Honeymoon in Orissa – Orissa is known for the Sun, Jagannath and Lingaraj temples located in the ‘Golden Triangle” formed by Konark, Puri and Bhubaneswar, but few are aware of the rare natural and cultural attractions it possesses. With a long coastline lashed by the Bay of Bengal, Orissa has some exquisite and exclusive beaches that allow you to be left to yourself. Besides the more famous Puri beach, you can take a vacation to Baleshwar, Chandipur, Gopalpur-on-sea and Paradeep.
The coast of Orissa has a unique eco-system, with a mix of wetlands, deltas, mangroves and brackish water lakes. Lying off the beaten track of regular tourists, they promise novelty, adventure and fun. The Orissa coast is particularly famous for the Olive Ridley turtles which are now being zealously guarded at Garhimata. Nature lovers cannot afford to miss out on the Bhitarkanika Sanctuary in the vicinity, a bio-diversity hotspot with 215 species of birds, and, beware, a high concentration of crocodiles in its marshy mangroves!
The Chilika Lake is called a natural eco-laboratory, a brackish water lagoon separated from the sea by a 60 km sand bar, and teeming with flora and fauna, endemic and migratory. Studded with little islands, the lake offers one of the most idyllic vacations A tour into the heartland of Orissa has some interesting surprises in store. Tribal villages still following a very primitive lifestyle can be visited during the course of a trek through Baliguda, Kothagarh, Rayagada, Niyamgiri Hills, Jeypore and Kundli.