Odisha Tour Packages 2026-27

Formerly known as Orissa, Odisha is home to the sacred Jagannath Temple at Puri (one of the four Char Dham sites), the 13th-century Konark Sun Temple and hundreds of ancient temples in Bhubaneswar. The state was renamed in 2011, so if you have been searching for Orissa tour packages, these are the same trips.

Our Odisha tour packages start at ₹6,000 per person (2-day Bhubaneswar, Puri and Konark trip) and go up to ₹24,900 for a 7-day Odisha Temple Tour. Every package includes hotel stay, breakfast and dinner, guided sightseeing and an AC vehicle. Pilgrimage Tour India has been organising spiritual tours across India since 2010, and we are a Government of India approved operator.

Quick answer: Bhubaneswar, Puri and Konark can be done in 2 days at a fast pace, but 3 days is more comfortable. Take 4 to 5 days to add Chilika Lake, and 6 to 7 days for a relaxed trip or the Buddhist sites. October to February has the best weather. Our road packages cost ₹6,000 to ₹24,900 per person, plus 5% GST.

Odisha 2026-27: Key Facts at a Glance

Compare Odisha Tour Packages by Duration and Price

Packages include hotel stay, breakfast and dinner (plus lunch on full-day excursion days), AC vehicle transport, a guide and entry fees for the monuments in your itinerary. The exact inclusions for your package are written in your quotation. 5% GST, train/flight fares and the Chilika boat ride are separate. These are starting prices per person. Your rate depends on hotel category, travel dates, room sharing and how many people travel together, so ask for the price for your group.

How to Choose Your Odisha Tour Package

• 2 to 3 days: the Bhubaneswar Puri Konark Tour or the Bhubaneswar Puri Tour, for a darshan-focused weekend.
• 4 to 5 days: the Puri, Konark and Chilika packages. A practical choice for families visiting Odisha for the first time.
• 6 to 7 days: the Odisha Golden Triangle if you are travelling with senior citizens and want shorter driving days, or the Odisha Temple Tour if temples are the main reason for your trip.
• Travelling from Kolkata, or want Gangasagar too: the 7-day Puri and Gangasagar package covers both.

We also customise Odisha tours for families and groups, and can plan the trip around your train or flight from Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai or Hyderabad.

The Odisha Golden Triangle: Bhubaneswar, Puri & Konark

The most common Odisha tour itinerary connects three places that are 35 to 70 km apart by road. This circuit is called the Odisha Golden Triangle, and it is the starting point for most first-time visitors.

Bhubaneswar: Temple City of India

Bhubaneswar is the capital of Odisha. It once had over 7,000 temples, and hundreds of ancient temples still stand today. The most important ones to visit on an Odisha temple tour are Lingaraj Temple (11th century, dedicated to Lord Shiva), Mukteshwar Temple (10th century, known for its carved stone gateway), Rajarani Temple (11th century, known for its sculptural panels) and the Parasurameswar Temple (7th century, one of the oldest surviving temples). Outside the temple circuit, Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves (Jain rock-cut caves from the 1st century BCE) and Nandankanan Zoological Park (home to white tigers and melanistic tigers; closed on Mondays) are worth the time. The 64 Yogini Temple at Hirapur, about 15 km from the city, is one of very few circular open-air Yogini temples in India.

Lingaraj Temple does not permit non-Hindus inside, but they can see the complex from a viewing platform outside the wall. Most other major Bhubaneswar temples are open to all visitors.

Puri: Char Dham Pilgrimage Site and Coastal Town

Puri is one of the four Char Dham pilgrimage sites in India, alongside Badrinath, Dwarka and Rameshwaram. The Shree Jagannath Temple is the spiritual centre of Puri, a 12th-century temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath, a form of Lord Vishnu. Devotees worship the presiding deity along with Balabhadra and Subhadra as living deities, and 56 food offerings (Mahaprasad) are made daily. Mahaprasad can be bought at Ananda Bazar inside the temple complex. Non-Hindus are not permitted inside the main temple. The rooftop of Raghunandan Library, opposite the temple, has traditionally been used as a viewing point, but check locally whether it is open.

Puri's Golden Beach is a certified Blue Flag beach, renewed for the 2025-26 cycle. Swim only in the flagged zones. The currents here are strong, and lifeguards cover only the marked stretch. Swargadwar, the cremation ghat by the sea, is considered especially sacred by Hindus. The Gundicha Temple, about 3 km from Jagannath Temple along Bada Danda, is where the chariot procession ends.

Jagannath Temple practical info: the temple opens around 5:00 AM and closes late at night, and ritual timings shift on festival days. Go early, before 8 AM, to avoid long queues. Read the dress code and phone rules under Temple Visit Rules before you go. Our Jagannath Puri tour packages plan darshan for the early morning slot.

