15

Places to visit near Bhubaneswar

Located on the confluence of River Kushabhadra and the Bay of Bengal, Ramachandi Beach is one of the best tourist places in Bhubaneswar for nature lovers. It is named after Goddess Ramchandi, the main deity in Konark and also known as the consort of Sun God. Believed to be one of the most beautiful beaches in India, it offers some gorgeous sunsets and sunrise views for the tourists. The beach offers many tranquil moments for the tourists to soak in the sunshine and appreciate the glittering sands all around you. When you are here, you will forget all the worries hovering over your mind and enjoy the little moments of peace all by yourself.The splendid beach attracts many couples, college goers and regular tourists to admire its shining blue waters, white sand on the beach fringed by long palm trees. The pristine beach has the advantage of being away from the knowledge of many tourists and blessed with gentle waves of the ocean. Located 65 kms away from Bhubaneswar, this beach calls everyone to take a break and admire the ferocious beauty of nature. The major activities which you can enjoy here are water activities like motorboating, scuba diving, jet skiing, water skiing, etc.Location: Ramachandi Beach, Odisha Best time to visit: September and October

This historically important park has been erected at the spot where the late politician, Indira Gandhi had delivered her final speech before being shot down. Spread over an area of 10.6 acres, the historic park is located on the front side of the Orissa Assembly. In commemoration of the memorable prominence, the park is maintained in an ornamental state, laden with lush green plants and exotic flowers. Visitors will also find a bounty of wild date palms, sandalwood trees, and the iconic kala jamun trees in this park. For the convenience of the visitors, the park is also equipped with several facilities and attractions such as canteens, restrooms, waterfalls, rose gardens and a musical fountain. Within the park, a statue of Indira Gandhi has been erected which was famously designed by Russian sculptors. People can be commonly found relaxing and walking around the park during the evening while morning hours find people jogging within the precincts. Location: Unit-2, Ashok Nagar, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751001Price: No entry feeTiming: 5:00 AM to 9:00 PMBest Time to Visit: Between October to March

Hailed as one of the most beautiful gardens in Bhubaneshwar, Ekamra Kanan sprawls over an area of 500 acres of land. Encompassing mesmerising surroundings of nature, Ekamra Kanan is the biggest park and one of the prominent places to visit in Bhubaneswar for all the tourists. It is a part of the research organisation Regional Plant Resource Centre (RPRC) that falls under the jurisdiction of Government of Odisha. The park is a wonderful spot for recreation as it is a place where you can take your loved ones for a day picnic. Children are most excited to come here as it has many swing sets and organises a range of games for everyone to have fun. If you are looking for some thrill, boating can also be enjoyed at Ekamra Kanan Botanical Garden. One of the prominent attractions of this botanical garden is the Glass House which is well-known for having a range of cactus plants.Also called the Cactus Garden, it houses more than 1,050 types of cacti and succulents. Another eye-catching attraction of the garden is the musical fountain which lets you have a fun and refreshing evening in Bhubaneshwar. While visiting here, you can also visit Ekamra Haat which has many shops selling beautiful handicrafts and other handloom items. Location: Ekamra Kanan, Government of Orissa, Forests and Environment Department, Nayapalli, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751015Price: INR 12Timing: 8 AM TO 6 PM