If you are either a working person or a student then you must be always looking forward to the weekend so that you can heave a sigh of relief and enjoy a moment outside of your daily routine. If you are living in and around Bhubaneswar and want to get away for the weekend then here’s some of the best places to visit around Bhubaneswar during weekend.
1. Puri
If you are from Bhubaneswar then you can’t talk about weekend getaways without mentioning Puri first. Puri attracts tourist from all over the world because of the famous Jagannath temple. People visit here to learn about the Jagannath culture and also to perform many rituals. But apart from that Puri can also be a fun place to be. The Golden Beach at Puri is a must visit place and can beat your weekday blues. At any time of the year you can see a lot of people chilling around the beach. To add a feather to it’s cap the Golden Beach has received international Blue Flag tag.
There are also other places of interest nearby Puri like the Konark temple,Ramachandi beach etc. At around 70km away from Bhubaneswar ,there are many cheap as well as luxurious hotels at Puri for staying.
2. Satapada
At about 55 km away from Puri and 120 km from Bhubaneswar,this place is one of the underrated tourist place.This place is a must visit if you are a nature lover and watching animals in their natural habitat fills your heart with joy. It is a part of Chillika lake and is famous for Irrawaddy dolphins. Watching these giant animals makes your heart skip a beat. Many bird species also visit this place and if you love bird-watching then this place is a must visit. There is also an island located at about one hour distance from the place. This place provides you with peace and tranquility, away from the rush of the busy city.
The best time to watch the dolphins is from 7am to 9am. You can choose to stay at guest houses,cottage houses and hotels available around the place.
3. Chillika
Chillika is situated at a distance of about 60km from Bhubaneswar. It is the largest brackish water lake in Asia. Chillika is famous for the large number of migratory birds that flock in here. This place is also famous because of bird-watching. The Kalijai temple is situated on an island in Chillika which can be reached by a boat. Apart from that you can find a variety of sea food in Chillika.
Some other places that you can visit in Chillika includes Nalaban ,Bird island etc.
4. Berhampur
Known as the Silk city of Odisha, Berhampur is situated at a distance of 172 km from Bhubaneswar. This destination can be a quick getaway place during the weekends as it has many places of attraction. Prominent of which are the Gopalpur beach, Taratarini temple , Dhabaleswar beach, Jiranga monastery, Khasada fall etc. This place is also famous for its sea food. This place can be the perfect for your weekend as it provides a variety of place to explore ranging from temples to beaches.
Some other places around Berhampur that are situated at some distance from the heart of the city include Taptapani, Mahendragiri hills etc.
5. Keonjhar
The reason to include this place as a whole is that there are many beautiful places that fall in this region. To begin with Badaghagara waterfall is a beautiful place situated at a distance of 10 km from the district headquarters. The waterfall enjoys a unique characteristics of 100 feet height inside the dense forest area to the much delight of tourists & weekend holidaymakers alike.
Contrast to the name of Badaghagara there is another waterfall present in Keonjhar, which is named as Sanaghagara, located only 5 km from Keonjhar. The calm, peaceful, relaxing, natural green forest environment with the beauty of water fall has been the best choice for nature loving tourist to visit Sanaghagara waterfall again and again.
Some other important places of attraction includes Ghatagaon Tarini temple, Gundichaghai waterfall etc.
6. Daringbadi
Also known as the Kashmir of Odisha, this hill station is situated in the district of Kandhamal. It is about 270 km away from Bhubaneswar and is about a journey of 6-7 hrs. It provides a perfect mix of cultural tourism, nature tourism and tribal tourism. There are also a series of waterfall present here like Darsingbadi waterfall, Putudi waterfall, Ludu waterfall etc. People can also avail different sports option like jungle safari, trekking and bird-watching. It is a must visit place if you love the hill stations and scenic beauty.
7. Satakosia Tiger Reserve
It is located in Angul district at a distance of about 180 km from Bhubaneswar. If you are a wildlife enthusiast or a photographer then this is the best place to be. There is no pleasure greater than watching the wild animals in their own natural habitat. You can go for boating or trekking but you have to get prior permissions. Enjoy the silence of the forest, sounds of the night birds or the wind blowing through the trees while sitting beneath the stars. You must drive through the forests for a one-of-a-kind experience.
You can also choose to stay in the hotels and resorts available in and around the place.
These were some of the best places to visit around Bhubaneswar and have a good time. In addition to that here are some places that you can consider if you want to spend only few hours and still enjoy.
- Pandavabakhara hill:- It is a less discovered place and is only about 30km away from Bhubaneswar. If you want to have some adventure then you can definitely go for trekking here. But make sure to take help of local guides while exploring the caves or else you might get lost!
- Deras dam:- Situated in the Khorda district at a distance of about 20km from Bhubaneswar, this place is perfect for you if you are looking for some scenic beauty.
- Ansupa lake:- Located in the Athgarh district ,you can visit this place if you want to spend some peaceful time.
