A Family Road Trip to Odisha? Don’t Miss These Must-Visit Holiday Places
Planning a family vacation soon? You are obviously looking for a destination that has something enticing and exciting for everyone. It should be a location that has some interesting activities to quench your thirst for knowledge, culture, and art. The place that should also have some spiritual saga so that your family can pray together. A location with really captivating attractions so that the children are entertained too. Do you have some place in mind then?
Well, we have a suggestion for you! A land that’s spiritually called “the land of Gods.” A place that has beaches which are truly a traveller’s dream. The wildlife here is enough to give any child and adult goosebumps, and the heritage sites that will quench your thirst for knowledge and make you revel at the history and heritage of India. Can you guess the place yet? It’s Odisha. Formerly known as Orissa, Odisha is one of the most vibrant lands of India that has something really magnificent and interesting for travellers of all ages.
Top things to consider when traveling to Odisha
When you are thinking of planning a journey towards this location, we would highly suggest you opt for road trips to Odisha with kids. And since you are heading there with family, do keep all these things in mind to make your journey and holiday memorable.
Most suitable time to visit Odisha — Plan a trip to Odisha between October to May because the best time to travel to this destination is anytime except the monsoons when the rains can be really torrential in this place.
Activities in store in Odisha — There are some incredible activities and tourist attractions for Kids & family in Odisha:
- Religious trips
- Wildlife exploration
- Bird watching
- Beach time
- Heritage tours
- Sightseeing
- Water-sports
Plan 7 most magnificent trip to Odisha with family and kids!
You have to be extra careful when travelling with family. Especially considering the present pandemic and its aftereffects, it is necessary to get only safe and sanitized car rental from Revv in Odisha. And for a detailed list of the places to visit in this location and the entry fee, opening and closing time etc., keep reading and plan your trip accordingly:
1. Bhubaneswar
The top destination in Odisha that is called the temple city of this place is an interesting destination for both adults and kids. From heritage sites to excellent architecture seen in the temples, this city portrays a complete picture of the rich legacy of the country. The Satkosia Tiger Reserve and NandanKanan Zoological Park are some interesting destinations for kids, the Dhauli Hills for adventure lovers, the Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves for history, archaeology and excavation lovers, and Mukteshwar and Lingaraj Temples are essential destinations for spiritual tours.
Timings and entry fees for:
- Satkosia Tiger Reserve — 5:00am – 5:00 pm. Entry fees – 20 INR
- Nandan Kanan Zoological Park — 8:00 -5:00 pm. Entry fees — 10 INR
- Temples –24 hours
- Caves and hills –24 hours
2. Puri
Puri is an ideal sun-kissed city of Odisha that houses lots of places to visit in Odisha for kids and adults alike. The temples and beaches of Puri are famous worldwide and that’s why you’ll find lots of resorts and hotels to accommodate tourists like you in the city. The Puri Beach is the sensation of the city for all travellers, Chilika Lake and Nalabana Bird Sanctuary are great for kids and nature lovers, and Jagannatha Temple, Gundicha Temple are must-visit for devotees (there are many more temples dotted across the city – the two mentioned being the most famous).
Timings and entry fees for:
- Chilika Lake — 6:00 am – 7:00 pm. No entry fees
- Nalbana Bird Sanctuary — 6:00 am – 6:00 pm.No entry fees
- Puri Beach — 24 hours. No entry fees.
- Temples — 24 hours. No entry fees.
3. Konark
One of the places in Odisha that is full of historical places is Konark. This location has some really fascinating museums and monuments that are surely going to impress one and all. Do visit the renowned Konark Sun Temple to explore the exclusive architecture, sculpture, and mind-blowing archaeology. The archaeological Museum of this city, Chandrabhaga Beach should never be missed.
Timings and entry fees for:
- Konark Sun Temple — Timings – 6:00 am – 8:00 pm. Entry fees – 40 INR.
- Archaeological Museum –Timings — 10:00 am — 4:00 pm. Entry fees — 5 INR
- Chandrabhaga Beach — 12:00 am — 12:00 pm. Entry fees — No entry fees.
4. Cuttack
When you have a self-drive car rental, you can easily drive towards Cuttack, the vintage city of Odisha. Here, every nook and corner speak of heritage and cultural richness. You’ll get to see lots of museums, lakes, pilgrimage sites in this city which are truly mesmerising. You can visit the Barabati Fort, the wildlife sanctuary of Bhitarkanika, prominent temples of Singanatha, Ansupa Lake, and Bhattarika Temple.
Timings and entry fees for:
- Bhitarkanika sanctuary — 7:00 am – 5:00 pm. Entry fees — 20 INR
- Barabati Fort— open all day. No entry fees.
- Ansupa Lake – Open all day. No entry fees.
- Temples – Open 24 hours. No entry fees.
5. Rourkela
One of the adventure evoking places in Odisha gaining a lot of favouritism from tourists is Rourkela. It’s one of the largest cities of this State and most progressive as well. You will find lots of steel plants, numerous parks, vintage sites, and waterfalls in this city. The Nehru Traffic Park is famous and one of the fun places in Odisha. The temples of Hanuman Vatika, Vaishno Devi, and Vedavyas are pretty well known too. You should also visit the dam of Pitamahal, Khandadhar Falls, and the very famous Badaghagra Falls when you’re in this city.
Timings and entry fees for:
- Nehru Traffic Park — 10:00 am – 09:00 pm. Entry fees –10 INR
- Temples – Open 24 hours. No entry fees.
- Waterfalls — Open 24 hours. No entry fees.
6. Chandipur
You should definitely take your kids and family to Chandipur when you’re in Odisha. It is a very interesting location that is well known for its vanishing sea and the unique sea turtles. Apart from this, the aura of peace and tranquillity is really worth enjoying. The best place to hit with your family over here is the Chandipur Beach where you can enjoy all sorts of water sports, swimming, and window shopping at the local stalls.
Timings and entry fees for:
Chandipur Beach — Open all day. No entry fees.
7. Gopalpur
If you love exploring a quiet but developed city, then you should definitely visit Gopalpur. It’s a fantastic port town of Odisha known for its serene beaches and massive ports. The Dhabaleshwar Beach, Gopalpur Sea Beach, and lots of lovely resorts are wonderful attractions for adults and kids visiting this city.
Timings and entry fees for:
Beaches and port – All day. No entry fees.
These are some of the most alluring places that would create happy memories for your family. But apart from these, there are some more attractive destinations and lots of amazing things to do on hill stations of Odisha like visiting the Dhauli Shanti Stupa of Dhauli, visiting Behrampur for wonderful hills and significant temples, Baripada to visit the Mayurbhanj Palace, Taptapani – the hot water spring, and Barbil – the destination known for its mesmerising waterfalls.
