It’s interesting to see that the government of Odisha had to come out with a tourism campaign with a slogan- “Odisha- India’s best kept secret”! Can you imagine, how a major state in India in the 21st century age of information, is being touted as a “secret”! But it’s not that surprising given how few tourists actually visit the state. However, it has great diversity to offer to a traveler. From art, architecture and culture to nature and wildlife, it has something for everyone. In my view, there are few tourist circuits in the country as enriching as Odisha’s Golden Triangle of ‘Bhubaneswar- Puri- Konark’ is. So, let me help you with a plan for Odisha, especially with tips for how to plan for and enjoy 5 days in the golden triangle.
{For more Odisha destinations, read: Best beaches of Odisha}
Odisha's Golden Triangle
Travellers- domestic as well as foreigners are well versed with India’s golden triangle: Delhi- Agra- Jaipur circuit. It makes perfect sense to the foreigners to have the first glimpse of India with limited time on hand. However, travellers having long duration plans, or travelling multiple times would typically look for other close- knit circuits having great travel value. Odisha’s golden triangle definitely is one such destination.
Bhubaneswar- the temple city, Puri- the great Hindu pilgrimage (with a sea beach), and Konark, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (with a beach) comprise an outstanding combo of destinations in close proximity. For their own merit, each of these destinations deserve a devoted visit, even if one discounts the other centers.
Let’s have the plan first:
Day-1: Bhubaneswar
Odisha golden triangle essentially starts in Bhubaneswar. Reach Bhubaneswar in the morning; check in your hotel, and relax for a while. Then move to have an authentic Odia cuisine experience at ‘Odisha’ hotel. For non-vegetarians, special dishes include mutton curry, fish curry, and crabs. And they also have great vegetarian options. Besides, Pakhala is a popular local food variety, one should try.
Start easy; explore local Bhubaneswar:
Late in the afternoon, visit the Odisha State Tribal museum. Its design reflects the the essence of tribal cultural traditions of western and southern Odisha. The museum exhibits tribal lifestyle and artefacts. Wind up day-1 with a visit to Ekamra Haat. It’s a lovely market place with a village-like look and feel, providing a platform to fine artisans and craftsmen of Odisha. If you love art and craft, you will love its ambiance, and will shop some beautiful hand-crafted products. Spend the evening there and have Chakuli-Mutton for dinner.
If you want to avoid the cacophony of city life, you can choose to drive down 15 kms to the Chandaka forest.
Chandaka forest:
It’s a beautiful green forest with a large number of elephant population and lovely lakes. In the forest area, there are two artificial lakes created by backwaters of dams- Derasa dam and Jhumka dam; both good for a relaxing evening and boating. In the vicinity of the dams, there are both government and private owned resorts for staying the night over.
Deras dam:
On a recent trip, I enjoyed a night stay at a Forest department guesthouse near Deras dam with some close friends. We enjoyed a surreal sunset over the lake, and walked around in the forest area leisurely. Next morning, we went on a boat ride in the lake (with crocodiles!). And then ventured into the jungle in an open jeep. Though it was too late for animal sighting, a date with the forests is always a great date!
Day-2: Bhubaneswar
Start the second day by paying a visit to the beautiful Ram Mandir. Have your breakfast near the temple at a small eatery which you can easily identify by the crowd around it.
Then head to the Nandan Kanan zoological park (about 12 kms). The park is set within a natural forest (Chandaka) and beside a beautiful lake (Kanjia). The park along with the lake is perfect for a half-day family outing. You can walk around a bit to see the wild animals in a natural environment.
Besides, you may choose to go for a tiger safari (famous for white tigers) within the park, and/or, take a boat ride in the Kanjia lake. Though there is a botanical garden beside the zoological park, it’s difficult to cover in this half day plan.
Tingle your taste-buds on the highway:
While coming back from Nandan Kanan, take a slightly longer route (via Gopalpur). Stop over at a road-side eatery to have the popular street food DahiBara-Aloodum. There would be so many of them on the Cuttack- Bhubaneswar highway that you can not miss them.
