Q 1: What is Puri known for?
Ans: Puri is a holy city and a significant pilgrimage site known to be the resting place of Lord Shiva. It houses the Lord Jagannath temple which is dedicated to Lord Jagannath and exhibits Kalinga architecture. The Rath Yatra takes place in Puri during June and July. During this festival, Lord Krishna, Subhadra, and Balbhadra are taken out of their temples to meet their devotees. Apart from the spiritual sites Puri is known for its picturesque beaches such as Konark Beach, Puri Beach, and Swargadwar Sea Beach.
Q 2: What places will be included in the Puri sightseeing tour?
Ans: During the Puri sightseeing tour, you will visit many popular attractions such as the Lord Jagannath temple that enshrines Devi Subhadra, Lord Jagannath, and Balabhadra and Markandeswara temple known for its artistic essence and magnificent architecture. You can also visit Puri Beach and see sculptures made by Sudarshan Patnaik, an internationally known-sand artist. Other popular attractions of Puri include The Sudarshan Crafts Museum, Raghurajpur Artist Village, Sakshi Gopal Temple, and Narendra Tank.
Q 3: What items can you buy from the markets in Bhubaneshwar?
Ans: Bhubaneswar is renowned for its diverse market from where you can buy various items ranging from handloom products to traditional Odisha handicrafts, sarees, and textiles. You can also shop for wall hangings, purses, garden umbrellas, lamp shades, brass metal items, pattachitra, terracotta items, woodcrafts, horn craft, palm leaf engravings, and tribal jewelry. If you love sweet delicacies then don’t forget to buy khaja from Bhubaneswar.
Q 4: What is Konark Sun Temple known for?
Ans: The Konark Sun Temple is known for its architectural grandeur, spiritual significance, and intricate stone carvings. This ancient temple was constructed by King Narasimhadeva I in the 13th century and is dedicated to Surya, the Sun God. The Konark Sun Temple is known worldwide for its chariot-shaped design and twenty-four beautifully carved stone wheels representing the twenty-four hours of the day. The temple has sculptures depicting different aspects of daily life and celestial beings.
Q 5: Why should you visit Ratnagiri, Udayagiri, and Lalitgiri?
Ans: Ratnagiri, Udayagiri, and Lalitgiri are the most famous Buddhist sites situated in Odisha. They form a part of Odisha’s "Diamond Triangle" and represent rich Buddhist heritage. Ratnagiri is known for its monastic complex featuring sculptures, relics, and intricately carved stupas. Lalitgiri and Udayagiri are renowned for their ruins, including sculptures, monasteries, and stupas showcasing the flourishing Buddhist culture. These sites were centers of Buddhist pilgrimage and learning attracting monks, scholars, and devotees from different parts of Asia.