[Continued from Visit to Puri, Bhubaneswar and Chilika] As I was running after the bus and shouting, trying to attract the attention of the guide. At last the guide saw me. The bus stopped and he got down from it. I told him that one of our co-passengers had went to the toilet and had still not come back. We waited there for some time. And then with a relief I saw that our fellow passenger was coming towards us. We boarded the bus and the bus started. Our next stop was at the Nandankanan Zoo. Our guide told us that we would see the important landmarks of Bhubaneswar city on the way to the zoo. As our bus went through the smooth and wide roads of new Bhubaneswar we saw the Assembly House, Indira Gandhi Park (IG Park), Rabindra Mandap, Police Commissioner Bhavan etc. Just before reaching Nandankanan, our guide told us that we would enter the zoo through gate-2. He told us that he would be there with us at the zoo. On reaching Nandankanan we got off from the bus and went in. There our guide told us to wait and he went to buy the tickets. Then he came and distributed the tickets to each of us. The time allocated was 2 hours.
We entered the zoo. The sun was above and the heat was unbearable. We started walking with our guide. Firstly we went to see the aquarium inside the zoo. There we saw star fish, piranha, black angel, sharks and many other fishes. After that we started walking with our guide towards the Jungle Safari bus. On the way we saw some tigers and lions. After walking for about half an hour, we reached the safari bus. Our guide told all of us to board the bus and he will wait for us there only. I quickly got on the bus. Of course there was a rush. All were trying to take the frontmost seats beside window. But somehow I managed to secure the first seat of the bus beside window. The bus started. After travelling a little it came in front of a large cage door consisting of two big cage doors. Our bus passed through it and again started moving at a great speed. Someone shouted peacock but I was not able to see it. Then suddenly our bus came to a halt. In front of us we saw two antelopes crossing the road. After some time the driver showed us a tiger. It was a white tiger. The tiger was sitting on the banks of a pond with more than half of its body inside the water. It seemed that the tiger was also feeling the extreme heat.
Then our bus went into the lion safari zone. There also we were quite fortunate to see a lion and two lionesses. The lion was trying to dig something when we reached the spot. But the lions did not seemed quite healthy. There we took some photos and then our bus began to move. After that the bus came back to the bus stand where our guide was waiting for us. The whole jungle safari was about half an hour. Again we started walking with our guide. We saw more tigers and lions. We also saw many crocodiles. Our guide told us that the crocodiles will be fed 100 kg of fish by the zookeepers. And we will be able to see it because the keeper had already came to feed them. We waited there. But after some time the guide told that we could not spend any more time waiting there. So we had to move on. Then we entered the reptile park. There we saw many types of snakes, alligators and other reptiles. After spending two hours at Nandankanan zoo, we came out of the gate. We bought some water pouches and a bottle. Then we boarded the bus.
Our next stop was at the Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves. As our bus neared the caves, the guide told us that we could see the Udayagiri caves on the left and the Khandagiri caves on the right. He said that according to the package program we were to see the Udayagiri caves only. After getting to top of the small hill we could see the temple on the Khandagiri caves. We got off the bus and started to climb the flight of stairs. The Udayagiri caves were not high. There we saw the Hathigumpha (Elephant Cave) and some other caves. The scenery from the top was beautiful. We could see the city of Bhubaneswar also. After that we came down, bought a bottle of water and then we boarded the bus again.
The next destination was Dhauli Shanti Stupa. There was no trouble of getting up the hill there as the bus went straight up on the hill. After seeing the Buddhist Stupa we went straight to the OTDC Panthika Dhauli restaurant. There we had to place the order and make the payment beforehand at the reception. I ordered veg thali and egg curry and went up to the restaurant. The restaurant was non AC but the cost of the food was quite high. I handed the order slip to the waiter. After some time he brought the food. The food was the good of bad. But when I gave a bite on the egg, I found that it had a rotten smell. Two of our co passengers who were sitting in front of us also found that the eggs had a foul smell. We complained to the waiter. The waiter said that he will change it. He took it to the kitchen and again brought us another two eggs. But they were also rotten. When we asked him to give us something other than egg curry, he refused. The arrogant nature of the waiter made us astonished. We also complained to the manager but he did not do anything. The behaviour of the OTDC Panthika Dhauli staffs were very bad. At last we boarded the bus. Our next destination was the world famous Sun temple Konark. It was perhaps our last important attraction of this tour.