Another interesting place on the highway is Pahala. Quite interestingly, you will notice more than a hundred Rasagola vendors sitting by the highway in a line- quite a sight in itself. Stop over to have Odia Rasagola, and decide for yourself whether you like this, or the Bengali ones more. The legal tussle between Odisha and Bengal for the GI tag is now settled with both having it for their own variety. In fact, they are quite different in texture and taste, and have different historical backgrounds as well. Another popular sweet-dish is Chhenapoda, made of roasted cottage cheese. Do try it!
Khandagiri and Udayagiri Caves:
Day-3: Bhubaneswar- Puri
Not for nothing, Bhubaneswar is called the temple city. So, devote day-3 to visiting some of the magnificent temples in the old city- Lingaraj temple, Rajarani temple, Mukteswara temple and Chausathi Jogini temple. These temples are situated close to each other, and will take half a day to visit. If you love old temple architecture, these temples will charm you with their beauty. After enjoying the temple architecture, have lunch (Prasad) at Ananta Vasudeva temple. Visit the temple’s kitchen in the backyards; you will love the experience, and the food too. If you want to know more about the temples of Bhubaneswar, here is a link to the official site of the government of Odisha.
Dhauli and Shanti Stupa:
Once you are done with the temple visits, and had your lunch, leave for Puri (63 kms), preferably by 2 PM. On the way, your first halt will be at the Dhauli Shanti Stupa (about 8 kms from city center). Sometimes, wars can achieve lasting peace. Ironic it may sound, but it certainly has happened in the past. In 261 BCE, an infamous war took place at this very place between the Mauryan emperor Ashoka and Kalinga kingdom (ancient name of Odisha). Millions died, and more got injured. According to hearsay, the river Daya that flows nearby, turned red in blood! Afterwards, a mother’s innocent question got Ashoka (whether he could return the life of her son?) immersed in deep introspection.
A historic transition:
This event shook Ashoka so much that it turned him from “Chandashoka” (butcher-Ashoka) to “Dharmashoka” (Pious-Ashoka). Later he adopted Buddhism and from then on, he was instrumental in spreading the religion across the world, especially China and south-east Asian countries. Indeed, it was an extraordinary event in world history. To commemorate the event, the Japan Buddha Sangha has built a peace pagoda on the spot in the memory of that historic event.
Pipli Craft Village:
After witnessing the great historic place, your next stop would be Pipili (14 kms from Dhauli), a small craft village known for its colourful applique craft (called Chandua). Spend about 30 minutes in the village, and then move to your next destination on the way- Raghurajpur (28 kms from Pipili) village.
Raghurajpur Heritage Village:
Reaching Puri:
From Raghurajpur, Puri is just nearby (12 kms away). Reach there by the evening, and check in your hotel. Then if you have the energy, head to the sea beach, maybe just in time for the sunset. Witness the beautiful sunset over the Bay of Bengal and take a stroll on the beach. There is a bustling evening market on the beach- have some sea food, engage in some handicraft shopping, and enjoy the local market vibes.
If you are a foodie, explore the local markets of Puri near the Jagannath temple. The sweet dishes of Puri are just unmissable- khaja (feni), chhena poda, malpua and many other local delicacies.
Day-4: Puri- Konark
If sunset is magnificent, sunrise is surreal on the Puri sea beach. Unlike the large crowd in the evening, there would be very few people on the beach at sunrise. Take a sunbath and enjoy the sound of the roaring sea. (If you interested in beaches, read more here: Goa ||| Coastal Karnataka)
Being one of Hinduism’s important pilgrimage, Puri has a large number of old small and large temples; important ones are the Shri Jagannath temple, Mausima temple, and the Lokanath temple. Pay a visit to the Govardhan math, one of the 4 maths established by the Adi Shankaracharya in the four different directions of India.
However, the most important engagement of the day has to be with the Lord Jagannath. Visit the great temple in the afternoon so that you can have lunch (prasad) at its Anand Bazar; it’s a must for the spiritual/ cultural seekers. You will need at least 2-3 hours to explore the temple.
The Jagannath temple:
A trip to Odisha golden triangle is incomplete without visiting the Jagannath temple.
