After visiting the famous Lord Shiva temple, all of us were tired and felt relieved that we could head towards our hotel, the Ginger Hotel Bhubaneswar in Odisha. Prior to our travel, we had booked our stay in the hotel and I knew it is amongst the best three-star hotels in the city. What more, it fit our budget and had all the facilities to meet our needs. The hotel was centrally located at the Jaidev Vihar in the city. It was at a few kilometres from the most famous tourist spots, some of which we had already visited. We knew that we could easily reach all the other spots that we had planned to visit the next day. Moreover, the hotel was at a distance of just seven kilometres from the Biju Patnaik Airport and 5 kilometres away from the Bhubaneswar railway station. The facilities and other services in the hotel were just first class and we were happy to experience those. The hotel provided us with all the comfort and after travelling away from Chennai and visiting different places in the city we were very much tired. The rooms were quite big and we had planned to stay together in a single room. The spacious well-equipped rooms added to our memorable experience in Bhubaneswar. The hotel was considered as one of the best in the city and had all the arrangements for organizing corporate functions and seminars. After a tiring day, we called the room services and asked them to deliver our dinner in our own room. I was extremely excited to check out the different kinds of tasty food items being offered at the hotel. We decided to sleep early as we had to visit some more places the next day. I had a sound sleep on the comfortable beds in the Ginger Hotel Bhubaneswar, and woke up with the morning tea. The hotel had double-bedded, single-bedded and deluxe rooms for the convenience of the tourists. We decided to start our trip on the day by visiting the Odisha museum, which was not far from the hotel.
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My travel posts of Bhubaneswar are becoming exciting ones with account on visits to historical and religious spots. No wonder, our next destination was the famous Brahmeshwara Temple, Bhubaneswar Odisha. We knew that it was located at a distance of 7 to 8 kilometres from the main portion of the city. On our way we could see different kinds of temples along with various shops selling unique items. It took us 30 to 40 minutes to reach the temple from the hills. The temple was well designed on the inside and outside and was dedicated to Lord Shiva. It was believed that the temple was designed way back in the 9th century and was built by King Udyotakesari of the Somavamsi dynasty. He had built it for his mother Kolavati Devi. The most unique aspect of the temple was that it had designs made of stones. Till that day, we had seen carvings on wooden items. I simply imagined the pain the workers had to undergo for completing the work on stones. The artisans during that period were really hard working and they designed something that was totally different from the designs available in other areas. The temple, like most other Hindu temples, consisted of two parts, namely the Jagmohana, which was the assembly hall and the Sikhara or the tower where the main shrine was kept. Once we entered the temple, we saw big figures made of sandstone that were designed on the stone pillars. It was also believed that those carvings helped the devotees to meditate. It was believed for that reason there was a similarity between that temple and the Muktehswara Temple. We learnt that the temple addressed a large number of people during special occasions such as Shiva Ratri and other festive times. The devotees from different parts of the state came to pay their tribute to Lord Shiva and take blessings from Brahmeshwara Temple, Bhubaneswar Odisha. It was really a good experience in that famous temple and we hoped to stay for a few more minutes, but we were getting late and had to reach our hotel. We visited three famous places that day and their memories were still fresh in my mind.
Konark Sun Temple, Odisha : Any Odisha trip is incomplete without being at the classic Konark Sun Temple. One of the most popular tourist attractions in India, Konark sun temple Odisha is a marvel of culture and traditions. Each time I visit this place, it appears to be as new and I take back lots of happy moments. Be here to experience the best of vintage architecture.
After spending some time in the caves, we moved towards another historical place, which was none other than the famous Dhauli Giri hills, Bhubaneswar Odisha. It was situated at a distance of 8 kilometres from the town of Bhubaneswar and was situated on the bank of the river Daya. The place had a special connection to the history books because of the famous Kalinga war, which was fought during that period of time. The Kalinga war was one of the most famous battles and played a great role in changing King Ashoka completely. The place had the Shanti Stupa and complete peace and silence prevailed in the area surrounding the temple. The place was also marked with a rock structure where Emperor Ashoka expressed his concerns about the “Welfare of the World”. It was believed that the River Daya turned completely red because of the soldiers that were dead while fighting the epic Kalinga war. It was only after that incident that Ashoka changed his mind and turned to Buddhism. The sight of the river and the environment changed Emperor Ashoka, who decided to become a Buddhist. In order to mark the change of thoughts, the great Emperor built lots of statues and other Stupas surrounding the place. There were some pillars, which propagated the religion of Buddhism during that period. We even found a small temple, which was built by Buddha Sangha. We could see that people from different parts of the globe had come to this historical place and experience something really exclusive. However, apart from that historical place, we also visited different places surrounding the Hillock and there were many inscriptions, temples, sculptures and caves.
