Heavily
forested, and isolated, Orissa was once famous for its majestic battle elephants.
But life in Orissa revolved around temples, and that the Oriyas lived lives
free of strife, is evident from the fact that the state has few forts or fortified
palaces to its credit, indicative of centuries of peace and harmony.
Orissa, the lush green state, girdled by the Bay of Bengal, has seen some of
the best fusion of traditional Indian art in its many temples and monuments,
and has been able to preserve much of it, in an environment natural to its wonder
and attractions. It was in Orissa, that Buddhism found some of its strongest
exposure, and cult following. However, it was Hindu art that dominated the landscape,
eventually, and resulted in the profusion of temple traditions, that have endured
till now.
Most of the state's attractions are close to each other, and convenient access
is provided out of the state capital, Bhubaneshwar. The capital itself is an
intriguing amalgam of the old and the new, an emerging modern Indian city, that
is steeped in the roots of the traditions of its glorious past, without being
overwhelmed by it.
How to Reach Orissa:
By Air:The most convenient access into Orissa is a flight to Bhubaneshwar.
Indian Airlines has flights from Hyderabad, Nagpur, Calcutta, Delhi, Raipur,
Varanasi, Mumbai and Chennai.
By Rail:Train connections from all parts of the country exist, but are
usually long and the non - availability of air-conditioned class travel is a
constraint.
By Road:Once in Bhubaneshwar, road travel is the best option, to visit
the other attractions in Orissa.
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