Saturday, November 27, 2010

Puri - a gem of Eastern India

Puri is well known as one of the four Dhams (religious place) of India, i.e. The Jagannath Dham. Apart from the Jagannath Temple, people visit Puri for it's beaches.


1 day in Puri - a single day trip is definitely not enough for Puri. If you are taking a short day trip from Bhubaneswar, the Jagannath temple, a tour of the Grand Road, and an evening at the beach should be a great way to see Puri in a day.

2 days in Puri - everything included above + have prasad (famous Meals offered to Lord Jagannath and then made available to the devotees. Prasad could be availed inside the temple or a more comfortable restaurant just outside the temple. It belongs to the Maharaja of Puri. Visit the Konark temple -a world heritage site - a half day trip from Puri. Stop at the Chandrabhaga beach on your way. Also don't forget to take a open ricksaw ride along the beach. I would ask the driver to give me a 30 min ride - back n forth. Kids will enjoy camel or horse rides close to the waves. The Puri beach is a hot spot during the evenings. If you are staying in one of the beach front hotels in Puri, try for a room with a balcony. HotelPushpak.com offers many options for hotels for Puri. Naren Palace and Hotel Padma on Chakratirtha Road are two great sea front hotels in Puri and are reputed for their value and service. Another top rated hotel in puri include Hotel Sonar Bangla on New Marine Drive. Read reviews of hotels in puri at Tripadvisor.com before you book a hotel. PushpakReviews.com also offers reviews of Puri hotels - from travelers who have actually stayed at these hotels. Famous restaurants in Puri include the one in Mayfair hotel (pricy) and Chung Wah - an authentic Chinese restaurant. Try seafood if you want fresh stuff.

More than 3 days in Puri - Take a day trip to Bhubaneswar. Visit Chilika Lake if you have an extra full day.

Many tourists visit Puri several times every year - both for religious reasons as well as to have a relaxing time away from home and work. Also, each season has it's own charm in Puri. Make sure you visit Puri during different times of the year. Happy vacationing!

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Bhubaneswar - The Temple City of India


Bhubaneswar - the temple city of India, is located in the eastern state of Orissa. Bhubaneswar along with Puri and Konark forms the "Golden Triangle" of Eastern India and a prime tourist destination for people from all over the world. Major temple attractions include the Lingaraj Temple - one of the tallest Shiva temples in India and is over 1000 years old, the Mukteswara temple, Vaital temple, Rajarani temple among others. Other major attractions include Khandagiri & Udayagiri - the Jain monastry from the 2nd century BC carved into cave like chambers in the face of a hill, Dhauli Giri - a Buddhist stupa commemorating the conversion of Ashoka into Buddhism, and Nandankanan - one of the best zoo's in India with a lion safari and a white tiger safari (don't miss the elephant ride). Puri, Konark and Chilika excellent day trip destinations from Bhubaneswar and adds flavor to your trip with a visit to the Jagannath Puri Temple, Puri beach, lake / Flamingoes / Dolphoins and a World Heritage Site.


Bhubaneswar offers quality accommodation facilities for customers in all budget ranges. One of the most affordable, well known and centrally located hotels in Bhubaneswar is Hotel Pushpak. Serving customers since 1960s, and recently renovated, Hotel Pushpak, Bhubaneswar provides 40+ fully equiped rooms and all modern including free wireless Internet, several restaurants and a bar. HotelPushpak.com provides online bookings for Pushpak as well as several other budget hotels in Bhubaneswar. It also offers bookings for several mid range and luxury hotels including Hotel Swosti, Hotel Suryansh, among others. Read customer reviews of hotels in Bhubaneswar before you choose a hotel.

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