During my mid-year visit to the ‘city of temples’, I was confused about choosing my place of stay. Running down through numerous travel portals and looking for packages, one hotel caught my eye. This was the hotel of the HHI group that is truly famous for its luxury and world class amenities. I even found certain discounts on the hotel through the best hotel deal app. Therefore, keeping in mind my budget as well as my requirements, I finalised my stay at this hotel. Reaching, Bhubaneswar through flight at around two p.m. I checked in at the hotel around 3. The hotel had a contemporary look and was designed beautifully. I was welcomed in with great hospitality and was allotted a standard room. It did not take much time and the hotel guys were kind enough to get my baggage into the room. But to my great surprise, the standard room was big enough and probably spread over an area of over 300 sq. ft. I was surprised to find such a room at a low cost. The room had an ultra-modern look and LED TV as well as a mini bar. Apart from this, the entire hotel had Internet connectivity. I placed my baggage on the shelf and rested on a comfortable armchair for a while. From the room, one could view a beautiful lawn as well as the pool. I ordered my breakfast to my room and in no time my food was delivered. Then just looking around the hotel I found there was a fitness centre and also the facility of the spa. There was a grand banquet hall accompanied by a musical band from Malaysia. Also, there was an option of a conference hall where corporate meetings could be held. I was happy to know about the travel packages that the hotel offered as it had links to one of the travel agencies. Hence, all this made my travelling across Bhubaneswar cheaper and comfortable. Hotel Hindustan International Bhubaneswar is the best option for staying in the city, as well as located in a prime location, it is easily accessible.
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Summarization : The Shanti Stupa was 7 km from the city of Bhubaneswar and it was one of the best tourist attractions we visited. The monument is beautifully built and was painted white in color. The color is supposed to reflect the peace and serenity of the building as told by our guide.
Khandagiri Caves, Bhubaneswar are partly artificial and partly natural caves that attract numerous tourists especially the Jain because of the archaeological, religious and historical importance. These caves are located in Bhubaneswar, Odisha and share their presence with the famous Udayagiri Caves. These caves are located on two adjacent hills Khandagiri and Udayagiri; from where the names of these caves originally come from. Their aesthetic value can be considered from the fact that these caves are mentioned in Hathigumpha Inscription as Kumari Parvat. Khandagiri Caves are mentioned as ‘lena’ in the Hathigumpha Inscription and it is believed that these were dug as residential blocks for Jain monks under the supremacy of Kharavela. These caves offer good archaeological aspects of that time and are even more beautiful. The landscape becomes even more serene as these are partly natural and partly man-made. Thus, these caves showcase the perfect blend of aesthetics, love for nature and human endeavours of that time. These caves were used as residential areas by Jain Monks and served as a monastery for many years. Ranigumpha Cave, nearby Udayagiri Caves is also a famous tourist attraction as it is a double-storey monastery. Bhubaneswar is well known for its temples that serve as major tourist attractions in the whole of Odisha. These caves are well-maintained and open for public to experience the skills of craftsmen and architects of those times when the majority of modernistic designing and building tools were not present. When one visits the famous Bhubaneswar city, it is very likely that Khandagiri Caves is told as a famous tourist destination. People from countries such as Nepal, Myanmar and even from the SAARC Nations come here every year- to witness the purity and aesthetic values of these caves. Being a nature lover, I enjoyed each and every bit of these majestic caves. Khandagiri Caves are 15 in number and offer a rear view of Bhubaneswar City from the top of the Khandagiri Hill. Various Inscriptions can also be found. Some famous Caves among these 15 Caves include the Tatowa Gumpha, Ananta Gumpha, Khandagiri Ghumpha, Navamuni Gumpha, Trusula Gumpha, Ambika Gumpha, etc. Khandagiri Caves became even more special because of their advanced technique and were a must watch as they also resemble the Sanchi Caves, to some extent.
Bhubaneswar is regarded as the City of Temples. Hence, my trip to this city couldn’t be completed if I had not got a chance to visit the world-famous ISKCON temple. The ISKCON organisation or trust is devoted to the worship of Lord Krishna and has some of its temples established and spread across the country. You may enter this temple at any time and will always experience the peace and calmness like never before. Therefore, after visiting various tourist destinations, I finally got a chance to visit this centre of spirituality. First, I was astounded to see the beautiful architecture of this temple and then as I entered I could hear the “bhajans” of Lord Krishna. After asking from a few authorities nearby and the people related to this institution, I got to know that this non-profit educational institution was established in the New York City back in 1966. This institution has spread across numerous continents and cities in the last 40 years and has the aim of educating and spreading awareness of its founder’s, Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s movement. As I sat listening to the prayers, I was surprised by the numbers of devotees that come down to this temple daily. Soon, the session of bhajans ended and a discussion began in which people asked questions related to God. The priests at the ISKCON temple, Bhubaneshwar were more than happy to help the individuals figure out their problems and answered questions patiently. I was excited to hear the questions as some of them were really what I though sometimes. The answers to these questions were convincing and resolved my doubts. This session lasted for an hour and later the people were invited in for “Maha Prasad”. The people were served with proper food and water. One of the devotees deliberated that this routine was followed three days a week and people were given free food as well as advice on their religious queries and problems. This made me realise that God still exists in the heart of people and not all institutions do charity for money. This place helped me discover myself and helped me relax from my hectic schedule as a pharmacist.
About Lingaraja Temple Bhubaneswar : The temple came as a surprise to my family as we were visiting it as tourists and not as pilgrims. We expected to see a religious place but we were totally stunned by the surrounding beauty. It is true that Bhubaneswar is called the land of temples and this temple was one of the most beautiful amongst them.