The Vaishnav school of Hinduism believes in Char Dham Yatra- a pilgrimage to the major shrines established in four different directions of India. These shrines include, Badrinath in north, Dwarkanath in west, Jagannath dham in east and Rameswaram in south. Thus, Jagannath temple is one of the cornerstones of Hindu pilgrimage. A magnificent temple, built in the 12th century BCE by the king Chodagangadeva, it stands 69 meters tall. There are about 120 smaller temples within its premises. It runs one of the largest community kitchens in India. The food is cooked in earthen pots in traditional style of the temple, and is delicious.
You might have heard about the famous annual Car Festival (Rath Yatra) of Puri. If you have religious reasons, then look for the dates of Ratha Yatra in July. But, be aware that there will be a million devotees alongside you.
Puri-Konark Marine Drive:
Leave Puri by 4 PM and drive towards Konark (37 kms). The drive on the Puri-Konark Marine drive route is absolutely scenic with the sea on one side and mangrove forests on the other. So, keep enough day-light on hand to enjoy the view while driving. In fact, this is one of the highlights of the road-trip in Odisha golden triangle. Do stop over at places to enjoy the view of the Bay of Bengal and a stroll on the beach wherever you wish.
At about 26 kms, you will come across Ramachandi- temple and beach. Stop over for an hour or so to take a little stroll on the Ramachandi river beach near Kusabhadra river mouth. If you cross the river by a boat, you land on the sea beach! Take amazing pictures at sunset for your Instagram, and then drive ahead towards Konark.
Reach Konark in the evening and check in at the government owned Panthaniwas, if you like. Their tariffs are reasonable, and they have good Odiya food options. If you reach by 6 PM, you can visit the sun temple to enjoy the light-and-sound show.
Day-5: Konark
Begin your last day of Odisha golden triangle on Chandrabhaga beach in Konark during sunrise. Parina still fondly remembers her first visit to this peaceful, clean, pristine beach. Spend as much time as you wish as per your flight timing from Bhubaneswar (66 kms), should preferably be late in the evening so that you can spend good part of the day in Konark. Visit the sun temple of Konark after breakfast; it will take at least 2-3 hrs to explore.
Konark Sun Temple:
One of the most magnificent of temple-architectures anywhere in the world, the Konark Sun temple is the epitome of Odisha or Kalinga architecture. It was built in 1250 CE by the then King Narasimhadeva-I dedicated to the Sun God. Western visitors in earlier times used to refer it as the black pagoda. The main temple used to be of approximately 70 meters high, which fell in 1837. What remains is the main mandapa which stands at about 39 meters high.
It was designed as a chariot of the Sun God with 24 huge wheels driven by the horses. Konark sun temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temple is famous for its intricate sculpture including the erotic details of kama (passion/sex). For this reason, some more such heritage temples, often compared with Konark are in Khajuraho-Orchha in central India.
{For more UNESCO heritage monuments in this site, check out: Hampi ||| Gagron Fort ||| Stonehenge.}
Famous festivals of Konark:
Every year in December, government of Odisha organizes the famous Konark Dance and Music Festival (plus, craft fair). If you check out their dates in advance and plan your trip accordingly, you can enjoy world-class dance performances. Around the same time, they also organize the unique International Sand Art Festival in Konark as well. So, do look out for the dates before planning.
On the way back to Bhubaneswar, stop over at Nimapada for 15 minutes to taste a typical sweet dish called chhena jhilli, and end your Odisha golden triangle trip on a sweet note.
Reach Bhubaneswar; take your flight in the evening or, next morning.
Odisha's Golden Triangle : Travel Tips
Best time to visit:
- Winters are pleasant in Odisha. So, December and January are the best time to visit Odisha. Plus, there are cultural festivals during this time in Odisha.
- October, November, February and March are not too bad. Plus, Odisha’s major festival- Dussehra falls in October. Another lovely festival is in March- ‘Holi-Dola Jatra’. Dola Jatra falls one day prior to Holi, the colour festival. People from many villages carry their deities (Krishna) to a common place to have a fair.
- April to June are too hot; July, August and September are too wet, hot and humid. Thus, you may avoid these months unless you want to enjoy the beautiful monsoon on a beach.
How to reach:
Being the state capital, it’s well connected with major cities of India by flights/ trains. Bhubaneswar, Puri and Konark are very near to each other. So, it’s best to travel by private taxis, or cab services. For the backpackers, local public transport options are frequent, and cheap too.