Konark: UNESCO World Heritage Sun Temple

The Konark Sun Temple was built in the 13th century by King Narasimhadeva I (r. 1238-1264) of the Eastern Ganga dynasty. It is designed as a massive stone chariot of the Sun God, with 24 carved wheels and, in the traditional description, seven horses pulling it. The wheels are usually read as symbols of time, and the shadow on their spokes is popularly said to work like a sundial.

Konark Sun Temple was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. It is one of the most important examples of Kalinga architecture. The Konark Festival of classical dance is held from 1 to 5 December every year in the open-air auditorium beside the temple, and the International Sand Art Festival runs at Chandrabhaga Beach on the same dates.

Konark temple timings: the ASI lists the monument as open from sunrise to sunset. Some Odisha Tourism pages give 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM, so check the closing time at the gate if you plan an evening visit. Entry fee: ₹40 for Indian nationals (₹35 online) and ₹600 for foreign nationals (₹550 online); SAARC and BIMSTEC citizens pay the Indian rate. Arrive at opening time for soft light and smaller crowds. Konark is about 35 km from Puri and 65 to 70 km from Bhubaneswar. Chandrabhaga Beach, 3 km from Konark, is a quiet alternative to Puri beach and the site of the Magha Saptami festival.

Chilika Lake: Asia's Largest Brackish Water Lagoon

Chilika Lake spreads across about 1,165 sq km in the monsoon and around 900 sq km in the dry months, across Puri, Khordha and Ganjam districts. It is the largest brackish water lagoon in Asia and was one of India's first two Ramsar wetlands of international importance (1981). More than 160 species of migratory birds arrive in peak winter season, including flamingos and grey pelicans. Nalabana Island, inside the lake, is a bird sanctuary. Boats stop at the sanctuary boundary, and visitors are not allowed to land on the island except during the Chilika Bird Festival in January. Mangalajodi, on the northern edge of the lake, is another well-known birdwatching area. On Makar Sankranti, the Makar Mela at the island temple of Kalijai draws large crowds.

Chilika's Irrawaddy dolphins are one of the best-known dolphin populations in India. The Satapada area (on the outer channel of Chilika) offers boat rides specifically for dolphin sightings. Sightings are common but never guaranteed.

• Best time for dolphins: November to February (calm waters)
• Best time for birds: December to February (peak migratory season); boats towards Nalabana leave from Barkul, not Satapada
• Distance from Puri to Satapada: about 50 km | Distance from Bhubaneswar: about 100 km
• Boat rides: paid at the jetty; shared and private boats are priced differently

Other Important Destinations in Odisha

Cuttack: The Silver City

Cuttack, about 30 km from Bhubaneswar, was the capital of Odisha until 1948. It is famous for silver filigree (Tarakasi) work: local artisans create jewellery and decorative items from fine silver wire, a craft that has a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. The Barabati Fort ruins, the Netaji Birthplace Museum (Subhas Chandra Bose was born in Cuttack in 1897) and the Dhabaleswar Temple (on a river island in the Mahanadi) are the main attractions. Cuttack's Bali Jatra fair is held on Kartik Purnima in October or November.

Dhauli: Where Ashoka's Transformation Happened

Dhauli, 8 km from Bhubaneswar on the banks of the Daya River, is linked by tradition to the Kalinga War of 261 BCE. Ashoka's thirteenth rock edict records his remorse over the conquest of Kalinga, where it says about 100,000 people were killed, and his turn towards dhamma. That edict is not carved at Dhauli. What Dhauli has is a set of Ashokan edicts in Brahmi script on a rock at the foot of the hill, including two Separate Kalinga Edicts written for the people of this region. The Dhauli Shanti Stupa (Peace Pagoda), built with Japanese Buddhist organisations in 1972, stands on the hilltop.

Ratnagiri, Udayagiri & Lalitgiri: The Buddhist Diamond Triangle

These three hilltop Buddhist sites, about 90 to 100 km from Bhubaneswar, form the Buddhist Diamond Triangle of Odisha. Ratnagiri and Udayagiri are in Jajpur district, and Lalitgiri is in Cuttack district. Ratnagiri was a major Buddhist monastery and centre of learning, with a large stupa, hundreds of sculptures and an ASI site museum. Udayagiri and Lalitgiri have excavated monasteries and votive stupas. At Lalitgiri, excavators found stone caskets holding a bone relic, the first such find in eastern India. This Udayagiri is different from the Udayagiri caves in Bhubaneswar.

Jajpur town is also home to the Biraja Temple, one of the Shakti Peethas. Ask us if you would like it added to the Jajpur package.

