Day trips and local getaways

Day trips and local getaways

With people getting easily bored of watching television, it becomes a big concern to find ways of relaxing and entertainment. Despite the workload, people look forward to activities available for them nearby. No matter the size of your family, there is a wide range of fun-filled day trips and local getaways in Odisha for the whole family. Whether it is spring, summer, fall or winter, daytime, nighttime, indoors or outdoors, a quick midweek break or a weekend family break, there are locations for sightseeing trips at Odisha.

Deras Dam: it’s worth traveling to Deras dam for its sublime beauty, serenity, and calmness. You can have a close nature walk around the dam. Those who seek calm, serene and offbeat places, then Deras is the right choice. Early mornings and afternoons are the best time to be in the deras. Having a camera, wearing a nice pair of walking shoes, and carrying water and food is must, have the least possible things with you to enjoy the sunset at deras dam.

Dhauli Giri: Dhauli Giri is the site, on whose plains Kalinga War was fought at the Daya River. Reclining Buddha, an elephant procession, the bodhi tree and footprints of Buddha bearing the chakra adorn the main stone panels. Dhauli Giri has a sleeping beauty fanned by female attendants, procession on horseback and Emperor Ashoka renouncing war by offering his sword to Lord Buddha. Saddharma Vihar Monastery, the ancient sculptures, and varied extraordinary art forms are also located at Dhauli Giri. 

Hirapur Village: Hirapur Village is famous for its Yogini Temples. The location is filled with a number of attractions dating from the reign of Somavamsi and Bhauma rulers in Orissa. The village also contains many ancient Hindu and Buddhist heritage sites. In the Yogini Temples of Hirapur, Yoginis are portrayed as balancing themselves on a pair of wheels or playing drums. Some Yoginis are shown as huntresses with bows and arrows, along with horses, rabbits, and elephants. 

Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves:  At the site, tourists can find a number of ornately carved caves facing each other across the road. Khandagiri has 15 caves, while Udayagiri has 18 caves. Due to art treasures of their sculptures and relief, Hathigumpha and Ganeshagumpha in Udayagiri are especially well known. You would love to see how sculptural friezes adorn Rani ka Naur while carved figures of women, elephants, athletes and geese carrying flowers embellish the Ananta Cave.

ISKCON Temple: ISKCON Temple contains idols of deities like Krishna, Balaram, Gaura Nithai, Subhadra and Jagannath. Focused on propagating and educating spiritual knowledge, techniques of spiritual life to society and consciousness of Krishna, the temple follows the great scriptures of India, Bhagavad Gita, and Srimad Bhagavatam. The temple organizes kirtans, bhajans, and pooja on a regular basis which will refresh your mind.

Orissa State Museum: Orissa State Museum has housed numerous archaeological objects, art and craft objects, natural history objects, bronze tools and stone sculptures, coins, copper plates, prehistoric objects, ethnological objects, and armory. By a collection of traditional and folk musical instruments and sculptures, the museum expresses the vivid history and cultural traditions of Orissa. Tourists can also get an insight into rare epigraphic records, handicraft, Patta paintings, brassware, and delicate decoration.