Page 311 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

EASTERN INDIA  309

ODISHA

Bounded on the west by the thickly forested hills of the Eastern
Ghats, and on the east by nearly 500 km (311 miles) of coastline
on the Bay of Bengal, Odisha, also known as Orissa, covers an
area of 156,000 sq km (60,232 sq miles). Its most famous sights are
clustered together in a compact triangle on the eastern coast, in
the fertile delta of its major river, the Mahanadi. These include the
magnificent 13th-century Sun Temple at Konark, a UNESCO World Heritage
Site, and other outstanding temples at Bhubaneswar and Puri. To recover from
sightseeing fatigue, there are beaches within easy reach at Puri, Konark and
Gopalpur-on-Sea, fringed by coconut groves and fishing villages. Just south of this
triangle is Chilika Lake, Asia’s largest lagoon and a paradise for bird-watchers. The
hinterland of the coast is lush with green paddy fields, dotted with ancient Buddhist
ruins and tranquil hamlets, where Odisha’s beautiful traditional crafts flourish. The
spectacular, unspoilt landscape of northern Odisha includes Simlipal National Park,
with its wealth of wildlife, and settlements of tribal people who form nearly a
quarter of Odisha’s population of 35 million.

Sights at a Glance
Towns & Cities Areas of Natural Beauty
1 Bhubaneswar 4 Chilika Lake
3 Puri 5 Gopalpur-on-Sea
6 Berhampur 7 Taptapani
8 Cuttack 0 kilometres 100
q Baleshwar National Parks
w Baripada 0 Bhitarkanika Sanctuary 0 miles 100
Historic Sites e Simlipal National Park
2 Konark
9 Ratnagiri
• Jamshedpur

NH75 NH6 Kharagpur •
NH33
•
• Bilaspur Sundargarh • Rourkela NH215 Jashipur NH60
•
• Kendujhar NH5
Hirakud NH6
NH23
Reservoir • • Khiching • Chandipur
Raipur NH6 Sambalpur
• NH215
NH42 NH200
• Chandbali
NH201 •
Angul
• Lalitgiri
Ma h ana di
Phulbani •
• Paradip
NH5A
NH224
NH217
Bay of Bengal
•
Bhawanipatna NH217
NH43
NH201 NH203A
Jagdalpur Key
•
Koraput National highway
•
NH221 NH43 NH5 Major road
Minor road
Major railway
Vizianagaram
•
State border
Ancient carved wheel at the Konark Sun Temple, Odisha For keys to symbols see back flap
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