Skip to main content

Posts

Odisha (Dec 2022) - An abridged travelogue

  Odisha - Sun, Sand & Spirit An abridged travelogue by Srini & Geetha Day 0  The Beginning It all began in November 2022 when Geetha and I came across an interesting group called 50 Plus Voyagers . Their tagline - " Life begins at 50”  - instantly caught our attention. The group specialized in leisurely-paced holidays for people above fifty, and their Odisha itinerary titled “Sun, Sand & Sea” sounded perfect. Neither of us had ever been to Odisha. So, after a quick check online, a dinner-table discussion, and some family encouragement, we signed up for our weeklong trip starting December 11th. Day 1 Bhubaneswar Beginnings Our Sunday morning flight from Mumbai to Bhubaneswar went smoothly, and a car dropped us at Hotel VITS. After lunch, we walked to the Odisha State Museum, a pleasant surprise with its manicured lawns and a captivating display of Odisha’s ancient art, from the Kalinga war model to musical instruments and sculptures. In the evening, we met...
Recent posts

Some random fotos!!

A trip such as this, one could keep on taking fotos in one's mobile. It would be great injustice if one does not use his/her mobile camera effectively. However it is also impossible to share all such fotos as part of a blog.   So here are few fotos which I could not include as part of my blog, but those which I felt, should share for the benefit of those who have traveled with me and who would be able to identify with. I have added a description where I am able to remember when & where these were taken. Those fotos without description - either I don't remember or it is too obvious to warrant an description... Ornamental Radhe Krishna in the State musuem. 1008 Shivalingams  Ticket counter, before the boat ride, Chilika I remember one of the local guides mentioning that one of the temples have been painted, which looks different and out of sync with the overall Kalingan architecture.. Beautifully carved coronation of King Ramachandra in the State museum. Hotel VITS, whe...

Day 6 - Friday, 16 Dec 2022

Sakshi's  message on Thu 15 Dec 2022 at 7:45 PM Hi Everyone, It’s time to bid goodbye to Puri. We shall check out with luggage from this hotel and return to Bhubaneswar after covering Pipli . Here is plan for tomorrow (16 Dec) with 50+ Voyagers Travel and Adventure Club. 7:30 AM 9:00 – Enjoy breakfast. Before leaving for breakfast inform reception to bring your luggage down. 08:30 AM - Leave your luggage outside your room 9:15 AM - Assemble at Lobby. Ensure your luggage are in the lobby. 9:15 AM- Board the bus to Pipli ( Appx 1 Hour). 10:30-11:30 PM – Shopping time at Pipli. Then board Bus to Bhubaneswar. Approx 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM- Check in the hotel and Have Lunch. 2:00-5:00 PM – Vist Udaigiri and Khandagiri. Evening at leisure. You may go for shopping. 8:00 PM onwards : Dinner at Hotel. 9:30 PM : Good Night and Sweet Dreams. Meals Included: - Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner * Time and schedule of above plan is just for reference. Sightseeing order and exact timing may change due to r...

Day 5 - Thursday, 15 Dec 2022

Sakshi's message in the group the previous night was as follows.... Hi Everyone, Tomorrow we shall visit Chilika Lake which is a brackish water lagoon, spread over the Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts of Odisha.  It is the largest coastal lagoon in India and the second largest brackish water lagoon in the world ! Here is plan for tomorrow (15 Dec) with 50+ Voyagers Travel and Adventure Club. 7:30 - 8:45AM – Enjoy your breakfast. 8:45 AM – Assemble in hotel reception area 09:00 AM -proceed to Chilka lake which is 1.5 hour drive Appx 10:30 AM  - 12:00PM – Reach Chilka and board a boat for Dolphine sightseeing Appx 1:30 PM : Will stop for lunch at Dhaavan resort which is an island resort in Chilka. After lunch we will continue our sightseeing by boat. Visit Rajahansh Beach which is inside the lake. 4:00 PM – Will start boarding the boat for return journey to Chilka boating point 5:00 PM –We will board our bus and proceed back to Puri Appx 6:30 PM – Return to the hotel 8:00 PM on...

Day 4 - Wednesday, 14 Dec 2022

This was the message Sakshi had sent the previous night. Hi Everyone, Tomorrow we shall visit the abode of Lord Jagannath and Poetry in Stone – Konark Sun Temple. Here is plan for tomorrow (14 Dec) with 50+ Voyagers Travel and Adventure Club. 6:00 AM - Assemble in hotel reception area and we will leave for Jagannath temple. We will take Auto from Hotel to the temple. 9:30 AM – Enjoy your breakfast. Approx 12:45 – 1:30 PM: Lunch at Hotel (Jamindars Palace) 1:45 PM : Leave for Konark temple. 3:00-6:00 PM – Visit Konark temple and leave for Chandrabhaga beach.Enjoy the sunset at the beach. 7:00 PM : Return to Hotel . 8:00 PM onwards : Dinner at Hotel. 9:00 PM : Good Night and Sweet Dreams. Meals Included: - Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner * Time and schedule of above plan is just for reference. Sightseeing order and exact timing may change due to road and weather condition and rush. * Please note below points to go Shri Jaggannath Temple   •    Do not carry any leather item...