Holiday in Orissa
I read some somewhere " If you know Orissa, you can say that you know India ". The Orissa escapade was a grand success, courtesy - a good friend of mine and his relatives who live there.
Day 1 - Friday December 23 2005
Started off on a first time marathon journey on the tracks from the Yesvantpur railway station at 7-45 AM. (l-r) koli, arun, ari, karyappa, kahn.
Travelling in the Indian railways on a long journey is an experience in itself. One gets to see a diverse group of people. There is so much of life & activity on the long locomotive worm as it moves along through scores of villages,towns & cities.
We spent time talking about a wide range of topics, playing cards, dumb charades & ragging each other. One of the nuisance during the jouney was the forceful demand of money by the androgynous homosapiens (Hijras). We used to dread their entry into the compartments.
Day 2 - Saturday December 24 2005
The mahanadi river from inside the train.
We reached Sambalpur at 3 PM and after lunch headed to the Deer Park.
The evening was spent playing TT & watching a movie. We retired for the day after a very tasty dinner.
Day 3 - Sunday December 25 2005
We got up at 4 AM and drove to the Debrigarh Forest where we came across a few Bisons.
The Mahanadi river which flows into the Bay of Bengal is a major source of Irrigation, Thanks to this river Orissa is major rice producing area of the eastern coast of India
The longest dam of India, the Hirakud Dam is built on the Mahanadi River.
A view of the Hirakud Dam from the Gandhi Minar tower.
After lunch, we indulged in parasailing where one is towed behind a vehicle while attached to a parachute. Ari sailing in the air. I opted out of this as I am dizzy of heights.
Day 4 - Monday December 26 2005
Kahn with lovable Eshan. After lunch and bidding farewell to Kahns relatives we left Sambhalpur to Kendrapara at 2 PM accompanied by the very nice Phanigre and the soft soul driver Chittu. It was a very long 6 hour drive. We enjoyed the drive by listening to some 90's bollywood music.
By the time we reached Kendrapara it was 9-30 PM. We hit the bed after a sumptuous meal and some wine.
Day 5 - Tuesday December 27 2005
We set out for the day at 7 AM . Had a local breakfast of tasty idli and dhal.
The manner in which the dry hay is stacked in the fields is differnt from the way its done in Karnataka. It is neatly shaped into the form of huts.
We spent the whole day in the Backwaters of Bhittarkanika
The split in the clours of water was eyecatching.
Scores of crocodiles & birds were spotted. We got a closer view using the Binos and zooming in through the camera.
The Backwaters are neverending. It looks like you are approching the end, but when you are there it goes on and on.
Mark made by a huge croc.
After covering quite a distance we parked the boat and made way into the crocodile breeding park.
We were shown around by this officer. One of the favourite passtimes of any Oriyan man from what we could infer was chewing pan.
It was a long day in the waters and amidst mother nature in its pristine glory
Day 6 - Wednesday December 28 2005
We started off to Puri at 6 in the morning and were suitably rewarded by the best sunrise which I have ever witnessed till date.
The drive thought the Four lane Golden Quadrilateral was fabulous. We passed through Cuttack & Bhubaneswar in no time.
We did a pretty amount of shopping for Orissa Handicrafts on the way to Puri.
Another speciality is the well built cattle and the unusually big hump which is uncommon for the cattle in Karnataka.
At 11 AM we reached puri and headed towards Asia's largest inland salt-water lagoon Chilka.
We could hardly sight any Dolphins which the Satpada part of Lake Chilka is famous for.
By the time we reached Konark it was nightfall and there was no chance that we could enjoy the intricate details of the world famous Sun Temple
The streets which lead to the temple are abuzz with activity and a source for many artefacts & curios.
Dinner was at Hotel Mayfair which we wont forget for reasons good, bad and ugly !! :-)
After dinner we had a stroll in the crowded Puri beach. These sand structures are breathtaking.
Manmohan Mahapatra the man behind these sand arts.
The sound of the crashing waves in the silence of the night was music to the ears and one tends to get lost in deep thoughts.
Day 7 - Thursday December 29 2005
After a tasty breakfast of puris and lassi & tea to kill the hangover we left Puri again to Konark as we wanted to see the Sun Temple in daylight. In the process we decided to skip bird watching in Chilka. The 30 KM Marine drive which leads to Konark is a beauty. It has the Bay of Bengal on one side and is lined on either sides with trees. Though the sea cannot be seen from the road the oceanic atmoshphere is very evident with the washed away sand on either sides of the road and the roar of the waves in the air.
The Sun Temple is also known as the Black Pagoda. It was built by King Narasigha Deva in the 13th century with the help of 1200 architects in 12 years time and at the cost of 12 years state revenue in the form of a chariot of Sun God. It is fitted with 24 wheels and drawn by 7 horses.
Rabindranath Tagore was so moved by the beauty of the the sulptures that he said " Here the language of man is defeated by the language of the stone"
The Sun God of Konark. There are three forms rising sun, mid-day sun & the setting sun.
The best part of the trip was the fun we had in the beach at Konark. According to Kahn it is one of the cleanest beaches that he has seen.
Mr Phanigre
A game of Beach Football .
Fun amidst the waves .
The final sunset we witnessed in Orissa with a heavy heart.
Day 8 - Friday December 30 2005
We left for Bangalore from Bhvaneswar via the Howrah - Yesvantpur express at 7 AM . It was memorable tour to Orissa. thanks to our parents, the comrades and kahns relatives. Even though we travelled around Orissa for 5 days we hardly could cover even 25 percent . Orissa is rich both naturally & culturally . Go out there & explore it to its fullest !!