During our trip to the famous Dhauli Giri hills, Bhubaneswar Odisha I kept thinking about the Kalinga war and just imagined the number of soldiers that were killed. It was one of the biggest battles to be fought till date and deserved a mention in the school’s history books. We captured some pictures of the beautiful hills and hoped to cherish those moments for the years to come. From there we had to move to our next destination, which was the Brahmeswara temple. We hired a local cab for it can help us cover the different tourist spots easily. After reaching Odisha, we first visited the famous and ancient Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves, Bhubaneswar Odisha. The place was at a few hours distance from the station and we took a local conveyance to that destination. The places were beautiful and had some ancient buildings and structures that dated back to the 18th century. The name Udaygiri meant “Hill of sunrise” whereas the term Khandagiri meant “Broken hills”. The structures were ancient rock buildings and they occupied a unique position in the history of the country. The area was filled with rock structures, art, and religious and historical artefacts. The place was at a distance of six kilometres from the town and was separated by highways. The hills stood tall and were close to the coastal plains. The places were used for meditation and performing prayers in the early ages. The caves were very low and we faced difficulties in standing straight. It was believed that the monks during that time used to carry out meditations or prayers inside these caves and had inscriptions that were made by the followers of Jainism during that period of time. The place was mostly under the care of the people who believed in Jainism. We could see that these sculptures and designs were the perfect examples of Jain art. The walls of the caves were designed with different designs and pieces of art, which showed the images related to people worshipping the Gods, court rooms, royal processions, hunting and other daily life scenery. I could easily create an image of the living style of the people in the ancienThe complete area that was covered by the Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves, Bhubaneswar Odisha was historical and depicted the culture and religion followed in those times. The rock buildings and other drawings were maintained by the local government. All the caves were given specific numbers, just to avoid any confusion and accordingly they were mentioned on the front of each cave.t ages by watching the designs. We knew that it was one of the major tourist destinations and spot people from different parts of the country. The complete area that was covered by the Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves, Bhubaneswar Odisha was historical and depicted the culture and religion followed in those times. The rock buildings and other drawings were maintained by the local government. All the caves were given specific numbers, just to avoid any confusion and accordingly they were mentioned on the front of each cave.
Yogini Temple of Hirapur, Bhubaneswar Odisha : I am glad that I love trekking and hiking so much. This is because I wished to experience the sheer charm and simplicity of this particular temple called the Yogini Temple of Hirapur, Bhubaneswar, Odisha. It is around 10kms away from the city and hardly approachable. I had to follow a narrow, staggering path to get to the temple, but the journey was worth it!
My Experience of Train Travel from Chennai (MAS) to Bhubaneswar (BBS) by Bangalore Express2/13/2014 I am a travel enthusiast and love travelling to different places with my friends as well as family members. Whenever I get a few days off, I plan out something with my group of special buddies and try visiting different destinations around the country. Last time my friends and I planned for a trip to Orissa and accordingly made the necessary bookings. Since we didn’t like to waste money unnecessarily on air tickets, we decided to travel by train. Moreover, travelling by train enabled us to enjoy the scenery of different landscapes. Our train travel from Chennai (MAS) to Bhubaneswar (BBS) by Bangalore Express was pleasant and comfortable. We reached the station at around 9 pm and the train was scheduled to leave the station at 10.30 pm. I bought a few books and magazines which would help me in getting rid of boredom. Mostly trains running in the southern part of India were on time. As per my expectations, the train arrived at the Chennai central station at around 10.35 pm. We boarded the train and chose our respective berths. As our ticket was booked at the last moment via Tatkal, we couldn’t get seats in a single coach. The train left the Chennai central at around 10:50 pm and as it was late, I just went through some magazines that I had bought from the station. After reading a few pages I was feeling sleepy and decided to go for a sleep as we had to visit many places the next day. I woke up at around 6 am in the morning and one of my friends told me that our train had entered the state of Orissa. We were nearing the Khurda Road junction and it was really a good experience. I took a cup of tea and started reading the local newspaper. Next to my berth, there was one old couple who was travelling to Puri and I happened to learn something about Orissa from them.
