The Odyssey of Odisha
For the Dasara holidays, I visited the enchanting state of Odisha in eastern India. I stayed there for three days- explored new places, listened to stories, and have plenty to talk about it now!
In this post, I will share the memorable adventures and experiences of my travel.
The Journey
I traveled with my family- a two-hour flight from Bengaluru to Bhubaneswar. The flight was smooth, and I settled in, flipping through in-flight magazines and sipping fruit juice. I enjoyed staring out the window, seeing the endless cotton-candy clouds. Without much delay, thecaptain announced the descent- I quickly buckled my seatbelt, eager to explore Odisha’s marvels.
Lingaraj Temple
When we arrived, we collected our luggage and began our adventure. We first visited the Lingaraj Temple, which is one of the oldest Kalinga architectural wonders built in the 11th century CE. The main sanctum tower (the most sacred or important tower) soars toward the sky at an astonishing 55 meters. The Lingaraj Temple consists of 108 shrines, each one a treasure trove of intricate carvings! Our guide explained that these temples are still in use, and the deities are still worshipped with poojas performed regularly.
Puri Jagannath
From Bhubaneswar, we travelled in a Tempo Traveller to Puri, which was a two-hour drive.
As we arrived at the Puri Jagannath Temple, the size of the structure was impressive. It felt bustling with energy as people streamed in and out. We followed the flow of devotees eager to worship. As we entered, I noticed the vibrant colors of the deities — Lord Jagannath, along with his siblings Balarama and Subhadra. They were adorned in ornate clothes and jewelry, making it quite a sight to see.
The temple was loud with the chants of worshippers and the sound of bells ringing. We made our way through the temple, navigating the crowds, all while trying to catch glimpses of the intricate carvings on the walls. Each carving depicted scenes from Hindu mythology. I had also heard about the famous Rath Festival held once a year in Puri. During this festival, massive wooden chariots of the deities are pulled through Puri’s streets by thousands of people. It’s one of the most significant events for locals, drawing pilgrims from all over the country.
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We also ate some temple prasad- delicious sweets such as khaja which made us long for more. Overall, our visit to Puri Jagannath was awesome and interesting.
Sun Temple
One of Odisha’s most iconic tourist destinations is the Sun Temple located in Konark. This architectural marvel seems to always find its way into my History textbooks.
The Sun Temple was built in the 13th century by the Kalinga king Narasimhadeva I. The total area of the Sun Temple is 12 acres. The prayer or assembly hall is the main structure to see. It depicts the Sun God’s chariot and has 7 stone horses pulling it. The 7 horses represent the 7 colours of the sun's rays.
The Sun Temple is famous for its sundials, which accurately indicate the time by using the position of the sun's shadow throughout the day. There are 24 sundials indicating 24 hours in a day, each having 12 spokes depicting 12 hours in the day and 12 hours at night. Every wheel has an exact 9.5 feet diameter, portraying the skill of each sculptor. The fourth sundial also shows Lord Rama’s wife, Sita’s daily schedule in the palace from waking up in the morning till the time she goes to bed at night.
The intricate carvings show us how life was during those days. We can see engravings of women boxing and horse-riding sports.
We see animals like giraffes symbolising trade between India and Africa. Iron clamps between the stone carvings were used to hold the stone together, as cement was not invented or used in the 13th century. There is also a temple dedicated to the Sun God’s wife — Chaya. This temple had windows that supported cross-ventilation.
We were told there was a 53-tonne magnet used to hold the entire structure that was built with iron rods. When Vasco Da Gama visited India, he removed the magnet. That’s when tragedy struck. A huge tsunami plagued the land in 1848. Several towers and smaller shrines were destroyed, including a tall tower that was 69 meters tall! I looked around and gaped at the sheer architectural beauty. I snapped some pictures and felt proud of India’s history.
The journey came to an end
Though we explored many other tourist attractions like Chilika Lake, I enjoyed these temples the most and felt compelled to write about them and share their interesting stories. We also visited the Sun Temple’s museum to learn more about Kalinga history. These temples were interesting, with each step feeling like travelling to the past. I loved the intricate carvings and the craftsmanship of the sculptors. I would recommend going to these temples if you love travelling, are a history buff, or love exploring a new culture.
I thoroughly loved my trip to Bhubaneswar and look forward to new travel expeditions! See you next time!
