Puri Beach Vacation
- 06 Nights/07 Days
- india
- Bhubaneshwar – Puri
About the Tour
Explore Odisha offer something that is very unique. It has a chequered history of temple constructions with stunning temples and monuments, long coastlines of 480 kms, 35% of thick & dense forest cover, Buddhist heritage, 62 ethnic tribes, scintillating classical dance of Odissi, largest brackish water lake of Asia-Chilika, the criss-crossed mangroves forest of Bhitarkanika, so many and so forth. Bhubaneswar and Puri, both places are home to spectacular and ancient temples. Accept the opportunity to spend a hassle free holiday, at the same time cover the main attraction sites.
Highlights
- Enjoy the pristine beach of Puri.
- Visit Sun Temple in Konark.
- Visit Khandagiri Udaygiri Caves at Bhubaneswar
- Explore Pipli Artist Village.
- Visit Lingaraja Temple and Mukteshwar Temple.
Day 1: Arrive Bhubaneshwar
Upon your arrival at Bhubaneshwar International airport, you will be met by our office airport representative. After a warm welcome at the airport, you will be driven to your pre-booked hotel and our representative will assist you in check-in formalities. “Bhubaneshwar is the capital of the ancient kingdom of Orissa and is famous as the temple city of India. Travel through Orissa is a melange of art, architecture and long-established customs.”
Day 2: Full day sightseeing in Bhubaneshwar | Drive Bhubaneswar - Puri (54kms/ 1hrs approx)
After breakfast at the hotel, you will start your excursion from Lingaraja Temple, which is one of the most sacred and religious sites in India and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is one of the oldest temples in Bhubaneswar. you will continue with your guide and driver to your next stop, Mukteshwar Temple located at a hilltop, this temple was built in the 10th Century and is another temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The unique structure offers a mix of modern and ancient. The next place to visit is the ancient Parsurama Temple, believed to have been built during the 12th and 13th centuries. This temple is the only temple in Kerala dedicated to Lord Parusarama. Lord Parusama was the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu and known in the ancient scripts as a warrior.
After this, you will continue to the Rajarani Temple. This temple is believed to have been constructed between the 11th to 12th century and has many similar details to the famous Khajuraho Temples, due to its intricate details of erotic carvings. The last stop of the trip is at the Museum of Tribal Arts and Artifacts which offers a unique experience to get to know the Orissan Tribal Culture. The museum is showcasing the ancient tribal clothing, artifacts, jewelry, hunting weapons, and many other things. This will be a delightful visit to finish off the tour. Later, continue your drive to Puri. Upon arrival check-in at the hotel. Overnight stay at Puri.
Day 3: Day excursion to Konark (25kms/ one way)
Breakfast at the hotel and proceed to visit Konark Sun Temple (UNESCO's World Heritage Site). Situated on the coast, the site consists of little more than the mighty temple and a handful of shops, stalls, and palaces to stay. The temple of Sun God was constructed in the 13th century. It has been in ruins for centuries but until the early 1900's it was simply an interesting ruin of impressive size. Then the debris and sand were cleared from around the temple base and the sheer magnitude of its architect's imagination was revealed. The entire temple was conceived as a chariot for the Sun God, Surya. Three images of Surya still stand and are designed to catch the sun at dawn, at noon and at sunset. Also, visit ASI museum. Evening back to Puri overnight at the hotel.
Day 4: Day excursion to Pipli Artist Village
Breakfast at hotel, half-day excursion to visit Pipli Artist Village; The villagers of Pipli produce applique art, a process of cutting colored cloth into shapes of animals, birds, flowers leaves gods, goddesses and other decorative motifs and stitching them over a piece of cloth. These creations are then fabricated into lampshades, handbags, cushion covers or even garden umbrellas. A famous example is the enormous applique' canopies above the reigning deity of Puri, Lord Jagannath.