Where to stay:
Some budget hotel options in Bhubaneswar: Hotel Grand Central | Arya Palace | Miland Palace | Ginger Bhubaneswar | La Franklin | Hindustan International | Hotel Excellency | Lemon Tree Premier | Panthaniwas (Konark)
What/ where to eat:
Please refer suggestions in the text above in the article.
Odisha's Golden Triangle: Alternate plans
Alternate plan for 4 days:
If you have less than 5 days, drop day-2 (Nandankan), and skip to day-3, but visit Khandagiri- Udaygiri caves on day-1. So, basically, club together day-1 and day-2, and choose your destinations as per your choice.
If you have 6 days…
On the other hand, if you have a little more time, add Chilika lake (a brackish water lake on tentative list of UNESCO) to the itinerary. You can do it either from Puri or from Bhubaneswar as a day trip. Either way, Nalabana bird sanctuary within Chilika lake is accessible from both the sides. From Puri side, you can chase some dolphins at the confluence of Chilika lake and Bay of Bengal. From Bhubaneswar side, you can visit the Kalijai temple and Mangalajodi bird sanctuary.
If you have 7 days….
With another day in hand, you can also visit the ancient Buddhist sites: ‘Lalitgiri- Ratnagiri and Udaygiri‘ triangle as a day-trip from Bhubaneswar. Or, if you are more interested in natural sites, you may choose Bhitarkanika National Park and Gahirmatha wildlife sanctuary (famous for Olive Ridley Turtles), both mangrove forests with rich wildlife.
Odisha's Golden Triangle: A concluding note
Being from Odisha, my heart lies in this serene land of nature and culture. Writing this article to help travellers enjoy a trip to Odisha golden triangle has been really enjoyable.
‘Best kept secret’, or open secret, or no secret at all, do not worry about the tag, just enjoy your Odisha golden triangle road trip. I hope this article “Odisha: Enjoy 5 days in the golden triangle” is useful to you. If you have already been there, please do not forget to write back to me about your experience.
Sandip
Very Nice
stampedmoments
Thanks!
Yashobanta swain
i am from odisha but still didnt know all the details . its well researched and i can suggest my friends to read your post whoever is planning a trip for odisha.
stampedmoments
Glad to know that.
Research more, and supply me more relevant information to post in the blogs.
Yayyy!!!
Nidhi
Great detailed story.. will surely go with your suggestions while visiting Odisha. Thank you for sharing! All the best! 🙂
stampedmoments
Thanks for reading, and giving feedback. Will be happy if the tips can help you sometime.
Ajita Sharma
A very well researched and articulated post.I was a treat to go through it.It beautifully mixes history ,art , culture and
others details.👏👏👏
Content -3.5/5
Information -4/5
Enjoyability- 4/5
And please do tell me who won the Rosogulla battle.Odisha or Bengal 😁
stampedmoments
Hey, thanks for the detailed feedback. Very helpful indeed.
Hope you remember the collaboration thing. Let’s connect soon.
stampedmoments
And yes, in the rosogulla battle both parties won. Because both the rosogullas are different in taste and history.
Soumen Chatterjee
Well odisha has always been my 2nd home. From college days at KIIT SCHOOL OF RURAL MANAGEMENT where I had spend glorious 2 years done my field visits to rural odisha. Followed by my work exposure to odisha where I learnd a lot. Coming back to the golden triangle, it’s really awsome to visit all the places mentioned bhubaneswar to Puri to konrak , every place has its own charm and beautiful may that be udaigiri and Khandgri or pipli or raghurajpur craft village. Famous temples of konrak or the one and only Jagannath temple. The only Puri beach, chandrabhaga beach , konark beach. Finally the dauli and sanchi stupa every thing is just awsome .
It’s truely said Odisha India’s best kept secret. 😊😊🙏🏽
stampedmoments
I know Bengalis and Odiyas have common history and culture.
As you have spent so much of time in Bhubaneswar, you must be knowing the route quite well.
I also feel the same about Kolkata. Love its vibes.
Jayvanti
V.nice
stampedmoments
Thank you!
Kettle and Travel
Love the details and the thought in providing flexible itineraries!
stampedmoments
Thank you so much for reading, and glad that you found it useful.