Mid semester exams over. Time to take a break. A bunch of friends set out on a tour to some of the most popular places in the state. It is not that I am going to this side of the state for the first time, but the excitement never ends. More so when you are out with your friends.
A bus ride to Bhubaneswar and then to Puri and here we are. First stop is Satapada, famous for its Dolphin sightings.
Satapada
It took a long auto rickshaw ride to reach the Satapada Jetty. And we set out on a boat in the largest brackish water lagoon in Asia to the Sea-Mouth. As we start with the boat ride, we saw and shoot (not literally!) a few dolphins playing around.
On the way the usual photographic poses on the boat, the hand spread wide, titanic pose and on & on & on... went on till we landed on a vast expanse of sand.
There were shacks selling sea-foods all around. But all we can hear is the sound of sea nearby. And then 200 metres on the other side of the land is the SEA. Such a lovely sight, particularly when the friends with you are travelling with are looking at a real sea for the first time! Just look at their excitement! A sprint and we are in the water. You are never old to be excited playing in the sea. Waiting for the waves and seeing your feet washed down. But it was saddening to see so many dead tortoises all around. There must be some check on the huntings!
And then some fish and prawn at one of the shack (totally worth it!) and we are on our way back. What timing it is! The sun about the set and we are on the boat. Such a breathtaking sight!
After we reach Satapada Jetty, we again took an auto and reached Puri. Checked into a hotel and then, oh yes! my first tryst with Dominos :)
Puri Beach
Regarded as one of the four Dhams for the Hindus, Puri hosts a huge number of tourists round the year. particularly during the world famous Chariot festival when lakhs of pilgrims throng the place. Since our hotel was just in front of the Puri beach we made a early morning visit there. You could see hundreds of pilgrims taking a bath. You can feel a shroud of spirituality all around. And the sunrise on the beach is just awesome!
Konark
And then we set out to the 'Black Pagoda'.The name Konârka is derived from the Sanskrit word Kona (meaning Corner) and word Arka (meaning Sun) i.e, the Sun's Corner in reference to the temple which was dedicated to the Sun god.
The Sun Temple was built in the 13th century and designed as a gigantic chariot of the Sun God, Surya, with twelve pairs of ornamented wheels pulled by seven horses. Some of the wheels are 3 meters wide. Six of the seven horse still stand today.
Everybody must have learnt about in from the history lessons and must have seen its picture. But seeing it live is just a different experience. What Architecture! What Sculptures!
And then on our way back to Puri we went to the Chandrabhaga beach. I have seen so many beaches. But none is as calm and lovely as this place.
Puri Temple
And then the final place to see. The Puri Jagannath temple. But before the temple as is customary, you must take a dip at the beach. And we took a long one. Had fun in the water, jumping against the waves, trying to swim in the shallow water.
After the dip we set out to the Puri temple. Having a huge complex it welcomes thousand of devotees in a day. The huge temple door 'Singhadwara' has always fascinated me. We visited around the temple and then marveled at the finger licking Mahaprasad made available at the Ananda Bazaar in the temple. The temple kitchen is one of the largest in the world.
And then evening and time to pack your bags and return to your study land. :)
A bus ride to Bhubaneswar and then to Puri and here we are. First stop is Satapada, famous for its Dolphin sightings.
Satapada
On the way the usual photographic poses on the boat, the hand spread wide, titanic pose and on & on & on... went on till we landed on a vast expanse of sand.
There were shacks selling sea-foods all around. But all we can hear is the sound of sea nearby. And then 200 metres on the other side of the land is the SEA. Such a lovely sight, particularly when the friends with you are travelling with are looking at a real sea for the first time! Just look at their excitement! A sprint and we are in the water. You are never old to be excited playing in the sea. Waiting for the waves and seeing your feet washed down. But it was saddening to see so many dead tortoises all around. There must be some check on the huntings!
And then some fish and prawn at one of the shack (totally worth it!) and we are on our way back. What timing it is! The sun about the set and we are on the boat. Such a breathtaking sight!
After we reach Satapada Jetty, we again took an auto and reached Puri. Checked into a hotel and then, oh yes! my first tryst with Dominos :)
Puri Beach
Konark
The Sun Temple was built in the 13th century and designed as a gigantic chariot of the Sun God, Surya, with twelve pairs of ornamented wheels pulled by seven horses. Some of the wheels are 3 meters wide. Six of the seven horse still stand today.
Everybody must have learnt about in from the history lessons and must have seen its picture. But seeing it live is just a different experience. What Architecture! What Sculptures!
And then on our way back to Puri we went to the Chandrabhaga beach. I have seen so many beaches. But none is as calm and lovely as this place.
Puri Temple
And then the final place to see. The Puri Jagannath temple. But before the temple as is customary, you must take a dip at the beach. And we took a long one. Had fun in the water, jumping against the waves, trying to swim in the shallow water.
After the dip we set out to the Puri temple. Having a huge complex it welcomes thousand of devotees in a day. The huge temple door 'Singhadwara' has always fascinated me. We visited around the temple and then marveled at the finger licking Mahaprasad made available at the Ananda Bazaar in the temple. The temple kitchen is one of the largest in the world.
And then evening and time to pack your bags and return to your study land. :)
2 comments:
I actually read through it all ... kudos to me ! Very smooth Priyo ! The write-up and photos surely make me jealous ! Good job ... Keep going !
Priyo baba ki jai ho..
Next trip kana lekhibu?? upcoming bangalore trip!!!
Plan kare kichi...
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