During my mid-year visit to Bhubaneswar, Odisha, I had lots of fun and brought back some beautiful memories. One such was the visit to the Nandan Kanan Zoological Park, Bhubaneswar, which is also known as the Garden of God. This place being third on my list was amazing and provided a refreshing experience. Being a nature lover, this place was an awesome treat for me. Spread over an area of 900 acres, this zoological park was established in the year 1960. The surrounding was immensely enticing. The park is the first to be included in the World Association of Zoos. Always being the expressive child, upon enquiring, I found out that although the park was established in the year 1960, it was opened to the public in 1979. Upon wandering through the park, I discovered that it also incorporated a 134 acre Kanjia Lake which has fresh and clean water. The park also had been recently renovated as it was affected by the super cyclone in the year 1999. Reading the facts listed around the park, I found that it contained more than 1700 animals; some of which are the White Tigers, Pangolins and Crocodiles. Moving through the forests I was awed by nature's orchestra and inspired by the wonderful touch of the wild here. Here time goes under the name ‘calm’. One can appreciate the changing shades of the seasons here. Moving about, I got the chance to discover the reptile park where I saw numerous species of crocodile and turtles. Further the park also has an orchid house that is soon to become the largest ‘Orchid House of the city’ of Odisha. Here more than 130 species of orchids are found. The zoo also houses the black panthers and Gharials. The zoo engages people in animal conservation and has started the ‘Adopt an animal’ program which has seen various individuals turning up to adopt.
This place is a pleasing destination for the nature lover like me to visit frequently. My stay in Nandan Kanan was not only a memorable one but was truly adventurous. Description : The museum of Odisha State in Bhubaneswar was an awesome visit for us. There were many tribal artifacts and articles which they use in their daily life. The costumes of these tribal people were so colorful and unique. We even brought some gifts for our friends in the gift shop attached.
During my travel to the city of temples, I got an opportunity to visit the Museum in Bhubaneswar. After visiting some of the prime locations in the city, the museum was the last on my list. As I entered into its vicinity, I was thrilled to see the design and architecture with which this museum was built. Enquiring about the museum, I found out that it was built in the year 1932 by some British personnel. Presently, it is being headed by the superintendent and is owned by the Cultural Department of the Govt. of Odisha. Moving inside, I found that this museum was divided into 11 sections such as Archaeology, Natural History, Art and Craft, Contemporary Art, etc. The place can make you go back to ancient times, and you will surely appreciate the magnificence and skills of our ancestors. Primarily this museum was assembled at Ravenshaw College in Cuttack but was shifted to what is known as the old Bhubaneshwar in the year 1945. Then again after few years it was shifted to another building whose foundation was laid by our late President Dr. Rajendra Prasad. A stylishly outlined building and scene sets tone for a casual and happy learning background about our characteristic legacy and the significance of its protection. It offers an energizing open door for hands-on and minds activity to communicate with the exhibits under reproduced environment to achieve the information about the amicability of plants and creatures and their interrelationships in nature. Further moving what catched my attention was the gallery that showcased the energetic biodiversity of the North East, Orissa, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands; their lavishness under one rooftop making individuals mindful of the common legacy of the state and the past.
After visiting this place, I regretted not having visited such an awesome place earlier. I sure have a love for vintage books, so I was amused by this place all the more. The place was a perfect blend of ancient history as well as contemporary times. It made me proud of our ancestors as well as our nation. Ekamra Kanan Bhubaneshwar : The Ekmara Kanan botanical garden was a huge surprise for us as we really did not expect to see a lake filled with beautiful birds there. Apart from the birds and the bees, we were greeted by lush green plants with flowers in full bloom. It was an unforgettable trip for all of us.
In the summer season like other people, I Soumya Shetty also decided to travel to some modest locations in India. Running across some tourist destinations, I finally narrowed it down to Bhubaneswar in Orissa. The city that is regarded as the ‘temple city of India’ attracts tourists every year. Therefore, pretty excited about my trip I decided to take a flight to my destination. Hence, visiting some travel portals finalised on to Air India Airlines. Two deciding factors for my travel through this flight were that it was cheap as compared to others and the second; I had never got a chance to travel on this flight. Finally, all set for my travel, I finally reached the Kempegowda International Airport in Bangalore and collected the boarding pass for my flight. As I had checked in online, it was not much of a hassle getting the boarding pass. Then I proceeded to security check and waited patiently for the flight at the lounge. As there were no direct Bangalore Bhubaneswar Routes by air, hence I had booked to the connecting flight. First the flight was to land at the Chattrapati Shivaji International Airport and from there I had to take the next flight to Bhubaneswar. As soon as the announcement was made I proceeded towards the plane and was astounded to find the cabin crew very happy and welcoming. I put my baggage in the overhead compartment and sat down waiting for the flight to take off. There was plenty of leg space available, and the seating was very comfortable. As soon as the flight took off, there were instructions by the air hostess regarding safety and security; clear and easy to understand. Amidst our travel, I was offered in meals and coffee, and the hospitality was A class. In about an hour, we reached Mumbai, and I was surprised to notice that the flight time passed away so easily. After about 40 mins, I boarded the connecting flight to Bhubaneshwar and then landed at Biju Patnaik Airport in the next 2 hours. The flight was comforting, and the crew was polite. In all, it was an experience worth remembering.
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Sharing is what I always believe in, since childhood I have been most expressive kid in my family. Making new friends, jelling up with people, traveling or participating in any event, I have always been in the fore front. Hello friends this is Soumya Shetty a Pharmacist, I love reading, travelling to places, visiting spiritual places the rich history behind the existence attracts me. Moreover, at the same time I too enjoy shopping with friends, movies, food, and parties. Most importantly, “sharing” so here is crazy Soumu sharing her experiences and life with you friends. Hope you would like being part of my life’s journey.
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