Travel guide · Odisha
Odisha Travel Guide
Odisha tour packages cover the temple city of Bhubaneswar, the Jagannath temple at Puri, the Sun Temple at Konark, the Chilika lagoon with its dolphins and winter birds, the Buddhist sites of Ratnagiri, Udayagiri and Lalitgiri, Gopalpur-on-Sea, the hills of Daringbadi, the Simlipal and Bhitarkanika parks, Sambalpur and Hirakud, and the tribal south around Koraput. Our itineraries run 3 to 8 days, with standard / 3-star equivalent hotels and breakfast.
By Holiday Guru Travel · Updated 8 Oct 2026
In short: Temples, lagoon and coast, buddhist heritage and forests and crafts. The Jagannath temple at Puri, the Lingaraj in Bhubaneswar and the UNESCO-listed Sun Temple at Konark. October to March is the best time to visit Odisha; Chilika's migratory birds are there from about November to February.
Odisha quick facts
- Trip length
- 3–8 days (16 itineraries)
- Best time
- October to March is the best time to visit Odisha; Chilika's migratory birds are there from about November to February.
- Key places
- Puri, Konark, Bhubaneswar, Chilika, Gopalpur and Daringbadi, Bhitarkanika and Simlipal
- Tours start in
- Bhubaneswar, Jharsuguda, Visakhapatnam
- Hotels
- Standard / 3-star equivalent on all 16 itineraries
- Meal plans
- Breakfast on all 16 itineraries
- Suits
- Pilgrims, Heritage lovers, Nature lovers
Best places to visit in Odisha
Puri, Konark, Bhubaneswar, Chilika and Gopalpur and Daringbadi are the places our Odisha itineraries are built around.
Puri
The Jagannath temple, the beach and Raghurajpur's painters.
Konark
The 13th-century Sun Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Bhubaneswar
The Lingaraj and Mukteswara temples, the Udayagiri caves and Dhauli.
Chilika
Asia's largest brackish-water lagoon, with dolphins and winter birds.
Gopalpur and Daringbadi
A quiet beach town and a pine-and-coffee hill station.
Bhitarkanika and Simlipal
Mangrove creeks with crocodiles, and a sal-forest tiger reserve.
Things to do
- Have darshan at the Jagannath temple in Puri
- See the Sun Temple at Konark
- Take a boat to see the Chilika dolphins
- Visit the painters of Raghurajpur
- Explore the Buddhist site of Ratnagiri
- Go by boat through the Bhitarkanika mangroves
How many days do you need?
Three days covers Puri or Bhubaneswar; four days covers Bhubaneswar, Puri and Konark; allow five to eight to add Chilika, Gopalpur, Bhitarkanika or Daringbadi.
| Trip length | What it covers | Our itinerary |
|---|---|---|
| 3 days | Puri Jagannath darshan | Puri Jagannath Darshan |
| 4 days | Bhubaneswar, Puri and Konark | Bhubaneswar, Puri and Konark |
| 5 days | Bhubaneswar, Puri, Konark and Chilika | Bhubaneswar, Puri, Konark and Chilika |
| 6 days | Puri, Konark and the Buddhist sites | Puri, Konark and the Buddhist Sites |
| 8 days | Grand Odisha | Grand Odisha |
Best time to visit Odisha
October to March is the best time to visit Odisha; Chilika's migratory birds are there from about November to February.
| Months | Season | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| October – March | Best season | Pleasant weather for temples and beaches; migratory birds at Chilika from November to February. |
| April – June | Summer | Hot and humid; the Rath Yatra at Puri falls in June or July. |
| July – September | Monsoon | Rain on the coast; Bhitarkanika closes from about May to July and Simlipal in the monsoon. |
Suggested Odisha routes
Routes from our own Odisha itineraries, by trip length.
- 2 Nights / 3 Days: Bhubaneswar → Lingaraj Temple → Udayagiri Caves → Dhauli → Nandankanan — Bhubaneswar: the Temple City
- 3 Nights / 4 Days: Bhubaneswar → Puri → Konark → Dhauli → Raghurajpur — Bhubaneswar, Puri and Konark
- 4 Nights / 5 Days: Bhitarkanika → Bhubaneswar — Bhitarkanika Mangroves
- 5 Nights / 6 Days: Puri → Gopalpur → Bhubaneswar — Bhubaneswar, Puri and Gopalpur
- 6 Nights / 7 Days: Araku → Koraput → Jeypore → Visakhapatnam — Koraput and Jeypore: Tribal Odisha
- 7 Nights / 8 Days: Bhubaneswar → Puri → Gopalpur → Daringbadi → Bhubaneswar — Grand Odisha
Things to consider
Getting there and around: Packages include road transfers and sightseeing from Bhubaneswar (or Visakhapatnam and Jharsuguda) as specified. Boats at Chilika and Bhitarkanika and park vehicles at Simlipal are paid locally; flights or trains are quoted separately.