Day 5: Puri Full day excursion to Khandagiri, Udaygiri & Dhauli
After breakfast, embark on your drive to visit Ratnagiri, Udaigiri&Lalitgiri. Ratnagiri in the Birupa river valley in the district of Jajpur is another famous Buddhist center. The small hill near the village of the same name has rich Buddhist antiquities. A large-scale excavation has unearthed two large monasteries, a big stupa, Buddhist shrines, sculptures, and a large number of votive stupas.
It is stated in the Datavamsa (an early and authentic Buddhist text from Sri Lanka) that it was at Ratnagiri that the relics of the Buddha were temporarily kept while they were being shifted from Dantapura, the capital of Kalinga, or ancient Orissa, to Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka. According to the text, soon after the Buddha's Mahaparinirvana, or the Great Cessation at Kushinagar, his left canine was carried to Kalinga by one of his close disciples Khema Thera and was presented to its king, Brahmadatta.
In the beginning, this was an important center of the Mahayana form of Buddhism. During the 8th - 9th century A.D., this became a great center of Tantric Buddhism or Vajrayana art and philosophy. Pag Sam Jon Zang, a Tibetan source, indicates that the institution at Ratnagiri played a significant role in the emergence of Kalachakratantra during the 10th century A.D. This is quite evident from the numerous votive stupas with reliefs of divinities of the Vajrayana pantheon.
Presently this university of Buddhist learning is found in ruins that attract a number of visitors every year. For lovers of art and architecture, lay tourists as well as special groups, Ratnagiri offers in its magnificent ruins, a large brick monastery with beautiful doorways, cella, sanctum with a colossal Buddha figure, and a large number of Buddhist sculptures. There is a smaller monastery at the place along with a stone temple, brick shrines and a large stupa with numerous smaller stupas around. Evening back to Puri. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 6: Puri – Chilika Lake (at Satpada) - Puri (90kms both way)
Today you will visit Jagannath Temple, a visit to Puri is incomplete without a visit to the Jagannath temple, one of the four sacred dhams in the Hindu religion. The magnificent temple is dedicated to the Lord of the Universe. Built-in the 12th century, it is considered to be one of the tallest (65m) temples in India. Later visit Nata Mandir and Bhoga Mandir were built much later in the 14th and 15th century, in the classic Orissa style. Gundicha Ghar, having been the house of Lord Krishna's aunt, Gundicha is another important site to visit in Puri. It is believed that the Lord stays here for 9 days during the famous Rath yatra or chariot-pulling festival of Puri.
Later excursion to visit Chilika Lake (at Satpada), boat cruise inside the lake, get a chance to see the Dolphins. It is the largest wintering ground for migratory birds on the Indian sub-continent. The lake is home to a number of threatened species of plants and animals. The lake is an ecosystem with large fishery resources. It sustains more than 150,000 fisher-folk living in 132 villages on the shore and islands. The lagoon hosts over 160 species of birds in the peak migratory season. Overnight at hotel in Puri.
Day 7: Puri – Bhubaneswar
Breakfast at hotel, transfer to Bhubaneswar Airport (54kms/ 1hrs) to board flight for your onward destination.
Inclusions
- Accommodation on Single / Twin / Double sharing basis in offered hotels or similar
- Daily breakfast at the hotel
- All transfers and excursions will be covered by air-conditioned vehicle
- Complimentary Mineral water bottle during your tour is provided in the car
- Services of Local English Speaking Guide for sightseeing
- Currently applicable taxes
Exclusions
- Camera charges at any monument to be paid by the guest directly
- Any airfare international/ domestic
- Any insurance
- Lunch or Dinner unless supplement for the same has opted.
- Expenses of personal nature like liquor, laundry, tips, telephone, fax, internet, etc.
- And anything not mentioned in Inclusion
Tour Notes
- Room category in all packages is the base category rooms.
- Christmas & New Year gala charges are on a direct pay basis at the hotel by guest.
- In case we are not able to provide the same hotels as mentioned, then we shall provide similar alternate properties, change in the cost if any will be advised.