M. VISITORS ARE TAKEN IN A COACH TO THE 50 ACRES LION SAFARI PARK.

The Sun Temple was constructed as chariot of Sun God . 24 wheels have been affixed to the PLATFORM. Each wheel is 9’.9” in diametre having 8 spokes. The entire wheel is full of fine art works. the 24 wheels signify 24 hours and the 8 spokes signify 8 “prahars” (three hour periods) of a day.

There are two gorgeously caparisoned War Horses in front of the southern side of the Konark Temple. They are each 10 feet long and 7 feet high. The sculpture depicts each of them with its massive strength and vigour trampling down a warrior. This figure of war House of Konark has been accepted as the symbol of the State Government of Orissa and her erstwhile martial glory. 7 qre f I "

There are two majestic lions infront of the estern door which is the main gate of the konarak sun temple. the lion is seen pressing down a big elephant which has caught hold of a man in his trunk. the entire block is in one stone . the image is of 8’4” length, 4’9” in breadth and its height is 9’2”, its weight is 27.48 tonnes.

There are three forms of the Sun God. The Soulhcm side God called 'Mitra’ is described as the Rising Sun, il is 8'3" in height. The Western side God called 'Punsan' is described as Mid-day Sun, its height is 9'6" and Ihc NoRThern side God called 'Haritasva' is described as the Setting Sun. iTS height is 3.58 mTrs.

THE PRESENT SUN TEMPLE KONARK IS ALSO KNOWN AS THE BLACK PAGODA. IT IS 36 KM, FROM PURI. THE PRESENT SUN TEMPLE WAS BUILT BY THE KING LANGULA NARASIGHA DEVA IN 13TH CENTURY A.D. WITH THE HELP OF 1200 ARCHITECTSIN 12 YEARS TIME AND AT 12 YEARS STATE REVENUE, IN THE FORM OF A CHARIOT OF SUN GOD. THE HEIGHT OF THIS TEMPLE IS 228 FEET. THE TEMPLE IS FITTED WITH 24 WHEELS AND 7 HORSES. ITS ARCHITECTURE AND SCULPTURE IS A SHEER POETRY IN STONE. THE BENGALI POET RABINDRANATH TAGORE WAS SO MOVED BY ITS BEAUTY THAT HE SAID,” HERE THE LANGUAGE OF MAN IS DEFEATED BY THE LANGUAGE OF THE STONE.”

THIS HOLY PLACE IS A MIXED ARCHITECTURE. WHICH SITUATED AT THE PURI.

This holy town has a long wide and attractive sea beach. the sea is called mahodadhi. it is the bay of BENGAL. the PURI SEA beach populary known as the golden beach is the finest beach ON THE east COAST. the beach attracts sunbathers and swimmers because of the calmness of the sea.

Narendra tank is one of the holy tanks . the tank is at a distance of about 1 km. from the jaggannath ttemple towrds the north. the chandan yatra festival beginning from akshya truity of the month of baisakha (april-may) continuies at this tank for 21 days . lord madan mohan (the representetive of lord jaggannath) and pancha pandavas have their pleasure cruise around in the tank in well decorated boats.

The Lokanath Temple IS AT A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 3K.M. TO THE WEST OF THE JAGANNATH TEMPLE, PURI, PURI ALSO A SEAT OF SHIVA WORSHIP . Sri lokanath is the Gurdian Deity of sri Jagannath Temple’s treasure house. So he is known as Bhandar Loknath also.

The twin hills arc situated 8 km. North- West of Bhubaneswar. The height of Khandagiri is 133 feel and Udayagiri is 110 feel. There are 19 caves in Khadagiri and 44 caves in Udayagiri. The Hathi Gumpha or Elephant Cave, records the life chronicle of King Kharavela.

Dhauli is situated towards the Soulh-West of Bhubaneswar at a distance of 8 km. on the bank of the river Daya. The Shanti Stupa or Stupa of peace built by the Japanese, commemorates the site of one of the greatest religious conversions in History. In the 3rd century B.C. emperor Ashoka is said to have adopted Buddhism and the doctrine of non-violence here at Dhauli, after a dreadful battle where thousands lost their lives.

The Mukleswar Temple of Bhubaneswar was built in the 1Oth century A. D. with its small 1 1.5 mtrs (35 feet) high Deula. A scholar considers it the Harbinger or the new culture. The beautiful Torana, the arched gateway deserves special attention.

The towering Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar represents the Orissan temple architecture. The present temple was built by King Lalatendu Keshari in the 11th century- A.D. It is 55 mtrs. (180 feet) high. Inside its expansive precincts are around 150 subsidiary shrines.

GUNDICHA GHAR OF the Garden House, is a much sanctum where the deities from the Main Temple are brought for one week during the Rath Yatra Festival .It is also known as the house of lord Jagannath’s Aunt.The temple 430 feet high and 320 feet wide. It is about 3 km. from Sri .Jagannath Temple.

The world famous Car Festival of Lord Jagannath is held on Ashadha Sukla Dwitiya (June-July) every year. This festival is popularly known as Rath Yatra, GUndicha Yatra and also Ghose Vatra. On the Car Festival day the three wooden deities are taken out from the temple and placed in their respective Chariots, then drawn to the Gimdicha Ghar temple for a Seven-day-sojourn.

The presiding Deities in THE temple of Jagannath are Lord Balabhadra, Goddess Subhadra and Lord JagaNNath. The three Deities are known as Trimurti (Trinity). The trio are seated on a stone pedestal called Ratnavedi in the sanCTum sancTorum. The idols are made NEEMWOOD (MARGOSA). Numerous subsidiary deities around the temple complex exhausting the Hindu Pantheon to the full.

LORD JAGANNATH TEMPLE PURI: The TEMPLE OF LORD JAGANNATH AT PURI IS ONE OF THE FOUR MAIN HOLY CENTERS (DHAMS) OF INDIA . IT IS SITUATED ON THE BAY OF BENGAL . IT ALSO CALLED PURUSOTTAM KSHETRA AND SANKHA KSHETRA . THE PRESENT TEMPLE OF LORD JAGANNATH BEGUN IN THE 12TH CENTURY A.D. DURING THE REIGN OF CHODAGANGA DEVA AND COMPLETED BY KING ANANGA BHIMA DEVA. IT IS ABOUT 214 FEET HIGH.

INDIA IS A LAND OF BEAUTY, CULTURE AND DEVOTIES. IN TERMS OF VISITOR NUMBERS, NOW INDIA IS 11 TH AMONG ASIA PACIFIC COUNTRIES.

orissa at a GLANCE: orissa has been called by various names at different points of HISTORY: kalinga, UTKAL, kongada, and odra-desha. orissa the state on the eastern sea coast of INDIA IS the land of hoary antiquities, magnificent monuments, excuisites handicrafts, and wide- ranging flora and fauna. its luxuriant forests, beautiful lakes, bracing sea RESORTS, and eye-filling water falls are of perennial interst of TOURIST. the state covering an area of 1,55,707 SQ. kms. the lord jagannath temple at PURI, sun temple of konarak and lingaraj temple at bhubaneswar are the golden triangle of orissa.