Odisha has been a preferred destination from ancient days for people having interest in spirituality, religion, culture, art and beauty of the nature. Ancient and medieval architecture, pristine sea beaches, nature at her beautiful best, the classical and ethnic dance forms and a variety of festivals, all in combine attract tourists from far off places to explore this state to a have a divine exposure of love and hospitality.

Odisha has kept alive Buddhism and the Buddha in its ancient womb. The spirit of Buddhism still haunts the very air of Odisha. Rock-edicts that have challenged time stand huge and over-powering by the banks of the river Daya. The silent stones sing out songs of peace and non-violence. The torch of Buddhism is still ablaze in the sublime triangle at Udayagiri, Lalitgiri & Ratanagiri, on the banks of river Birupa. The surrounding hills of Langudi and Kayama stand as mute witness to the quirks and twists of history. Precious fragments of a glorious past come alive in the shape of stupas, rock-cut caves, rock-edicts, excavated monastries, viharas, chaityas and sacred relics in caskets. Rock-edicts of Ashoka are a bonus for your eyes.

Odisha is the home for various tribal communities who have contributed uniquely to the multicultural and multilingual character of the state. Their handicrafts, different dance forms, jungle products and their unique life style blended with their healing practices have got world wide attention.

The recent efforts in putting the state in the national and global map of tourist attractions are all set to pay rich dividends. With the punch line of  “Scenic, Serene and Sublime, the government is targeting to cash on the rich cultural heritage of the state. Odisha is not only a tourist site at the same time it is also a researchers delight. Odisha boasts of people having innocent, uncorrupt and unadulterated love towards the visitors and at the same time provides modern facilities for transport and communication. This is a rare combination of innocence and modernity. 

The Marine Drive that connects Sun Temple Konark and the Jagannath Temple Puri provides a unique driving experience taking the visitor through the serene picturesque beauty of nature at the both side of the road. The smooth drive lets the commuter free to enjoy the sights and sweet songs of the singing boatman, the cool breeze, the old monuments and the sound of the inner self, which merges with the sound of the sea.
The royal heritage and architecture of edifices, like the Puri Jagnnanth Temple, Barbati fort, Lingraj temples, KhandaGiri & UdayaGiri caves, Sun temple of Konark, and the world heritage sites of Buddhism at Dhauli and Lalitigiri are really remarkable.

Known for its exquisite temple culture and architecture the state is a proud possessor of thousands of temples both small and big. Most significant of them have been at the famous Golden Triangle comprising Puri-Konark-Bhubaneswar. Western Odisha has been also famous for its distinct temple culture, which was developed during the Chouhan Dynasty.

With these historical and architectural monuments, the recent industrial, scientific, technological and research initiatives mark a unique blend of the ancient and the modern. The Hirakud Dam being the longest dam in the world attracts both Indian and foreign visitors. The Rourkela Steel Plant, the Fertilizer Plant and National Thermal Power Centre (NTPC) both at Talcher, National Aluminum Corporation at Angul, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited MIG Factory at Sunabeda, Koraput, and Paradeep Port etc attract different types of visitors from far and near. These are Central Government initiatives invariably visited by foreign dignitaries. Asia’s reputed rice research institute is located at Katak (Cuttack).