Vibrant Culture of Odisha &...

7 DAYS/6 NIGHTS

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06 Nights/07 Days Covering: Bhubaneswar – Puri – Gopalpur – Visakhapatnam

The Eastern part of India Odisha & Coastal Andhra Pradesh is rich in its Temples, natural beauty & sunny beaches, temples of Konark in Puri and Simhachachlam near Vishakhapatnam while staying at beaches and exploring its beaches of Puri chilka lake in Gopalpur on the sea while also visiting thousands year old Bora caves, besides we will also be witnessing local rituals and village life of the region.

Planning a Trip

Pre-departure planning is important. Here are certain things you should watch for and plan for.

Visas

Check with the Indian consulate or embassy in your country to find out if you will need a visa to visit the country of your destination, especially for an extended period of time. Some countries have extremely detailed and complicated entry/departure laws and treat visits of a week or two very differently from longer stays.

Money

If you’re traveling to one area, check the cost of living there. If it’s high you’ll probably want to budget more carefully and save some money before leaving. The lower the cost of living the less you’ll have to save, but be sure to have a backup reserve in emergency cases.

General Tips

Talk to other people who have done a similar trip.

If you don’t know anyone personally, try any of the dozens of online travel websites full of first-person travel stories covering every possible type of trip.

Plan big and loose. Read everything you can about the area.

There may be sights and attractions you didn’t know about. A rough outline of your trip might have three or four target points and a variety of ways to get between them.

You don’t want to find out that the weather isn’t what you thought, or the guide book was incorrect, after committing to 6 weeks in a specific spot.

Some trips will allow you more leeway than others. Travel plans in Asia can often be made day-by-day while summer travel in Europe should be organized at least a few weeks ahead unless you’re prepared to hunt around for hotel rooms and train seats.

Set up a pre-trip timeline so you don’t end up with a full to-do list during your last week of work or school.

Things to consider are doctor’s visits for a check-up, inoculations, and prescription refills; purchasing plane tickets; renewing passports, and obtaining visas and other documents.

Check your insurance coverage abroad and purchasing additional travel insurance if needed. Don’t forget visiting friends and family members!e

The longer the trip, the lighter you should pack. This might seem strange, but it’s true you can afford to lug a heavy bag around for a week or two, but do you want to have anything extra for a year?

Stick to the absolute basics and know what you can and cannot buy at your destination(s). There’s no point in bringing 6 months of toothpaste to Europe or buying a sarong at home to take to the tropics. If you are visiting several climates, try to arrange it so you visit the warmer places first and the coldest last. That way you can purchase sweaters and long pants and not have to carry them any more than needed. Alternately, visit cold climates first and then ship unneeded layers home or sell them off.

A good rule of thumb is to bring one outfit for the hottest day you’re likely to encounter, one for an average day, and one for the coldest.

Make sure everything goes with everything else (if that’s important to you), and remember that layers are always best.

Be prepared for uncomfortable trips. You will often find yourself in a busy, cramped, economy class environment and it could be for many hours – especially long plane trips.

If you want to arrive at your destination refreshed and able to enjoy the sights, then try a good quality travel pillow to support your head, some earplugs to block out the screaming babies, and an eye cover to block out the sun or cabin lights.

Just avoid those cheap U-shaped pillows from airport shops – your head drops forward and you wake up with a stiff neck.

Make contact with the locals before you go.

Maybe you have a friend-of-a-friend or a foreign exchange student from high school you remember, or just found a friend through a travel website; almost everyone is happy to welcome a foreign visitor to their hometown. This might be as elaborate as a home stay for a few weeks, or just coffee in their hometown or dinner at a local restaurant.

Getting Around

A perfect city for exploring on foot with a shop around every corner. Much of the inner city can be walked without trouble, however, in parts walking includes crowds, uneven streets, heavy traffic, and skinny sidewalks. If that’s a problem, there are plenty of taxis to ride in and scooters to rent.

How to Travel

Subway – The metro is the fastest transportation. Running 5 am to 10 pm every day in all the Major Cities of India.
Bus & Train – Operated by an independent organization, busses and trains include wifi access for the public. You can take any bus or train marked with the (B Public) sign for free.
Taxi – Available in all parts of the city. From a restaurant or hotel you can have them call the city taxi service.
Car – Rental cars are easy to get and hotels have good parking prices. Once in the main city, you can often walk so we suggest returning the when you arrive.
Bike – The best way to get around, other than walking, is by bike. If you don’t mind hills, you can bike anywhere. If that’s not for you, stick to the inner city with your bike.

Mini Trips

Just a few miles away you can explore the history and legacy, drink wine and relax. You can wander the hills or be lulled by the fountains. If you have time, the attractions can fill 3 days. We’ve highlighted the best ones here.

Tours

Because of the number of sights to see, some first-time visitors should start with an organized tour. Some things can be covered in-depth, others are just useful for getting your bearings.

The leading tour operators use local historians to lead their tours. Guides offer walking tours, including visits to monuments, museums, and historic locations, as well as eating tours. Tour prices can be high, but most participants consider them a trip highlight. In addition, there are many family related tours, sights, and more appealing activities for children.

Walking tours, like the 3 hour ghost tour, is an exclusive in the early evening. A bus excursion ruins special tours like you’ve never seen. Also worth consideration, a group of art historians and architects do a theatrical retelling from dramatic scripts. Go on a tour, expect guides to break out into a rendition of “Singing in the Rain”, it’s a lot of fun.

