Bhubaneshwar City and Konark Sun Temple Guided Tour

A 10-hour guided tour to Bhubaneswar and the Konark Sun Temple ensures a seamless and enriching exploration of these iconic sites, with expert commentary and convenient logistics. Delve into the rich cultural heritage of Odisha while maximizing your time and gaining insider insights into the history and significance of these architectural marvels.

Highlights

• Visit the ancient remains in the majestic Dhauli Hills.
• Explore the Khandagiri and Udayagiri caves and understand their history.
• Also, take a tour of the Konark Sun Temple and the Raja Rani Temple.
• Company of an experienced guide during this tour.

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Bhubaneshwar City and Konark Sun Temple Guided Tour overview

A Bhubaneswar city tour is a great way to experience the cultural highlights of the city in one day.  The tour starts at Dhauli, where in 260 BC Emperor Ashoka gave up war and became Buddhist, after which you visit the grand Sun Temple at Konark with its mesmerizing sundials in the form of the wheels of the chariot. You also visit the exquisite carvings at the Buddhist caves of Khandagiri and Udayagiri before winding up the day at the erotically carved Raja Rani Temple.

Bhubaneshwar City and Konark Sun Temple Guided Tour Itinerary

• You will be received by your hosts and driver at your hotel in Bhubaneshwar city limits. After a short meet and greet, you will begin your day's tour.
• At around 8 AM, your first destination of the day would be Dhauli, which is approximately 25 km away and might take 40 minutes to reach.
• This is the venue of an ancient battle, the Kalinga War, which was fought in 260 BC.
• Your guide will narrate how Emperor Ashoka, the great Mauryan king, won the battle but, upon seeing the bloodbath, had a change of heart. He became a propagator of peace and played a big role in spreading Buddhism in India.
• You will get to see edicts of Ashoka embossed on rocks using the ancient Brahmi script and Prakrit language. The rock-cut elephant sculpture here is one of the oldest in India.
• Next up, you will visit the Shanti Stupa/Peace Pagoda in Dhauli. The current structure was built in 1972 by an Indo-Japanese collaboration between the Japan Buddha Sangh and the Kalinga Nippon Buddha Sangh.
• You will then be driven to Konark to experience one of the greatest architectural masterpieces in India.
• Built in the 13th century by King Narasimhadeva, the temple is designed in the shape of a colossal chariot with seven horses and twelve wheels, carrying the sun god, Surya, across the heavens. The Sun temple was known as ‘The Black Pagoda’ among early European sailors to the East.
• Lunch will be arranged at a local restaurant, and you may relax for a bit there.
• After lunch, you will be heading to the Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves. These caves are dwelling retreats or cells of ancient Jain ascetics.
• These were built in the second century BC, during the reign of King Kharavela of the Kalinga Kingdom.
• Next, visit the Raja Rani Temple. This is a temple constructed in the 11th century from reddish and yellow sandstone. This material was called Rajarani in the local dialect, and hence the temple got its name.
• The temple is famous for its unique sculptures of women. Women are in poses, performing Odissi, the traditional dance form, as well as in everyday life moments.
• Your tour will end at around 6:30 PM after you are dropped back at your hotel in Bhubaneshwar.