Archaeological sites and viewpoints in Odisha

Hidden Gems of Odisha

Explore Odisha’s diverse heritage through the 'Diamond Triangle' of Ratnagiri, Udayagiri, and Lalitgiri, which house ancient Buddhist monasteries and stupas dating back to the 1st century AD. The list also features industrial-era landmarks like the Hirakud Dam observation towers, the 175-meter-high Duduma Waterfall on the Machkund River, and the ancestral ruins of freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai. These sites offer a mix of archaeological significance, princely history, and expansive views of the Eastern Ghats.

Hidden Gems of Odisha — Map

Satit Hotrakitya / CC-BY-SA

A

Kings Palace

A hilltop viewpoint offering panoramic vistas of the Brahmani River and the surrounding landscape near the historic town of Talcher.

Satit Hotrakitya / CC-BY-SA

B

Udayagiri Buddhist site

Part of the Diamond Triangle, this archaeological site features a large brick stupa, a stepped stone well, and numerous rock-cut Buddhist sculptures dating from the 1st to 13th centuries.

Satit Hotrakitya / CC-BY-SA

C

Lalitgiri Buddhist site

The oldest Buddhist complex in Odisha, known for its massive stupa where sacred bone relics were discovered and its sophisticated ancient apsidal chaitya architecture.

Satit Hotrakitya / CC-BY-SA

D

Ratnagiri Buddhist site

A major center of Tantric Buddhism featuring a magnificently carved green chlorite doorway, two large monasteries, and hundreds of votive stupas.

E

Duduma waterfall

A 175-meter-high waterfall on the Machkund River. It is situated in the Eastern Ghats and powers one of the region's oldest hydroelectric projects.

F

Gandhi Minar

An observation tower at the Hirakud Dam providing a 360-degree view of the reservoir, the world's longest earthen dam, and the surrounding hills.

G

Nehru Minar

A hilltop observation point at the Hirakud Dam offering expansive views of the Mahanadi River and the dam's engineering works.

H

Raja Surendra Sai Palace

The ancestral home and ruins associated with the 19th-century freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai, located in the village of Khinda.

I

Kaptipada Palace

Kaptipada estate was one of the princely states of India during the period of the British Raj.

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