Finally we reached Bangalore on the 31st Dec 3 PM in time to welcome year 2006.
Day 1 - Friday December 23 2005
Started off on a first time marathon journey on the tracks from the Yesvantpur railway station at 7-45 AM. (l-r) koli, arun, ari, karyappa, kahn.
Travelling in the Indian railways on a long journey is an experience in itself. One gets to see a diverse group of people. There is so much of life & activity on the long locomotive worm as it moves along through scores of villages,towns & cities.
We spent time talking about a wide range of topics, playing cards, dumb charades & ragging each other. One of the nuisance during the jouney was the forceful demand of money by the androgynous homosapiens (Hijras). We used to dread their entry into the compartments.
Day 2 - Saturday December 24 2005
The mahanadi river from inside the train.
We reached Sambalpur at 3 PM and after lunch headed to the Deer Park.
The evening was spent playing TT & watching a movie. We retired for the day after a very tasty dinner.
Day 3 - Sunday December 25 2005
We got up at 4 AM and drove to the Debrigarh Forest where we came across a few Bisons.
The Mahanadi river which flows into the Bay of Bengal is a major source of Irrigation, Thanks to this river Orissa is major rice producing area of the eastern coast of India
The longest dam of India, the Hirakud Dam is built on the Mahanadi River.
A view of the Hirakud Dam from the Gandhi Minar tower.
After lunch, we indulged in parasailing where one is towed behind a vehicle while attached to a parachute. Ari sailing in the air. I opted out of this as I am dizzy of heights.
Day 4 - Monday December 26 2005
Kahn with lovable Eshan. After lunch and bidding farewell to Kahns relatives we left Sambhalpur to Kendrapara at 2 PM accompanied by the very nice Phanigre and the soft soul driver Chittu. It was a very long 6 hour drive. We enjoyed the drive by listening to some 90's bollywood music.
By the time we reached Kendrapara it was 9-30 PM. We hit the bed after a sumptuous meal and some wine.
Day 5 - Tuesday December 27 2005
We set out for the day at 7 AM . Had a local breakfast of tasty idli and dhal.
The manner in which the dry hay is stacked in the fields is differnt from the way its done in Karnataka. It is neatly shaped into the form of huts.
We spent the whole day in the Backwaters of Bhittarkanika
The split in the clours of water was eyecatching.
Scores of crocodiles & birds were spotted. We got a closer view using the Binos and zooming in through the camera.
The Backwaters are neverending. It looks like you are approching the end, but when you are there it goes on and on.
Mark made by a huge croc.
After covering quite a distance we parked the boat and made way into the crocodile breeding park.
We were shown around by this officer. One of the favourite passtimes of any Oriyan man from what we could infer was chewing pan.
It was a long day in the waters and amidst mother nature in its pristine glory
Day 6 - Wednesday December 28 2005
We started off to Puri at 6 in the morning and were suitably rewarded by the best sunrise which I have ever witnessed till date.
The drive thought the Four lane Golden Quadrilateral was fabulous. We passed through Cuttack & Bhubaneswar in no time.
We did a pretty amount of shopping for Orissa Handicrafts on the way to Puri.
Another speciality is the well built cattle and the unusually big hump which is uncommon for the cattle in Karnataka.
At 11 AM we reached puri and headed towards Asia's largest inland salt-water lagoon Chilka.
We could hardly sight any Dolphins which the Satpada part of Lake Chilka is famous for.
By the time we reached Konark it was nightfall and there was no chance that we could enjoy the intricate details of the world famous Sun Temple
The streets which lead to the temple are abuzz with activity and a source for many artefacts & curios.
Dinner was at Hotel Mayfair which we wont forget for reasons good, bad and ugly !! :-)
After dinner we had a stroll in the crowded Puri beach. These sand structures are breathtaking.
Manmohan Mahapatra the man behind these sand arts.
The sound of the crashing waves in the silence of the night was music to the ears and one tends to get lost in deep thoughts.
Day 7 - Thursday December 29 2005
After a tasty breakfast of puris and lassi & tea to kill the hangover we left Puri again to Konark as we wanted to see the Sun Temple in daylight. In the process we decided to skip bird watching in Chilka. The 30 KM Marine drive which leads to Konark is a beauty. It has the Bay of Bengal on one side and is lined on either sides with trees. Though the sea cannot be seen from the road the oceanic atmoshphere is very evident with the washed away sand on either sides of the road and the roar of the waves in the air.
The Sun Temple is also known as the Black Pagoda. It was built by King Narasigha Deva in the 13th century with the help of 1200 architects in 12 years time and at the cost of 12 years state revenue in the form of a chariot of Sun God. It is fitted with 24 wheels and drawn by 7 horses.
Rabindranath Tagore was so moved by the beauty of the the sulptures that he said " Here the language of man is defeated by the language of the stone"
The Sun God of Konark. There are three forms rising sun, mid-day sun & the setting sun.
The best part of the trip was the fun we had in the beach at Konark. According to Kahn it is one of the cleanest beaches that he has seen.
Mr Phanigre
A game of Beach Football .
Fun amidst the waves .
The final sunset we witnessed in Orissa with a heavy heart.
Day 8 - Friday December 30 2005
We left for Bangalore from Bhvaneswar via the Howrah - Yesvantpur express at 7 AM . It was memorable tour to Orissa. thanks to our parents, the comrades and kahns relatives. Even though we travelled around Orissa for 5 days we hardly could cover even 25 percent . Orissa is rich both naturally & culturally . Go out there & explore it to its fullest !!
Finally we reached Bangalore on the 31st Dec 3 PM in time to welcome year 2006.
