The sun shines here too

People think this place is plagued with problems, but Orissa packs in enough surprises to make it more than worthy of a holiday destination, feels Dhrutikam Mohanty

A fter reading about frequent Naxal attacks, cases of sexual assault and attack on tourists, you might think, 'well, it's definitely not worth going to Orissa for a holiday.' You may be correct, but don't you think that problems are omnipresent? Take Goa for example. It's one of the hottest tourist spots in India, but it has a drug problem as well. So, such problems should not be a hindrance for a traveller when he is looking forward to visit a new place, with calculated risks, of course. In this context, Utkal Pati, Deputy Manager of Orissa Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) avers, "These days, natural calamities and man-made disasters are common, you can't do much about them. But that doesn't change the fact that Orissa, no doubt, has terrific locations for tourists at affordable prices." And when it's about Puri and Konark, even the Indian tourism map agrees that they are some of the best tourist spots in the country. Sitting on the pristine golden beaches in Puri, you can perhaps enjoy the best ever sunrise and sunset of your life. And if you are a person who enjoys Indian architecture and culture, then these places become a must see. Of the numerous tourist spots in Orissa, the best one is – undoubtedly famous for its culture, tradition and breathtaking golden beaches – Puri. To enjoy it, you must plan your stay at a beach-side hotel or resort in Puri. The scenic view of the Bay of Bengal touching the golden beach from these holiday homes will stay with you for a lifetime. When the sun rises in the morning, the colour of the sea changes from blue-black to golden, absolutely mesmerising. Even the beauty of sunset is no less. Another interesting fact is, as the Puri sea shore is not very deep, one can actually enjoy a bath here without the fear of drowning (but of course, one must confirm that it's not a full-moon day as the tides then are quite high). The 800-year old Lord Jagannath temple is another attraction for anyone coming to Puri. However, the biggest advantage of staying here is that you can see four to five other spots, as good as Puri!

Konark should be first on the list, just 35 kms away, it has been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The superb art of the world famous Konark Sun Temple is bound to astonish you. Just don't forget to carry your camera! The second on the list should be the Chilika lake. Located just 60 kms away from Puri, it's perfect for boating and also famous as a bird sanctuary. Thousands of birds come to Chilika, all the way from places as remote as Siberia, in the winter. You can start your boating session from Satapada, which is also famous for Iriwadi Dolphins. The best way to experience Chilika is to just rent a motor boat and go cruising. Oh yes, don't forget to carry some food with you because no doubt, you won't feel like coming out of the lake before a good 4-5 hours. If you have some time on your hands after your boat ride, you should extend your trip to Astaranga, which is famous for Olive Ridley turtles. The estuary of Devi River situated near Astaranga is actually one of the very few nesting places of endangered Olive Ridley turtles. Last but not the least is the state capital Bhubaneswar, also known as the temple city. There are many temples, like Lingaraj, Kedargouri, Mukteswar, Rajarani etc, in Bhubaneswar, which are rich in terms of art and architecture. It also has a famous zoological park, Nandankanan, where you can enjoy the one-of-its-kind white tiger safari. Dhauli Santi Stupa is situated on the way to Puri, a reminder of the bloody battle between Kalinga and Emperor Ashoka. This was the battle that made Ashoka battle for peace and not land. Take the time to read Ashoka’s inscriptions, etched in the stone, nearby. Maybe, by choosing Orissa as your holiday destination, you can display the same courage as Ashoka. The rewards are certainly going to be worth it.

These 'oriyans', we say

The new craze for world records has completely taken over the state

Isn't it strange that while other countries have individuals who are getting into record books for brilliant inventions and discoveries, Indians seem to have only sick routes to fame: long moustaches, longer nails... and worse! Ever since Keshab Swain from Orissa got into the Limca Book of Records last year by breaking 135 green coconuts in seven minutes and 26 seconds with his elbow, it has started a craze among people to set records by doing bizarre things like pulling heavy vehicles with the teeth, crunching on razor blades, breaking wine bottles and running backwards etc. Mohammed Zakir challenged Keshab's achievement after only a few months. Zakir, 36, a resident of Pipili town in Puri district, Orissa, broke 200 green coconuts in three minutes and 16.6 seconds with his elbow on January 21, 2008 in Bhubaneswar. He said, "My objective is to set a world record and get my name in the Guinness Book." Besides breaking coconuts, people of Orissa also eat sharp blades. Prabhakar Das of Balasore has been doing it regularly for 30 years now. "I am a poor mason living miles away from the state capital and have not had the opportunity to set a record," he said. Likewise, 22-year old Sheikh Masalaudin, who is a resident of Soro in Balasore district and an aspirant for the Limca record, pulls Maruti vans and mini trucks with his teeth. He recently hit headlines when he pulled a Tata Sumo with his hair. Sharat Pradhan, a 17-year old from Nayagarh, has also been making efforts to find a place in the Limca Book and Guinness Book of Records. He has demonstrated acts like eating raw eggs along with the shell, pulling four wheelers and peeling dry coconuts with his teeth. Balkrishna Rout, Sharat's coach, says, "This boy has inherent qualities which will make Orissa proud." Purnachandra Tripathy, a 38-year old resident of Subarnapur village in the coastal district of Cuttack, works as a guard in the local forest department and dreams of making a world record while running backwards for more than 50 km at a stretch. He claims that he can run backwards for 100 metres in just 12 seconds. In this context, Romio Ranjan Parida, 21, from Naxal hit district Malkangiri, broke 100 tube lights and 185 wine bottles in 10 minutes and five seconds with his bare hand to register his name in Limca records. Sigh... These Indians, we say...

-Dhrutikam Mohanty