Odisha Travel Guide: Puri, Konark, Chilika and When to Go

Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons

Odisha lies on the Bay of Bengal, between West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh. Most visitors come for the temple coast of Bhubaneswar, Puri and Konark. Inland there are tiger forests, mangroves, waterfalls and the hills of the tribal south. The state is also known for its craft villages, its weaving and its food.

A temple coast, a lagoon of birds and a forest of tigers, a day apart.

Where to go

• Bhubaneswar: the old temple town of carved sandstone shrines, the Jain caves of Udayagiri and Khandagiri, and Ashoka's rock edicts at Dhauli.
• Puri: the Jagannath temple, the Grand Road and a long beach. Read Puri on an ordinary morning.
• Konark: the thirteenth-century Sun Temple, a stone chariot and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See Konark from the road.
• Chilika Lake: Asia's largest brackish-water lagoon, with migratory birds in winter at Mangalajodi and Nalabana, and Irrawaddy dolphins near Satapada.
• Raghurajpur and Pipili: a village of painters near Puri, where every house makes pattachitra cloth paintings, and a town of bright appliqué work.
• Similipal: a large tiger reserve in the north, with sal forest and the high falls of Barehipani and Joranda.
• Bhitarkanika: mangrove creeks of saltwater crocodiles and birds, seen by boat.
• Ratnagiri, Lalitgiri and Udayagiri: the excavated Buddhist monasteries and stupas of Jajpur district.
• Koraput: hills, coffee, waterfalls and weekly tribal markets in the south.

Main cities

Bhubaneswar is the capital. It replaced Cuttack after independence and was planned as a new town beside the old temple quarter, which is still its main sight.

• Bhubaneswar: the Lingaraj, Mukteswara and Rajarani temples, the State Museum, and a short drive to Dhauli and the caves.
• Cuttack: the old capital between two rivers, known for silver filigree, the Barabati Fort and the Bali Jatra fair.
• Puri: a pilgrim town and a seaside resort in one, and the base for Konark and Raghurajpur.
• Sambalpur: the home of Sambalpuri ikat weaving, near the Hirakud Dam and Debrigarh sanctuary.
• Rourkela: a steel town in the north-west, and the road base for Khandadhar falls.
• Brahmapur: a southern trading town known for silk, close to Gopalpur beach.
• Balasore: the town for Chandipur, where the sea goes out several kilometres at low tide.

Festivals

• Rath Yatra (June or July): Jagannath, his brother and sister ride huge wooden chariots down Puri's Grand Road.
• Raja Parba (mid-June): a three-day festival of the earth and of women, with swings and special cakes.
• Durga Puja (September or October): Cuttack decorates its images in silver; in 2026 it falls from 17 to 21 October. Regional calendars can shift a date by a day.
• Bali Jatra (November): a large fair on the Mahanadi at Cuttack, recalling the sea traders who sailed to Bali; 24 November in 2026.
• Konark Festival (1 to 5 December): classical dance in the open air near the Sun Temple.

Food to try

• Dalma: dal cooked with vegetables and a five-spice tempering, eaten with rice. Read about dalma.
• Pakhala bhata: cooked rice left in water, eaten cool in summer with fried fish, greens or roasted vegetables.
• Chhena poda: fresh cheese sweetened and baked until the outside caramelises.
• Rasagola: Odisha's soft cheese balls in syrup, with a famous roadside stretch at Pahala near Bhubaneswar.
• Dahibara aludam: lentil fritters in thin curd with spiced potato, Cuttack's street breakfast.
• Chingudi malai curry: prawns in coconut milk, common on the coast.

Stories from Odisha

• Odisha's Golden Triangle: Bhubaneswar, Puri and Konark
• Puri Travel Guide: Jagannath Temple, Grand Road and the Beach
• Konark Sun Temple: Entry Fee, Timings and How to Visit
• Cities in Odisha: Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri and More to Visit

Plan your visit

Best season	October to February is the main season, cool and dry; November to February for the birds of Chilika. Summer is hot and humid, and the monsoon (June to September) is wet, with cyclones possible on the coast in October and November.
How to reach	Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar, for the coast; Veer Surendra Sai Airport, Jharsuguda, for the west. Main railway stations: Bhubaneswar, Khurda Road, Cuttack, Puri, Brahmapur, Sambalpur and Rourkela.
Getting around	Trains and buses link Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri; hired cars and app cabs are the easiest way round the temple triangle. Boats at Chilika and Bhitarkanika; park vehicles with a guide in Similipal.
Where to stay	Bhubaneswar's Old Town and the areas around Janpath; Puri's sea front (New Marine Drive and Chakratirtha Road); Satapada or Barkul on Chilika; Dangamala in Bhitarkanika; forest camps such as Gurguria inside Similipal, booked online.
How long to spend	Three or four days for Bhubaneswar, Puri and Konark; a week to add Chilika and Raghurajpur; ten days or more for Similipal, Bhitarkanika or the south.
Permits	No state permit. Similipal Tiger Reserve is usually open from 1 November to 15 June, with day entry passes online at similipal.org or at the gates. Bhitarkanika closes from 1 May to 31 July for crocodile nesting. Only Hindus may enter the Jagannath temple in Puri and the Lingaraj temple in Bhubaneswar.

Open Odisha, India in Google Maps

Questions people ask

What is the best time to visit Odisha?

October to February, when the weather is cool and dry. Come between November and February for the migratory birds at Chilika, or in June or July for the Rath Yatra in Puri.

Can non-Hindus enter the Jagannath temple in Puri?

No. Only Hindus may enter. Others can see the temple's tower and the gates from the Grand Road and the rooftops around it.

How many days do I need for Bhubaneswar, Puri and Konark?

Three days are enough for the triangle, with a night in Bhubaneswar and two in Puri. Add a day for Chilika or the craft village of Raghurajpur.

When is Similipal open?

Usually from 1 November to 15 June. The exact opening and closing dates are announced by the reserve each year, so check similipal.org before you go.

Written by Muthu, editor of Aura of India. Sources: Odisha Tourism, Government of Odisha, Odisha Tourism: Konark Festival, Odisha Tourism: National Chilika Bird Festival, Similipal Tiger Reserve: plan your visit. Last verified: 13 October 2026.

Your turn: Have you watched the chariots at Puri's Rath Yatra, or would you rather see Odisha in the quiet of winter?