Raghurajpur, Pipili & Gopalpur

Raghurajpur, about 14 km from Puri, is a heritage craft village known for Pattachitra paintings and Gotipua dance. Pipili, on the Bhubaneswar-Puri highway, is known for appliqué work. Both are good places to shop for handicrafts. Gopalpur-on-Sea is a colonial-era beach town in southern Odisha, near Berhampur, and is part of our 5-day package.

Kolkata & Gangasagar

Our 7-day Jagannath Puri and Gangasagar package continues from Odisha to Kolkata and Gangasagar on Sagar Island, where the Ganga meets the Bay of Bengal. The island is reached by ferry. The Kapil Muni Temple and the Gangasagar Mela on Makar Sankranti are the main draws.

Daringbadi, Bhitarkanika & Simlipal (Custom Trips)

These places are not part of our fixed packages, but we can add them on request:

• Daringbadi (Kandhamal district): a hill station at about 915 m in the Eastern Ghats, known for coffee and pepper plantations. It is about 248 km from Bhubaneswar, and winter nights are cold, so pack warm clothes.
• Bhitarkanika National Park (Kendrapara district): the second largest mangrove ecosystem in India after Sundarbans, with India's largest population of saltwater crocodiles (1,858 counted in the January 2026 census). Closed from 1 May to 31 July.
• Simlipal Tiger Reserve (Mayurbhanj district): about 250 km from Bhubaneswar to the Jashipur or Pithabata entry gates. The reserve says it is generally open from 1 November to 15 June, with exact dates announced by the Field Director each year. Day passes and safari vehicles are booked online through the reserve.

Jagannath Rath Yatra 2027

The Jagannath Rath Yatra is the annual chariot procession of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple, about 3 km away. It is believed to be one of the oldest continuously celebrated festivals in the world. Rath Yatra 2026 was held on 16 July 2026. Rath Yatra 2027 is expected on Monday, 5 July 2027 (Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya), and the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration announces the final ritual schedule. The deities return about a week later in the Bahuda Yatra.

Why the Rath Yatra Is Unlike Any Other Festival

The three chariots are built new every year from wood such as phassi and dhausa, brought from the forests of the former Dasapalla state, following specific rituals.

Lakhs of devotees pull the chariots along Bada Danda (Grand Road). Devotees believe that seeing the deities on the chariot frees a person from the cycle of rebirth.

Practical advice: book accommodation in Puri 4 to 6 months in advance for festival dates, because hotels near Bada Danda fill up early. Our Rath Yatra 2027 tour package includes a Puri hotel and Bhubaneswar and Konark sightseeing. Viewing spots on Bada Danda depend on police barricades and crowds, so no operator can promise a fixed spot; we plan for you to reach early. On the day, expect heat, humidity and hours of standing. Senior citizens and anyone with mobility issues should tell us in advance so we can plan around it. The festival date follows the Hindu calendar and is known well ahead, so you can contact us on WhatsApp now.

Rath Yatra 2027: What the Package Covers

If Rath Yatra falls on 5 July 2027 as expected, Day 1 is Saturday 3 July and Day 6 is Thursday 8 July. If the temple schedule moves the festival, the itinerary moves with it.

• Day 1: Arrive Bhubaneswar, city tour (Lingaraj, Mukteshwar, Rajarani temples, Dhauli Stupa)
• Day 2: Bhubaneswar to Puri, check-in, Puri beach evening
• Day 3: Rath Yatra darshan: Bada Danda procession, Jagannath Temple area
• Day 4: Gundicha Temple (where the deities stay during the festival), Raghurajpur craft village
• Day 5: Konark Sun Temple, Chandrabhaga Beach, back to Puri
• Day 6: Departure from Bhubaneswar Airport / Railway Station

How to Reach Odisha from Major Cities

By Air

Biju Patnaik International Airport (BBI), Bhubaneswar, is the main airport. It has direct domestic flights to major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai, with flying times from about 1 hour (Kolkata) to around 2.5 hours (Mumbai). Routes and airlines change often, so check current schedules when booking. International flights from Bhubaneswar were suspended in July 2026, so most international travellers fly into Delhi, Mumbai or Kolkata and connect to Bhubaneswar. The airport is about 60 km from Puri.

By Train

Odisha is well connected by rail, with Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri as the main stations. Key trains from major cities:

• From Delhi: Purushottam Express (12802, Anand Vihar Terminal to Puri via Bhubaneswar), about 31 hours. The Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express is the faster option to Bhubaneswar.
• From Kolkata (Howrah): Howrah-Puri Vande Bharat Express or Howrah-Puri Shatabdi Express, about 6.5 to 7.5 hours. Multiple daily trains.
• From Mumbai: Konark Express (11019), CSMT to Bhubaneswar, about 37 hours.
• From Hyderabad: East Coast Express or Konark Express via Secunderabad, around 20 hours.
• From Bengaluru: Prashanti Express, more than a day. Check current timings on IRCTC.