Where you stay: Standard / 3-star equivalent hotels with breakfast, as listed on each package; simple lodges at Daringbadi, Simlipal and Bhitarkanika.
- Non-Hindus are not allowed inside the Jagannath and Lingaraj temples.
- Phones, cameras and leather are not allowed inside the Jagannath temple.
- Puri is very crowded during the Rath Yatra (June or July).
- Chilika's winter birds are best seen at dawn.
Odisha travel questions
What is Odisha known for?
Temples, lagoon and coast, buddhist heritage and forests and crafts. The Jagannath temple at Puri, the Lingaraj in Bhubaneswar and the UNESCO-listed Sun Temple at Konark.
How many days should I spend in Odisha?
Three days covers Puri or Bhubaneswar; four days covers Bhubaneswar, Puri and Konark; allow five to eight to add Chilika, Gopalpur, Bhitarkanika or Daringbadi. Our Odisha itineraries run 3–8 days.
What is the best time to visit Odisha?
October to March is the best time to visit Odisha; Chilika's migratory birds are there from about November to February.
Which places should I include in a Odisha trip?
Puri, Konark, Bhubaneswar, Chilika, Gopalpur and Daringbadi and Bhitarkanika and Simlipal. Puri: The Jagannath temple, the beach and Raghurajpur's painters.
Which Holiday Guru Travel packages cover Odisha?
16 itineraries: Bhubaneswar: the Temple City (2 Nights / 3 Days); Puri Jagannath Darshan (2 Nights / 3 Days); Bhubaneswar, Puri and Konark (3 Nights / 4 Days); Odisha's Buddhist Diamond Triangle (3 Nights / 4 Days); Mangalajodi and Chilika: Birds of the Lagoon (3 Nights / 4 Days); Bhitarkanika Mangroves (4 Nights / 5 Days); and 10 more listed below.
Can a Odisha itinerary be customised?
Yes. Any of our Odisha itineraries can be changed — add or remove nights, change the hotel category or add sightseeing. Tell us what you need and we send a quote for your dates.
Odisha holiday packages
All 16 Holiday Guru Travel itineraries for Odisha, shortest first. Each can be customised.
| Package ID | Package | Duration | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0357 | Bhubaneswar: the Temple City | 2 Nights / 3 Days | Bhubaneswar → Lingaraj Temple → Udayagiri Caves → Dhauli → Nandankanan |
| 0356 | Puri Jagannath Darshan | 2 Nights / 3 Days | Bhubaneswar → Puri → Jagannath Temple → Raghurajpur |
| 0358 | Bhubaneswar, Puri and Konark | 3 Nights / 4 Days | Bhubaneswar → Puri → Konark → Dhauli → Raghurajpur |
| 0361 | Odisha's Buddhist Diamond Triangle | 3 Nights / 4 Days | Bhubaneswar → Ratnagiri → Udayagiri → Lalitgiri → Dhauli |
| 0360 | Mangalajodi and Chilika: Birds of the Lagoon | 3 Nights / 4 Days | Mangalajodi → Barkul |
| 0367 | Bhitarkanika Mangroves | 4 Nights / 5 Days | Bhitarkanika → Bhubaneswar |
| 0359 | Bhubaneswar, Puri, Konark and Chilika | 4 Nights / 5 Days | Bhubaneswar → Puri |
| 0365 | Daringbadi Hills | 4 Nights / 5 Days | Daringbadi → Gopalpur |
| 0363 | Gopalpur-on-Sea and Taptapani | 4 Nights / 5 Days | Gopalpur → Barkul |
| 0370 | Sambalpur and Hirakud | 4 Nights / 5 Days | Sambalpur → Debrigarh → Sambalpur |
| 0366 | Simlipal National Park | 4 Nights / 5 Days | Baripada → Simlipal → Baripada |
| 0364 | Bhubaneswar, Puri and Gopalpur | 5 Nights / 6 Days | Puri → Gopalpur → Bhubaneswar |
| 0362 | Puri, Konark and the Buddhist Sites | 5 Nights / 6 Days | Bhubaneswar → Puri |
| 0369 | Koraput and Jeypore: Tribal Odisha | 6 Nights / 7 Days | Araku → Koraput → Jeypore → Visakhapatnam |
| 0368 | Puri, Konark and Bhitarkanika | 6 Nights / 7 Days | Puri → Bhitarkanika → Bhubaneswar |
| 0371 | Grand Odisha | 7 Nights / 8 Days | Bhubaneswar → Puri → Gopalpur → Daringbadi → Bhubaneswar |