Discover Khordha: Dhauli, Atri and Mangalajodi

Khordha offers a range of very different points of interest for a trip: at the Dhauli Shanti Stupa, the focus is on a specific year of construction and remembrance of the Kalinga War. Atri combines a hot spring with events at different times of the year. Mangalajodi draws attention to marshy waters and the large number of birds found there, especially in winter. You can plan your stay around cultural history, nature or a particular date.

Dhauli: Stupa and remembrance of peace

The Dhauli Shanti Stupa was built in 1972 by the Japan Buddha Sangha and the Kalinga Nippon Buddha Sangha. It stands at the site where the Kalinga War was fought and commemorates the peace mission associated with the war. Its year of construction, location and commemorative purpose offer several points of reference for a visit: the Stupa’s origins as a structure and its significance as a place of remembrance.

The event schedule also offers a distinct cultural highlight: the Kalinga Dhauli Mahotsav lasts three days and is usually held in February. The programme includes classical music, classical dance and martial dance forms. If you would like to plan your trip around this festival, check the latest dates before making arrangements.

Atri: hot spring and festival days

A hot spring in Atri flows year-round, with a temperature of 57 degrees Celsius. This specific figure makes it a distinctive natural feature among Khordha’s travel highlights. Atri is also home to a government bathing complex. If you plan to include it in your itinerary, check visiting arrangements in advance.

The shrine of Lord Hattakeswar Mahadev in Atri hosts the annual Makar Jatra on Makar Sankranti, which falls in mid-January. Alongside the Kalinga Dhauli Mahotsav, usually held in February, this gives the two events a clear difference in timing: the Makar Jatra takes place in midwinter, while the three-day festival usually follows the next month. If you are planning a trip around a specific event, it is worth confirming the dates in advance.

Mangalajodi and its winter birds

Mangalajodi Ecotourism is on the northern shore of Chilika Lake in the state of Odisha. Mangalajodi’s marshy waters are home to more than 300,000 birds, especially in winter. The season is therefore an important guide for travellers interested in birdlife. This figure indicates the particular importance of winter, not an even presence throughout the year.

The wider travel destination of Orissa

Across the wider travel destination of Orissa, Chilika Lagoon is Asia’s largest brackish-water lagoon, a wetland of international importance and a Ramsar site. It is also the only habitat of the Irrawaddy dolphin in India. This context broadens the picture of the lake on whose northern shore Mangalajodi lies.

The history of Odissi dance is also part of the cultural context of the wider travel destination of Orissa. Odissi developed from the ancient Mahari dance tradition, performed by Devadasi dancers at the Jagannath Temple in Puri, and was later developed into Odisha’s classical dance form. This is a distinct cultural point of reference for travelling through Orissa.

Discover more destinations: Bhubaneswar, Sundargarh, Puri, Jajpur, Gopalpur, Kalahandi, Gajapati, Kendrapara.

See the wider travel overview: Orissa.