Highlights: Explore Orissa on eastern coasts of India. Visit some the best temples in India. Relax on beaches of Puri.
Day 1 : Delhi Arrive Mumbai and transfer hotel. Overnight at hotel.
Day 2 : Delhi Morning proceed on a full day sightseeing tour of Delhi visiting important tourist sites of Old and New Delhi. Visit the Qutab Minar 12th century tower and one of the tallest towers of its time, walls here consist of verses from Quran (Holy book of Islam). Wander around the complex visiting ruins of Hindu temples and palaces which once remained here and 4th century steel pillar which has not developed rust till date. Drive passes India Gate the war memorial and other government buildings stopping at President House. Visit Laximi Narayan Temple.
In Old Delhi drive pass Red Fort once a symbol of Mughal power, visit Jama Masjid 16th century mosque and largest in India. Take a rickshaw ride in the narrow alleyways of Chandni Chowk and amazing mixture of history with modern world and visit Raj Ghat cremation site of the “Father of the Nation”. Overnight at hotel.
Day 03 :Delhi to Bhubaneshwar
Early morning transfer to airport to board the flight for Bhubaneshwar (S2 6143 – 0735/ 0935 Hrs.). Arrive Bhubaneshwar and transfer to hotel. Afternoon proceed on an excursion to Khandagiri and Udaygiri caves are the other major attractions in Bhubaneswar that you can visit on your tour to Bhubaneswar. Set on the Kumargiri Hills, these caves are popular for their historical significance and rock paintings. Of particular interest are the Ganesh Gumpha, Pavana Gumpha, Sarpa Gumpha and Bagh Gumpha. Overnight at hotel.
Day 04 : Bhubaneshwar Morning depart on full day sightseeing tour of Bhubaneshwar visiting famous temples. Strewn with a multitude of temples of various sizes, the earliest temples built in Bhubaneswar are the Brahmeswar and the , Parasurameshwar temples of the 7th century . The latter is famous for its latticed windows. The Mukteswar built in the 10th century has exquisite toranas, the 11th Century temples of Rajarani Temple have fine and detailed carvings while the magnificent Linga Raja temple also of the 11th century (can seen only from outside by non Hindus ) is the finest representation of Kalinga art. Overnight at hotel.
Day 05 : Bhubaneshwar to Puri (70 km)
Morning depart Bhubaneshwar for Puri by surface stopping by en route to visit Pilpli and Konark. Pipli: Appliqué in Orissa is an old temple art, which has been refined to perfection. A fine example of the craft is the enormous appliqué canopies above the reigning deity of Puri, Lord Jagannath. Appliqué are is the process of cutting coloured cloth into shapes of animals, birds, flowers, leaves and other decorative motifs and stitching them on to a piece of cloth that can ultimately be used as a lamp shade, a hand bag or even a garden umbrella. The village of Pipli, close to Bhubaneswar, is the site of beautiful appliqué work, created by artists, quite a few of whom have won national awards for their crafts. Konark: The magnificent Sun Temple at Konark is the culmination odf Orissan temple architecture, and one of the most stunning monuments of religious architecture in the world. the massive structure now in ruins, sits in solitary splendour surrounded by drifting sand. the temple is built by the King Narshimadeva in the 13th century, the entire temple was designed in the shape of a colossal chariot, carrying the sun god ,Surya across the heavens.
Arrive Puri and check in at hotel. Afternoon visit Lord Jaganath Temple one of the four holiest points of piligrimage for Hindus. The reifning deity of the city, Lord Jaganath, whose temple was built way back in the 12th century, is not only of great religious significance to the people of Orissa but is revered by thousands of piligrims who seek his blessings from every part of the country. This intense veneration of Jagannath, or the Lord of teh Universe, reaches its zenith during the annual rites of the RathaYatra in the month of June-July. Overnight at hotel.
Day 06 :Puri
Morning proceed on a day return excursion to Satpara (50 Km one way) - queen of natural beauty, Chilika, the largest brackish water lake in Asia covering an area of over 1,100 sq. km is a great attraction for the tourists for fishing, bird watching and boating. In winter Chilika aflutters with thousands of indigenous and migratory birds of many varieties from far and near - even from the distant Siberia. In Satpara one can watch Irrawaddy Dolphin at Chilika mouth near Satpara. Afternoon at leisure or relax on the beach of Puri. Overnight at hotel.
Day 07: Puri
Full day at leisure or relax on the beach of Puri. Overnight at hotel.
Day 08: Puri to Delhi
In time transfer to Bhubaneshwar airport to board the flight for Delhi (IC 878 – 1405/ 1605 Hrs.). Arrive Delhi and transfer to hotel.
Day 09: Delhi
Day at leisure or free for optional activities (you can opt for a day return excursion to Agra). Overnight at hotel.
Day 10: Depart Delhi
In timer transfer to airport to board the flight for onward destination.
