With a history spanning two thousand years if not more, Odisha is a major tourist attraction in India. More importantly, the state is home to many temples and holy places making it one of the premier pilgrimage destinations in the country. In fact, more pilgrims than tourists visit the state each year, ensuring that pilgrimage tourism is a major contributor to the state's economy. Odisha is home to a plethora of places of worship of different religions and hosts some of the most prominent festivals and religious events. While the majority of these are Hindu, there is a Buddhist and a Jain presence as well. If you are interested in a religious tour in India, Odisha is definitely the state to head to. In fact, a pilgrimage tour to see the most popular temples in Odisha should be on everyone's travel itinerary when visiting India. The capital city of Odisha, Bhubaneswar itself has been named the Temple City of India. Home to over 500 temples, the city is a major destination not only for tourists but also for the devout. The Lingaraj Temple is the city's most famous landmark and is dedicated to Shiva. Apart from this, Bhubaneswar also houses the Ananta Vasudeva Temple, one of several religious shrines dedicated to Lord Vishnu, which dates back to the 13th century. Then there is the Mukteshwar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva and a must visit holy place for any devotees of Shiva. The Sun Temple in Konark is so wondrous and unique that it has been designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Designed to look like a rath or chariot, the temple has twelve massive stone wheels on its sides and seven horses in front. Of course, no visit to Odisha is complete without paying homage at the Jagannath Temple in Puri. One of the sacred 'Char dham', it is one of the most holy sites in India and attracts devotees and tourists by the thousands every year. The famous Rath Yatra is an occasion not to be missed by anyone, especially those who count themselves amongst the devout. Thanks to the Kalinga war and King Asoka in the 6th century BC, Odisha has had a long history with Buddhism. It is no wonder then that you can find plenty of historical and religious Buddhist sites in the state. One of the most well-known is Dhaulgiri, the site of the famous battle of Kalinga that changed King Asoka; it is where he chose to set up the Rock Edicts. Then there is Chandragiri, where Asia's largest monastery was inaugurated by His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. Jainism too has a millennia old relationship with the state. Parsvanath, the 23rd Tirthankara preached in the region around the 8th century BC. The most prominent of the Jain temples in Odisha is the Digambara Jain Temple on top of Khandagiri Hill. The current shrine is built on the site of an earlier temple. The caves of Udayagiri are also significant remnants of Jain culture and history.
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