Odisha Yatra (4N/5D)

Highlights & Route

This is our darshan-first version of Odisha. It leaves out the beach and lake days and concentrates on the shrines that pilgrims actually travel for: Lord Jagannath at Puri, the Sun Temple at Konark, the Biraja Devi temple at Jajpur, which is counted among the Shakti Peeths and is also the Nabhi Gaya where pitru rites are performed, and finally Lingaraj in Bhubaneswar. Four nights are enough to do all of this without hurry.

You are met at Bhubaneswar and driven straight to Puri, about 60 km away, for two nights. The first full day is Jagannath darshan at dawn followed by Konark and Chandrabhaga. The next morning we go north about 100 km to Jajpur on the Baitarani river, visit Biraja Devi, and come back to Bhubaneswar for two nights, with a full day for Lingaraj and the old temple town before you fly out.

All drives are under three hours and every temple is at ground level, so the yatra is comfortable for elderly yatris. Families who wish to perform pinda daan for their ancestors at Jajpur can do so with the temple’s own priests; we allow time for it on Day 3.

Route

Bhubaneswar → Puri (2 nights) → Konark → Puri → Jajpur (Biraja Devi) → Bhubaneswar (2 nights)

Good to know before you book

The Jagannath temple at Puri and the Lingaraj temple at Bhubaneswar admit Hindus only; others view from platforms outside.
Phones, cameras and leather items must be deposited outside the Jagannath temple.
Jajpur is about 100 km from Puri and 90 km from Bhubaneswar; the Biraja temple arranges priests and samagri for pitru rites at the Nabhi Gaya well (own cost).
Konark is an ASI monument with an entry ticket for all visitors; the sanctum is sealed.
Rath Yatra (June–July), Kartik Purnima and Durga Puja bring the heaviest crowds; book well ahead for those dates.
Vegetarian food is widely available, and the Maha Prasad at the Jagannath temple’s Ananda Bazaar is a tradition worth joining.

Yatra Highlights

Dawn darshan of Lord Jagannath at Puri
Biraja Devi Shakti Peeth and Nabhi Gaya at Jajpur
Konark Sun Temple and Lingaraj, Bhubaneswar

Day 1 :

Bhubaneswar to Puri

Our representative meets you at your arrival point (airport, railway station or hotel) at the agreed time at Bhubaneswar airport or railway station and we drive about 60 km (one-and-a-half hours) to Puri, stopping at the appliqué village of Pipili on the way if you wish. Check in and rest. In the evening we walk the Grand Road to the Lion Gate of the Jagannath temple for a first darshan if the queue is reasonable, or simply to take in the evening atmosphere, and then go to the beach. Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Puri

Day 2 :

Jagannath darshan, Konark and Chandrabhaga

We leave for the temple early, when darshan of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra is quickest. Our local assistant helps you deposit phones and footwear and guides you through the complex; afterwards you may take Maha Prasad at the Ananda Bazaar. Back at the hotel for a late breakfast, then a 35 km drive along the Marine Drive to Konark. A licensed guide (own cost) is worth hiring to explain the chariot wheels and carvings of this World Heritage Site. We stop at Chandrabhaga beach on the way back and, if time allows, at the Gundicha and Loknath temples in Puri. Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Puri

Day 3 :

Puri to Jajpur and on to Bhubaneswar

After breakfast and check-out we drive north about 100 km (two-and-a-half hours) to Jajpur, the old capital of Odisha on the Baitarani river. The Biraja Devi temple is a Shakti Peeth where the Goddess is worshipped as a two-armed Mahishasuramardini, and the compound holds the Nabhi Gaya well, one of the places where pitru rites for ancestors are offered; families wishing to perform pinda daan may do so with the temple priests (own cost, about an hour). We also see the Dasaswamedha ghat on the river before driving about 90 km to Bhubaneswar for check-in. Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Bhubaneswar

Day 4 :