For Puri specifically: Puri Express (12837) also runs from Howrah to Puri. During the festival, Indian Railways announces special trains; book on IRCTC as soon as they open.

By Road

Odisha is connected to neighbouring states by National Highways. The main route is NH16, the coastal highway between Kolkata and Chennai, which passes through Balasore, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and Berhampur. OSRTC (Odisha State Road Transport Corporation) runs AC and non-AC buses from Kolkata, Raipur and Visakhapatnam. Private Volvo buses also connect major cities.

Local Transport within Odisha

Between cities: OSRTC buses, private cabs and trains. Within cities: auto-rickshaws, app cabs (Ola/Uber in Bhubaneswar), Mo Bus city buses and cycle rickshaws in the Puri temple area. Our packages include an AC cab for all sightseeing throughout the trip.

Best Time to Visit Odisha: Month-by-Month Guide

October to February is the ideal window for Odisha tourism. January is the coolest month. December is particularly special: the Konark Festival draws classical dancers from across India, and Chilika Lake is close to its peak for birdwatching. Odisha's cyclone risk is highest in October-November and April-May (Phailin in October 2013, Fani in May 2019 and Dana in October 2024), so check IMD bulletins and keep a spare day if you travel then.

Package Inclusions and Exclusions

What Is Included in Our Odisha Tour Packages

• Accommodation throughout: hotels in the category shown on your quote, twin/triple sharing
• Meals: breakfast and dinner daily (lunch on full-day excursion days)
• AC cab (Innova / Ertiga / similar) for all sightseeing and transfers
• Experienced local guide for the main temple and heritage sites
• Entry fees for monuments in your itinerary (such as Konark, Udayagiri-Khandagiri and Nandankanan)

What Is Not Included

• Train or flight fares to Bhubaneswar / Puri starting point
• 5% GST on tour cost
• Personal expenses: tips, shopping, laundry, personal medicines
• Boat ride at Chilika (paid separately at the jetty)
• Travel or medical insurance (recommended)
• Costs due to natural calamity, road blockage or force majeure events (cyclones, floods)

Odisha-Specific Packing List

Clothing

• Lightweight cotton clothing: Odisha is humid, so breathable fabric is essential
• Modest clothing for temple visits: covered shoulders, below-knee length; beachwear is not appropriate in temple towns
• Slip-ons or sandals: you will remove footwear frequently at temples
• Sea breeze is strong at Puri and Konark, so a light windcheater is useful in December-January mornings

Practical Items

• Sunscreen and sunglasses: coastal sun is strong even in winter
• Insect repellent for Chilika boat rides
• Dry bag or waterproof pouch for boat rides (spray at Chilika can be heavy)
• Binoculars for bird watching at Chilika
• Cash in small denominations: local markets, auto-rickshaws and boat operators in smaller towns prefer cash

Temple Visit Rules

• Jagannath Temple, Puri: Hindus only. Since 1 January 2024, a dress code applies: no shorts, half pants, torn jeans, skirts or sleeveless clothes. Sarees, salwar kameez, dhoti or full trousers are fine.
• Jagannath Temple, Puri: mobile phones and cameras are not allowed inside; deposit them at the counters near the gates. Leather items, plastic, paan and gutkha are also banned. Footwear is left outside the gates.
• Jagannath Temple, Puri: for about two weeks before Rath Yatra (the Anasara period after Snana Purnima), the main deities are not shown to devotees.
• Lingaraj Temple, Bhubaneswar: Hindus only inside the main temple. Official pages list different visiting hours, so confirm timings locally on the day.
• Konark Sun Temple: Open to all. Archaeological site; photography permitted.
• Most other temples: Open to all, modest clothing required, no photography inside sanctums.

Odisha Tour Package Price: Example Cost for the 6-Day Golden Triangle Tour

The package price covers accommodation, listed meals, transport and guide. Here is a realistic budget for the 6-day Odisha Golden Triangle package at ₹18,900, per person, once you are in Odisha:

Add your train or flight fare, which depends on your city, class and dates. If you add a Chilika boat ride, pay for it at the jetty.

Why Book Your Odisha Tour with Pilgrimage Tour India

How to Book Your Odisha Tour

• Send your travel dates, number of travellers and starting city on WhatsApp at +91 8826094899.
• We send a day-wise itinerary and a quote with hotel options.
• Pay the advance to confirm your hotels and vehicle.
• You receive your booking confirmation and driver details before arrival.

Please read our cancellation and refund terms before paying: [add policy page link].