Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneshwar Travel

Bhubaneshwar, Tours to India, India Tours, India Tour One of the major cities of eastern India, Bhubaneshwar is the capital of the eastern Indian state of Orissa. Bhubaneshwar derives its name from the Sanskrit word Tribhuvaneshwari which means Lord Shiva. A city with a spiritual atmosphere, several beautiful temples dot the landscape of Bhubaneswar. In fact, the city is also called the ' Temple Metropolis of India'. Some of Bhubaneshwar's temples are more than 2000 years old. But instead of living in the past, Bhubaneshwar has developed its civic amenities well and is regarded as one of the better-planned cities in India. Bhubaneshwar is one city that has blended tradition with modern necessities very well.

Best Season to Visit: November-April

Sightseeing at Bhubaneshwar -

Lingaraja Temple: Lingaraj Temple, Tours to India, India Tours, India Tour The Lingaraja temple is regarded as a fine example of a purely Hindu temple. This 10th-century temple is also regarded by some archeologists as 'the truest fusion of dream and reality.' The temple is 55-m-high and has its entire surface covered with elaborate carvings. There is an ancient tradition that all pilgrims wishing to visit the Jagannath temple at Puri must offer worship at the Lingaraja temple first of all.

Prathameshwara Temple: The Prathameshwara temple was built in the year 650 A.D. and is one of the best examples of Orissa's style of temple architecture. Many exquisite carvings and sculptures also adorn the walls and pillars of this temple. Rituals are rigidly followed in the temple.

Raja Rani Temple: The Raja Rani temple is regarded as the finest example of traditional Orrison temple design. It is a 'love temple' the walls and pillars of which are covered with many erotic carvings of women and couples. The temple is set in picturesque surroundings and has well-maintained gardens. There is no particular deity in the temple.

Nandan Kanan: On the outskirts of Bhubaneshwar, Nandan Kanan is the largest lion safari park in India. Nandan Kanan has a few rare white tigers. The park also has botanical and zoological gardens. Many species of migratory birds also come to the park in winter. The animals in Nandan Kanan are not caged and are provided with a natural environment.

Reaching Bhubaneshwar -

Air: There are regular flights to Bhubaneshwar from the cities of Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, and Hyderabad. Biju Patnaik Airport of Bhubaneshwar is the only major airport in the state.

Rail: Bhubaneshwar has direct rail connectivity with all important destinations of India including the metropolitan cities.

Road: Muktheshwar Temple, Tours to India, India Tours, India Tour Bhubaneshwar has good road connectivity with the rest of Orissa and neighboring states.

Shopping in Bhubaneshwar -

The best buys of Bhubaneshwar are the local art and craft works of the place. The unique 'Ikat' fabric and seashell works are also in demand. There are many places in Bhubaneshwar where shopping takes place. But the best place to find good products at reasonable prices is the state government emporium of the city.

Agartala

FACTS & FIGURES

Language:         Bengali

The best time to visit is October to March

STD Code       0381

 INTRODUCTION

Hotel in Agartala The capital town of the eastern state of Tripura, Agartala, is a mini storehouse of rich cultural diversity. This is due to the city's physical proximity to the Indo-Bangladesh border, which is just 2 km away. Agartala moved to its present location in 1850, under the regime of the king - Maharaja Radha Krishna Kishore Manikya Bahadur. It is known for its twin modern palaces - Ujjayanta and Kunjaban.

LOCATION

Agartala is located in the western part of Tripura, astride the Haroa River. It is 1680 km from Calcutta and 599 km from Guwahati. National Highway No. 44 connects Agartala to Guwahati via Shillong. It takes about 24 hours by road from Guwahati to reach Agartala. The journey time by road between Dhaka and Agartala is approximately 3 hours.

 BEST TIME TO VISIT

The best time to visit Agartala is between October and April. Towards the extremes of this period, one might experience a few showers, but they are quite refreshing. The town is known for its cultural and historical worth, and one can easily notice bright bamboo and cloth umbrellas over ponds. Such parasols are part of the tribal customs of grandsons commemorating the deaths of their grandfathers on their anniversaries.

HISTORY

Agartala was once part of a Hindu kingdom until the state was taken over by the Mughals in 1733. The British took over the reins of governance in 1808 and Tripura was a princely state until 1956 when it became a Union Territory. When Tripura gained statehood in 1972, Agartala became the state capital.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

The major interest of the town is the Ujjay Anta Palace, which was built in the Indo-Saracenic style in 1901 by Maharaja Radha Kishore Manikya. It is a two-storied mansion, with 28 hectares of parkland, and now houses the office of the State Legislative Assembly. On the grounds, there are two temples-Umanneshwar and Jagannath-both of which are ochre in color.

Another important attraction is the Kunja Ban Palace built in 1917 by Maharaja Birendra Kishore Manikya. It is located about 1 km away from the Ujjay Anta Palace on a hillock. The Palace is the official residence of the Governor of Tripura. The southern part of the Palace is open to the public and has been named Rabindra Kanan.

Situated about 55 km from Agartala is Neer Mahal, Tripura's major tourist attraction. It is a summer resort built in the middle of a lake named Rudra Sagar, with a total area of about 5.35 sq. km. It is the only lake palace in Eastern India and has been built in a mixture of Hindu and Mughal styles.