I had a nice chat with the old couple and I took their contact number for any further help during our visit to the state. Meanwhile, our train travel from Chennai (MAS) to Bhubaneswar (BBS) by Bangalore Express came to an end. The last time I was street shopping for clothes and accessories, with my gang of besties, I remember settling for some delicious South Indian fare. Almost all of us have had some time or the other tried Idli Sambar at various restaurants and eateries, but this time it was unique! A couple of times after that, I tried making the cuisine at home, and it just turned out to be as perfect. Even you can prepare mouth-watering Idli Sambar Chutney at home. However, for that, you will have to remain a bit patient as it takes a little while to complete with the procedure of grinding, mixing, fermentation, and so on. Though, everything is worth the yummy taste of Idli Sambar. Try cooking it at home by following this simple recipe:- For Idli:
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For Sambar:
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For Coconut Chutney:
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Serve soft and tender idli with hot Sambar and spicy coconut chutney. It really makes for a filling meal at lunch, dinner, as well as breakfast.
It was the seventh and final day of my adventurous-self-accompanied-trip with nature. I had enjoyed all the six days of my trip thoroughly with loads of fun-filled and educational activities. It was the last day and I decided to end the trip with a visit to the Kailasakona Waterfalls. The fall is a very good place for picnic spot and is often pre-packed with picnickers and visitors. The Kailasakona Waterfall is located in the Nagai valley of the Chittoor district. There is a small temple of Lord Shiva and Mata Parvati, which is visited by devotees from the nearby areas and also outside it. As I was staying in Tirupati during my trip, the waterfall was easily accessible. The fall is known to be sacred and rich with minerals and therefore in certain parts, the water is also used for healing and therapeutic treatments. The water can also be used for treating skins having rashes, pimples and boils as the rich mineral content of the water cures diseases. Kailasakona Waterfall is a beautiful place with mesmerizing beauty and captivating scenic environment. Perfect for a rejuvenating spot, the place can be mostly enjoyed with friends. As I was traveling alone, I had carried my friendly companion, ‘Camera’ to take stills of the vivid pictures. I clicked a good number of stills and will transform them into hardcopy as soon as I reach Chennai.
I also vivited few other temples in the Chittoor district called Kanipakam, Sri Kalhasti temple and Shiva Parvati temple near the Kailasakona Waterfalls. The morning bells within the temple created an ambience of high spirituality. I was enjoying the place thoroughly as I could also locate few fruits being sold which were cultivated in that district. Fruits like mangoes and tamarind orchards are found abundantly in the district of Chittoor and it is also a market hub for grains, sugarcane, peanuts and mangoes. Sold at a reasonably cheaper price than the rest of the places, people carried fruits and cereals from here. The best time to visit Kailasakona Waterfall is in the months of January and February. I was traveling in the winters and I could see the same effect as I would have experienced in the months of January and February. More or less, the place remains occupied all through the year. With a fulfilled heart, I returned back to hotel to pack my bags back to Chennai. Rock Garden, Tirupati : The trip ended with a panoramic view of Tirumala Hills from the natural arch formation the Rock garden, tirupati. It is believed that Tirupati’s lord Venkateshwar walked over this arch from starting from Vaikunta up to Tirumala. The monument is preserved the entry is given only until a certain area. Sharing with you all this famous garden snap, pin it in your mind and do visit it once when plan to go Triumala
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About Author.
Hello, I am Ayushi Manroa. I love travelling and have also dabbled in photography. Being a student, I mostly end up back-packing! I started this blog to record my travelogues about the amazing places that I have been to. Be it frolicking in Goa, taking a dip in the Ganges, trekking in Coorg or hitching a ride up the Western Ghats, it is all listed here along with some of my best shots. Hope you like it. Happy reading!
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