Trip Attractions

Tour Highlights
Tribal Museum, Khandagiri & Udaygiri
Dhauli, Pipili, Konark & Chandravhaga Beach
Satapada, Chilika on Gopalpur
Lingaraj, Mukteswar, Persurameswar & Rajarani Temple in Bhubaneswar
Kailashgiri, Simhachalam, RK Beach, Rishikonda, Submarine Museum
Bora Cave with Lunch at Jungle resort Tayda

Travel Resources

Quick Tips

Banks – Open Monday to Friday 9 am to 2 pm. Some banks are closed for lunch.
Emergencies – For police, dial a local phone number; for an ambulance call a hospital.
Internet Access – Wifi is standard in most hotels and free in many coffee shops.
Mail – Buy stamps at the Post Office. Convenient post offices have located in all cities. Most are open Monday to Friday 9 am to 3 pm.
Safety – Pickpocketing can be a common problem. It is suggested for men to keep wallets in their front pockets. Purse snatching also occurs at times.

Visitor Information

This site contains information with a very personal and friendly structure. It also has great links to other related sites online.

Information, internet access, maps, and train passes are available at local Tourist Information terminals. These are located at various sites around the city. Expect a wait if you arrive late in the afternoon or during lunchtime. Local travel agencies are also helpful for quick information and finding hotels. There is no service charge for these services. Hours are Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm, and Saturday 10 am to 2 pm.

Transportation

Getting in from the airport and other arrival locations. Travel planning is about more than just knowing where you’re going. Prepares to navigate, take control and be ready for anything. This section helps you steer clear of disaster and stay open to enjoy the unexpected.

Plane – Flights arrive at the main airport near the city center. If flying from European cities, you might land at a connecting airport. There is a tourist information office at the Terminal E, international arrivals, open 8 am to 6 pm.
Train – A train station is on the lower level of the airport. To get into the city, follow the marked signs.
Taxi – From the airport, there is a flat rate for the 1-hour trip, depending on traffic. Hotels charge up to $80 for shuttle service.
Train & Bus – Trains and buses arrive at the city center. This is the transportation hub for the city and is surrounded by hotels.

A perfect place for exploring on foot, with local shops around every corner. You will eventually walk somewhere, it’s just going to happen. If you don’t like crowds, uneven cobblestones, heavy traffic, or narrow sidewalks, take a taxi or rent a scooter.

Itinerary

Day 01: Bhubaneswar

Horizon Worldwide welcomes you to the temple city of Bhubaneswar, where legacies of Utkalian temple architecture catching the eye of visitors for centuries. On arrival transfer to Hotel. Later visit Tribal Museum, A specialized ethnographic museum with 5850 tribal artifacts including 3000 rare objects has been displayed in 5 air-conditioned Display Halls. Life-size statues of males & females of primitive tribal groups have also been displayed. Later proceed to Khandagiri & Udaygiri Caves built in 1st century B.C are honeycombed with excavated rock-cut single & double storied caves, essentially meant for the dwelling retreats of the Jain recluses.

Day 02: Bhubaneshwar to Puri

This morning after breakfast, drive to Puri en route visit Lingraj Temple, Rajrani Temple, Mukteshwar Temple, and Parsurameshwar, then proceed to Dhauli, on the banks of the River Daya, which houses the marvelous Edicts of Ashoka imprinted on a mass of rock & a grand Shanti Stupa or Peace Pagoda built in 1972 by the Japan Buddha Sangha and the Kalinga Nippon Buddha Sangha. Enroute visit Pipli -The Appliqué Village, Best known for the gorgeous appliqué work. Later proceed to the famous temple at Konark. This beautiful Sun temple built in the 13th century in honor of the Sun God is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its exquisite carvings testify to the high standard of ancient Odia art and architectural skill. Drive through Fisher man’s village at Chandrabhaga Beach.

Day 03 : Puri – On to Satapada – Puri

Morning visit the most awaited Lord Jagannath temple. This 12th-century temple is known for its annual Rathayatra or car festival. Proceed to Chilika lake at Satapada. Take the boat trip on the lake to meet Dolphins in nature. Visit the island where the sea meets the lake. Evening walk at the golden beach.

Day 04: Puri – Gopalpur on-Sea (242 Kms.)

Morning post breakfast leave for Puri via Chilka lake, Spread over an area of 1,100-sq-km, the glorious stretch of the Chilika is Asia’s largest brackish water lake. Home to thousands of colorful birds throughout the year, it is particularly noisy with the din of the raucous influx of migratory birds who descend on it from as far off as Siberia in winter.

Day 05: Gopalpur to Visakhapatnam (283 kms)

Today morning after breakfast check out & drive to Visakhapatnam.On arrival check-in the hotel After refreshment visit the Submarine Museum& Rishikonda.Rest of the day enjoy at RK Beach.

Day 06: Visakhapatnam Bora Cave (110 km)

After early breakfast start for a full-day excursion to Bora Cave with its beautiful Stalagmites & Stalactites. On the way back to Visakhapatnam shall be served special lunch in Tayda.

Day 07: Simhachalam & Departure

Today morning after breakfast proceed to Simhachalam(Lion’s hill) the temple dedicated to Varaha Narsimha, always covered with sandalwood paste, giving it the appearance of a sandalwood Shiva Linga. The Shrine is also a marvel of architecture. Later shall be dropped off at Airport/Railway station for your journey back home with sweet memories of the holidays.