On reaching Konark our coach guide went to buy tickets and came back and handed each of us a ticket. Then he told us that he will send us a guide who will then show us the intricate designs on the walls of the temple and tell us the story and history of Konark. And for that each of us had to contribute Rs. 5/-.
Continued to Visit to Puri, Bhubaneswar and Chilika (Part - 3)
 |
| Nandankanan Gate |
We entered the zoo. The sun was above and the heat was unbearable. We started walking with our guide. Firstly we went to see the aquarium inside the zoo. There we saw star fish, piranha, black angel, sharks and many other fishes. After that we started walking with our guide towards the Jungle Safari bus. On the way we saw some tigers and lions. After walking for about half an hour, we reached the safari bus. Our guide told all of us to board the bus and he will wait for us there only. I quickly got on the bus. Of course there was a rush. All were trying to take the frontmost seats beside window. But somehow I managed to secure the first seat of the bus beside window. The bus started. After travelling a little it came in front of a large cage door consisting of two big cage doors. Our bus passed through it and again started moving at a great speed. Someone shouted peacock but I was not able to see it. Then suddenly our bus came to a halt. In front of us we saw two antelopes crossing the road. After some time the driver showed us a tiger. It was a white tiger. The tiger was sitting on the banks of a pond with more than half of its body inside the water. It seemed that the tiger was also feeling the extreme heat.
 |
| Lion at Nandankanan Zoo |
Then our bus went into the lion safari zone. There also we were quite fortunate to see a lion and two lionesses. The lion was trying to dig something when we reached the spot. But the lions did not seemed quite healthy. There we took some photos and then our bus began to move. After that the bus came back to the bus stand where our guide was waiting for us. The whole jungle safari was about half an hour. Again we started walking with our guide. We saw more tigers and lions. We also saw many crocodiles. Our guide told us that the crocodiles will be fed 100 kg of fish by the zookeepers. And we will be able to see it because the keeper had already came to feed them. We waited there. But after some time the guide told that we could not spend any more time waiting there. So we had to move on. Then we entered the reptile park. There we saw many types of snakes, alligators and other reptiles. After spending two hours at Nandankanan zoo, we came out of the gate. We bought some water pouches and a bottle. Then we boarded the bus.
 |
| Udayagiri Caves |
 |
| Khandagiri Jain Temple |
 |
| Dhauli Shantistupa |
Continued to Visit to Puri, Bhubaneswar and Chilika (Part - 3)
How to Reach :
From Howrah station, 12837 Howrah-Puri Express departs from Howrah at
22:50 hrs and reaches Puri at 07:30 hrs. 18409 Howrah Puri Sri Jagannath
Express leaves Howrah at 19:00 hrs and reaches Puri at 04:50 hrs. 12821
Dhauli Express leaves Howrah at 06:00 hrs and reaches Puri at 14:30
hrs.
Nearest Airport - Biju Patnaik Airport, Bhubaneswar
Where to Stay :
There are many hotels and holiday homes in Puri. Some of the hotels are listed below.
1. Puri Hotel
2. Pulin Puri Hotel
3. Hotel Sonali
4. Hotel Park
5. Hotel Swapnapuri
6. Toshali Sands
7. Hotel Swarg
8. Fort Mahodadhi
Places of Interest :
The main attraction of Puri is the Jagannath temple. It is also famous for its sea beach. Other attractions include the Gundicha mandir, Chakra Tirtha temple and Shri Lokenath temple. You can also visit the Lingaraj Temple, Konark Temple, Nandankanan Zoo, Chilika lake and Bhubaneswar.
For more information, please contact :
The Managing Director
OTDC Head Office
Panthanivas (Old Block)
Lewis Road, Bhubaneswar-751014
Odisha, India
Nearest Airport - Biju Patnaik Airport, Bhubaneswar
Where to Stay :
There are many hotels and holiday homes in Puri. Some of the hotels are listed below.
1. Puri Hotel
2. Pulin Puri Hotel
3. Hotel Sonali
4. Hotel Park
5. Hotel Swapnapuri
6. Toshali Sands
7. Hotel Swarg
8. Fort Mahodadhi
Places of Interest :
The main attraction of Puri is the Jagannath temple. It is also famous for its sea beach. Other attractions include the Gundicha mandir, Chakra Tirtha temple and Shri Lokenath temple. You can also visit the Lingaraj Temple, Konark Temple, Nandankanan Zoo, Chilika lake and Bhubaneswar.
For more information, please contact :
The Managing Director
OTDC Head Office
Panthanivas (Old Block)
Lewis Road, Bhubaneswar-751014
Odisha, India
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