From wildlife sanctuaries and beaches to intricately carved temples and monuments and the arts and festivals, Odisha (Orissa) offers India's most splendid cultural landscapes. Located in the eastern part of India, Odisha is one of the most famous tourist attractions. Bhubaneshwar, the capital of Odisha, also known as the temple city of India, is renowned for its architecture and grand temples.
The famous Lingaraj temple and the Parasurameswara temple are located in Bhubaneshwar city. One of the four must-visit pilgrimage sites of Hindus, Puri is a place where the famous and sacred Jagannatha Temple is also located here. The famous Chilika Lake, Puri Beach, and Sun Temple at Konark are also must-visit places in Puri. Cuttack, the cultural capital of Odisha, is the second-largest city of Odisha and is the center of the commercial activities.
The Hirkund Dam, an engineering marvel, is one of the famous tourist attractions in Odisha. This dam is a source of power generation and provides irrigation to the nearby region. For nature lovers and photographers, Nandankanan Zoo is a good place to visit to explore the rich and diverse flora and fauna of the region. Black Panthers, gharial crocodiles, and white tigers are the most famous attractions of this zoo. Built as the residential blocks for Jain monks during the reign of King Kharavela, Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves are a must-visit artificial caves of the region.
