Bhubaneshwar India Travel Guide

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Bhubaneshwar History

The city of Bhubaneshwar is most famous for the gory war between the kingdom of Kalinga and Ashoka the Great, who was the Emperor of the Mauryan Empire. The war brought great destruction to the city with the loss of many lives. The brutality led to a change of heart in Ashoka. He converted to Buddhism and started spreading Buddha’s teaching in every part of the world. After the decline of the Mauryan Empire, the city was overtaken by the Jain emperor Kharavela. But by the 7th century BC, the Brahmins gained control and brought back the Hindu culture and Shivaism, the worship of Lord Shiva. This was a new era for Bhubaneshwar, where the whole city started blooming with temples. The warriors of the state were very brave, and they kept the Islamic rulers at bay for very long time, until they were eventually defeated by Akbar. The Mughal regime however was soon ended by the Marathas, who in turn were overthrown by the British Empire. It was only a while after Indian Independence that Bhubaneshwar became the capital of Orissa.

Bhubaneshwar Things To Do and Attractions

Being a temple city, Bhubaneshwar has a lot of temples to see. One of them is the Lingraraja Temple, which is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. There are more than one-hundred-and-fifty shrines in this giant temple. Another Bhubaneshwar thing to do is to visit the Muktesvara Temple, which is also dedicated to Lord Shiva, and is one of the oldest temples in the city. Another old temple in the city is the Parasurameshwara Temple. This temple is built in the Kalinga style and is a must see for all tourists. You can also visit the Orissa State Museum, which has a phenomenal collection of antiques, coins, and paintings along with ancient scriptures and monuments.

Bhubaneshwar Excursions

About sixty kilometers from the city is one of the dhams, or “abodes”, of Hindu religion, Jaganath dham or Jaganath Puri. In Puri you can visit this holy place, and take a glimpse of the Jaganath idol. This none of the most sacred places of Hinduism, and is a must see for everybody. In Puri you can also visit the beautiful golden beach and can participate in lots of fun filled activities on the beach. You can also visit the Sun Temple in Konark, which is also one of the most beautiful and well known temples in Orissa. Twenty kilometers from the city, is Cuttack the twin city and the trade capital of Orissa. Business travelers from all over the nation come here to trade. Twenty kilometers from the city is the Nandankanan Zoo, one of the best zoos of the country. In addition to the exotic and endangered animals is a cable car ride that offers a good view of the wildlife. Chilika Lake is a perfect getaway from Bhubaneshwar and is an ideal picnic spot.

Bhubaneshwar Shopping

Bhubaneshwar is a growing metropolis, and huge shopping centers and big malls are being constructed in all parts of the city, which sell all the usual international brands. It also has many local bazaars where you can get all sort of clothing goods. Do not forget to buy the tarakasi, a unique form of silverware produced only in Bhubaneshwar and Cuttack. To buy good handicrafts, one can visit the Orissa State Handloom Cooperation.

Bhubaneshwar Restaurants

Bhubaneshwar has lots of quality restaurants where you can most of the international cuisines. The place has many restaurants so it’s unlikely you will have trouble finding what you like here. The Orissan cuisine is more like that of Bengal’s – dishes involving rice and fish. Do not forget to try the local delicacy – palm sized rosogullas, which are sweet milk balls.

Bhubaneshwar Nightlife

Bhubaneshwar has few pubs, but all of them are very classy. There are many lounge bars in the city because of the large number of star rated hotels. Alcoholic beverages are sold at reasonable rates at these bars, and much cheaper in the wine shops compared to rest of India. If you are low on cash, try visiting the Panna Bar, which starts serving booze at cheaper rates after midnight.

Bhubaneshwar Getting There and Around

Bhubaneshwar is a must see for all visitors, and is easily accessible by airways, since it has an international airport. It is also well connected by roadways and railways. The best time to come over is in winters as it gets real hot during summers.

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