Bhubaneswar travel guide

History

Several sites testify to the importance of the Bhubaneswar region far earlier than the seventh to 11th centuries, when the Kalinga kings ruled over the area. Both Jain and Buddhist shrines give clear evidence of important settlements around Bhubaneswar in the first two centuries BC. The remains of a ruined moated city, Sisupalgarh (opposite the Dhauligiri battlefield and Asokan edicts), show that it was occupied from the beginning of the third century BC to the middle of the fourth century AD and the pottery shows Roman influence. Bhubaneswar is the capital of Orissa, chosen in 1948 in place of Cuttack partly because it was the ancient capital of the Kalinga Empire.

Getting around

The temples are a long walk from the modern centre and most hotels so it is best to hire a rickshaw to reach them. Once you’re there it’s easy enough to explore the old city on foot.

Ins and outs

Getting there

The airport, served by direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, is 4 km from the centre. Trains on the main Kolkata–Chennai line stop at Bhubaneswar station, from where many hotels are within walking distance. The New Bus Stand is 6 km northwest of town. Buses for Konark and Puri can be boarded by the State Museum.

Bhubaneswar

Air

Airport 4 km. Taxi transfer, Rs 100 through OTDC. From airport Rs 100-150. Indian Airlines, Rajpath, T0674-253 0533, airport, T06274-534472, http://www.indian-airlines.nic.in, daily to Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore (Bengaluru), Mumbai and Hyderabad. Indigo, http://www.goindigo.in, Kingfisher, www.flyking fisher.com, and Jetlite, http://www.jetlite.com also cover these routes. Kingfisher flies to Raipur.

Bus

Local

City buses are cheap and cover major routes but avoid evening rush hour.

Long distance

New Bus Stand is at Baramunda on the NH5 (6 km from centre) where there are auto-rickshaws for transfer. Enquiries T0674-235 4695, private bus enquiries T0674-235 4769. Some long- distance buses go through the city first, stopping at the Old Bus Stand, off Rajpath. Regular buses to Puri and Konark (both 1½- 3 hrs) pick up passengers from outside the museum on Lewis Rd. Most are very full, but usually thin out at Pipli. Buses to Cuttack (1 hr) stop on the opposite side of the road.

Taxi

Tourist taxis, unmetered. OTDC (Transport) T0674-243 1515, and private operators have a/c and non a/c cars for full and half day sightseeing. Cars Rs 600, a/c, Rs 800, for 8 hrs or 80 km. A round trip by car visiting Konark and Puri from Bhubaneswar takes 6-8 hrs. Allow at least 1 hr for Konark.

Train

Reservations, T0674-253 2350; enquiries, T0674-253 2233. Computerized booking hall is in separate building opposite the station. Auto- and cycle-rickshaws for transfer. Chennai: Coromandal Exp 2841, 2140, 21 hrs; Howrah Chennai Mail 2839, 0635, 25½ hrs. Kolkata (H): Shatabdi 2074, 0620, 6½ hrs, except Sun; Dhauli Exp 2822, 1315, 7 hrs; Coromandal Exp 2842, 0500, 7½ hrs; Falaknuma Exp 2704, 1055, 8½ hrs; Howrah Mail 2840, 2040, 7½ hrs; Jagannath Exp 8410, 0015, 8 hrs; East Coast Exp 8646, 0740, 8½ hrs, Puri Howrah Exp 2838, 2145, 7½ hrs. Mumbai (CST): Konark Exp 1020, 1515, 37½ hrs. Koraput: Hirakhand Exp 8447, 2000, 16 hrs. Secunderabad: Falaknuma Exp 2703, 1405, 20 hrs; Konark Exp 1020, 1515, 21 hrs; East Coast Exp 8645, 1940, 23 hrs; Visakha Exp 7015, 0835, 23 hrs. New Delhi: Purushottam Exp 2801, 2325, 30 hrs; Utkal Exp 8477, 2250, 40 hrs, both go via Mughal Sarai (Varanasi).

Banks

State Bank of India, Rajpath, by Police Station. ATM and exchange on first floor, sterling, US$ cash and TCs (closed Sun). ICICI, near Shree Raj Talkies, Janpath, and Thomas Cook, 130 Ashok Nagar, Janpath, for over the counter exchange. There are many ATMs on Janpath and around Kalpana Square, and also by the main entrance to the railway station.

Internet

Gaurish Internet, Cuttack Rd (opposite petrol station), daily 0900-2230, new and fast. Also at Ekamra Hotel and on Kalpana Sq (noisy location but quick).

Medical services

Capital Hospital, Unit 6, T0674-239 0688; Kalinga Hospital, Nandan Kanan Rd, T0674-230 0570/230 1227, private hospital.

Post

GPO, Sachivalaya Marg.

Useful contacts

Foreigners’ Registration Office, Sahid Nagar, T0674-254 0555.