Situated on the eastern coastline of the country, Puri is an important town of Orissa, around 60 km from Bhubaneswar. The wonderfully wide beaches, the fishing farms and the superb resorts make it an inviting place for tourists from all over the world. For the Indians, especially the Hindus, Puri has been a popular destination because of the famous temple of Lord Jagannath. The town becomes a hub of activity during the annual Rath Yatra festival when thousands of pilgrims from all over the country flock to participate in this stately event.

The Sun Temple at Konark, 65 km away from Bhubaneswar, is a magnificent 13th-century temple. On the shore, Surya, the Sun God, speeding across the sky in a gorgeous chariot has been captured in stone. With its 12 pairs of giant, marvellously sculpted wheels and seven richly caparisoned horses straining their necks to pull the massive weight, the Sun is often described as "an allegory in stone"-the highest point of achievement in the Kalinga school of architecture.

The largest brackish water lake in Asia, the Chilika Lake is situated at a distance of 121 km from Bhubaneswar. The lake supports a great variety of aquatic birds which arrive from as far as the Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, Aral Sea, remote parts of Russia, Kirghiz steppes of Mongolia, Central and South East Asia, Ladakh and the Himalayas, to feed and breed in its fertile waters. The shimmering blue waters of the lake attract large number of tourists to this place year after year. The shoreline presents some exciting trekking routes and beach camping facilities. For those in search of leisure or adventure, Chilika makes for an ideal getaway from Bhubaneswar.

Once a magnetic centre of Shaivism, Bhubaneswar was home to some 7,000 temples dedicated to different deities of which about 500 survive to this day. The magnificent temple of Lord Lingaraja is the most imposing temple of Orissa. There are fine chlorite images of Ganesha, Parvati and Skanda in large niches. Vertical ribs dominate the tower from top to bottom while horizontal dividing lines dominate the pyramidal roof of the porch with its bell-shaped top. Another important temple is the Rajarani Temple which is noted for its fascinating female figures portrayed in a stunning variety of amorous poses. Then there is the Mukteshwara Temple where you come across a captivating array of voluptuous female figures and famished ascetics, dwarfs and animals. The beautiful and the grotesque have been skilfully depicted through exquisite carvings. The Parashumeshwara Temple is one of the earliest extant temples of Orissa, acknowledged to be a symbol of all that is chaste and elegant in sculpture.

Along with being one of India's holiest pilgrimage centres, Puri is also gifted with a fabulous coastline and stunning beaches. The beaches here are ideal for beach sports but swimming is not recommended unless in the company of a life guard. There are many beach resorts here which range from the modest to the luxurious. The rough seas don't even allow for many water sports to be played.

The significance of Dhauli for Buddhists all over the world, led to the establishment of a shanti stupa, or peace pagoda, along with a monastery called Saddharma Vihar under the guidance of Guruji Fujii, in the early 1970s.

Dhauli also houses small rock cut caves, medieval Hindu temples, and a renovated hilltop Shiva temple, known as Dhavalesvara. The rich ancient heritage together with an idyllic landscape make Dhauli an unforgettable site.

Just 8kms from Bhubaneswar are the twin hills of Khandagiri and Udayagiri. These served as the site of an ancient Jain monastery which was carved into cave like chambers in the face of the hill. Dating back to the 2nd century BC, some of the caves have beautiful carvings. The Rani Gumpha, one of the largest and double-storied is ornately embellished with beautiful carvings. In the Hati Gumpha, King Kharavela has carved out the chronicles of his reign.

The longest Dam of the world, it stands in its lone majesty across the great river Mahanadi. From horizon to horizon the reservoir forms the largest artificial lake in Asia with a shore line of over 640kms. A twenty-one kilometre drive on the dyke affords a unique experience of the calm serenity and majesty of nature. One can enjoy the sight of the mighty Hirakud Dam and the fantastic expanse of water from the top of the revolving minaret called Gandhi Minar.