Prakruthi Outdoors

I was awaiting my friend who supposed to visit me from USA. But his trip cancelled just before few hours before flight departure, but I had ensured myself free to accompany him for few days. “Now, what to do” puzzled in my mind. Odissa flashed in my mind but did not have time to book flights and do proper travel arrangement. My wife provided the nod when I conveyed the plan of driving to Odissa from Bengaluru as Konark sun temple was my bucket list of must visit places. Go ahead nod from my family, made collectively get ready in just a day.

Konark Sun temple was one of the must visit places in my travel list. What boils everyone’s blood after visiting this place is how cruel the muslim invaders/armies who destroyed this marvel between 15th and 17th centuries.

Day 1 – Friday, 30 Sep 2022 –  Bengaluru to Rajahmundry – 800KMs

Started from Bengaluru at 5:30 AM with my  wife Padma and daughter Siri. The highway till Tirupati is very good. The next stretch from Tirupati to Gudur is single way with humps and bumps. From Gudur to Rajamundry, the road is good. We reached Rajamundry around 9PM. As it was late, didn’t explore many lodgings and we stayed in a lodge near to the bus stand. What inspired me is driving at night alongside the long bridge built across river Godavari. Spanning across 2.1 km atop the River Godavari in the city of Rajahamundry, this long bridge attracted us. The view at night is eye catching.

Rajahmundry is a city on the eastern banks of the sacred Godavari River, in the southeast Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

Route taken: Bengaluru – Kolar – Tirupati – Gudur – Nellore – Ongole – Vijayawada – Rajamundry

Day 2 – Saturday, 01 Oct 2022 – Rajamundry to Araku Valley – Visit Borra Caves and Katiki Falls

Started at 7 AM towards Araku valley. The breakfast on the way at small hotel ‘Sathya Shree Sai” is just delicious.

Reached Borra caves at 1PM. We tasted popular ‘Bamboo Chicken’ and ‘Bamboo Chicken biryani’ which is famous in Araku valley area.

From there we visited the Katiki falls. We loved this fall. There are 2 ways to reach the falls.

Way 1 – Rent a jeep near Borra caves. The cost would be INR 200/person. As we are only three, we negotiated for INR 1300. The jeep drive is for ~6 kms. From there 15 minutes easy hike leads to Katiki falls. The waterfall was in it’s full glory.

Way 2 – From Araku valley side were the vehicle goes to the parking spot. From there 15 minute walk leads to the falls.

After enjoying at Katiki falls, we driven towards Vaizag and reached Vaizag at 9PM. We stayed in Gupta INN. Paying INR 2400 is bit expensive for the room offered. As it was already 10:30PM, we didn’t want take risk to explore other lodges and rested for the day.

Day 3 – Sunday, 02 Oct 2022 – Drive to Bhubaneshwar – 450 KMs

We woke up at 8AM and post refresh, we started around 9AM. It was a long drive but I really enjoyed this stretch. We stopped near Odissa border for lunch.

Reached Bhubaneshwar at 8PM. Searched for a lodge and stayed in Hotel Sidharth Elite. The locality is bit inside, but the hospitality was very good. The proce offered was INR 1550  with complementary breakfast.

Day 4 – Monday 03 Oct 2022 – Puri and Konark

After breakfast, we started from Bhubaneshwar to Puri which is at a distance of 60 KMs. Before reaching Puri, we visited Raghurajapur village.

Raghurajpur is a heritage crafts village famous for its master Pattachitra painters. There are 160 families in the village and all are artists…!

We brought some paintings and headed towards Puri. Reached Puri around 12:30PM. Headed towards famous Puri Jagganah mandir. t was heavily crowded. We changed the plan to go Konark and later in the night to visit Jagannath. As it is Dussera the temple will open till 11PM.

Had lunch on the way and reached much awaited Konark Sun temple. It was around 5PM. Hired a guide to understand the history of Konark.

On the shores of the Bay of Bengal, bathed in the rays of the rising sun, the temple at Konarak is a monumental representation of the sun god Surya’s chariot; its 24 wheels are decorated with symbolic designs and it is led by a team of six horses. Built in the 13th century, it is one of India’s most famous Brahman sanctuaries.

Courtesy – https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/246/

After Konrk, we headed back to Bhubaneshwar and stayed back again at Sidharta Elite.

Day 5 – Tuesday 04 Oct 2022 – Bhubaneshwar sight seeing

Bhubaneshwar – Khandagiri and Udayagiri caves, Lingaraja temple, Mukteswhara temple, Kedara Gouri temple etc.,

We started at 9AM and first visited Udayagiri caves and just opposite is the Khandagiri caves. Therafter went to famous Lingaraja temple. From here at a distance of 1.5 Kms, the 3 temples Mukteshwara, Kedara Gauri and Someshwara are situated near to each other.

Day 6 – Wednesday 05 Oct 2022 – Bhubaneshwar to Vaizag – RK Beach

We started at 9AM and reached Vaizag at 9:30PM. We straightaway driven to RK beach. This day was special as we celebrated my daughter’s birthday at RK beach.

Day 7 – Thursday 06 Oct 2022 – Vaizag to Bengaluru –  1000 KMs

We started around 9AM. It was a long drive. Taking rest in between we driven towards Bengaluru and reached next day early morning.

Overall  – It was memorable and it was my long drive compared to the one which I took earlier from Bengaluru to Kanyakumari.

Places covered: 

Vaizag – Araku valley Borra caves and Kitaki Falls, RK Beach

Puri – Jagannath temple

Konark – Sun Temple, Chandrabhaga beach

Total Distance covered – 3600 KMs

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Mukteshwara Temple