Bhubaneswar temple town

A full day in the city at a gentle pace. We start with Lingaraj, the largest temple in Bhubaneswar, where Shiva is worshipped as Harihara, then the nearby Bindu Sagar tank, the finely carved Mukteshwar temple with its stone torana, the Parasurameswara temple and Rajarani. After lunch (own cost) we go to the Dhauli hill with its Ashokan edicts and Shanti Stupa, and to the Jain caves at Udayagiri and Khandagiri (ticket on own cost). The evening is free for the Ekamra Haat craft market. Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Bhubaneswar

Day 5 :

Departure

Breakfast at the hotel and check-out. If your flight or train is in the afternoon we can include the Ram Mandir or the ISKCON temple before dropping you at your departure point (airport, railway station or hotel) at Bhubaneswar airport or railway station.

Night	Place	Hotel (or similar)	Room type
1	Puri	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis
2	Puri	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis
3	Bhubaneswar	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis
4	Bhubaneswar	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis

Frequently Asked Questions

Expand all

What is special about the Biraja Devi temple?

It is one of the Shakti Peeths, where tradition says the navel of Sati fell; the Goddess is worshipped as Biraja, a two-armed Mahishasuramardini. The compound also contains the Nabhi Gaya, a well where pitru rites are performed, making Jajpur one of the Gaya kshetras along with Gaya in Bihar and Pithapuram in Andhra Pradesh.

Can we perform pinda daan at Jajpur?

Yes. The temple arranges priests and puja items for pinda daan and tarpan at the Nabhi Gaya. The rite takes about an hour and the charges are paid directly to the temple. Tell us in advance so that we schedule enough time on Day 3.

Can non-Hindus enter the Jagannath and Lingaraj temples?

No. Both admit Hindus only (Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists are also admitted at Puri by tradition). Non-Hindu family members can view Jagannath from the Raghunandan library roof opposite and Lingaraj from a platform beside the temple, and can join the Konark and Bhubaneswar local darshan fully.

How far are the drives?

Bhubaneswar to Puri is about 60 km; Puri to Konark 35 km; Puri to Jajpur about 100 km; Jajpur to Bhubaneswar about 90 km. No day involves more than three hours in the vehicle.

Which season should we choose?

October to February is cool and dry. The Durga Puja at Jajpur (September–October) is a sixteen-day celebration, and Rath Yatra at Puri (June–July) is the biggest festival but extremely crowded. Avoid May and early June for heat.

Is this suitable for elderly parents?

Very much so. Only two hotel changes, short drives, level temples and no climbing. We keep the Jagannath darshan early to avoid the worst of the queue, and the pace of Day 4 can be reduced if needed.

Can we add Chilika lake or Cuttack?

Yes. A Chilika boat day from Satapada can be added to the Puri stay, and Cuttack’s Chandi temple can be visited on the way back from Jajpur. We will quote the extra cost when you enquire.

Which costs will we pay ourselves on this Odisha yatra?

Hotels, breakfast and dinner, the private vehicle, tolls and darshan help at Puri are included. You pay directly for lunch, the ASI entry ticket at Konark, tickets at the Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves and museums, and any licensed guide you hire at Konark. If you perform pinda daan at Jajpur, the priest’s dakshina and samagri are also your own cost, along with special darshan or puja at other temples.

Yatra	Duration	Starts from	Price
Odisha Yatra (4N/5D) (this page)	5 days / 4 nights	Bhubaneswar	From ₹30,000
Odisha Yatra (5N/6D)	6 days / 5 nights	Bhubaneswar	From ₹35,000
Odisha Yatra: Jagannath, Konark & Chilika	6 days / 5 nights	Bhubaneswar	From ₹35,000
West Bengal Yatra	4 days / 3 nights	Durgapur	On request

Highlights & Route

Route

Good to know before you book

Yatra Highlights

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Inclusions & Exclusions

Included

Not included

Hotels

Documents & Fitness

Documents to carry

Fitness and health

Cancellation Policy

Frequently Asked Questions

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