A Roadtrip to Daringbadi – Everything You Need to Know About the Kashmir of Odisha

When traveling to Odisha, the first thing that comes to your mind is its famous temples or sea beaches. But Odisha has many more things to offer. Many don’t know that Odisha has a hill station of its own which is fondly known as the ‘Kashmir of Odisha’.

Yes, I am talking about Daringbadi, a hill station situated at an altitude of 3000 feet, in the Kandhamal district of Odisha. Daringbadi is a quaint place covered with pine forests and prolific green valleys that are covered with clouds during monsoons. It is the only knowing place in Odisha where the temperature drops to zero degrees and sometimes receives snowfall in extreme winter.

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A Glimpse into the Artworks of Raghurajpur Village in Odisha

When you enter any of the hotels in Puri, the first thing your eyes will land on is traditional Pattachitra paintings of Lord Jagannath with his siblings Balaram and Subhadra. Most of these paintings come from a tiny artisan village called Raghurajpur.

Raghurajpur is a heritage crafts village on the banks of the Bhargavi river in Puri district of India, well known for producing some of the finest Pattachitra artworks in the country. Pattachitra is a traditional form of cloth-based scroll painting based in the Indian states of Odisha and West Bengal.

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The Magnificent Sun Temples of the World

Sun God or Goddess has been worshiped throughout the World in various forms by various civilizations. Solar deity or Sun is perceived as the storehouse of inexhaustible power and radiance and is often worshiped during the harvesting months.

Many temples dedicated to worship Sun have been built in recorded history of mankind where Sun God is typically depicted riding seven horses on a chariot, representing the seven colors of a rainbow. There are even some temples enshrining the Sun God as the principal deity. Many of these shrines have been designed in such a way that the sun’s rays illuminate the sanctum on certain days of the year.

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15 Photos to Inspire You to Visit Bhutan

Bhutan is one of the most unique countries that I have been to. The small Buddhist Himalayan kingdom which has an abundance of nature surrounding it measures its wealth through its citizen’s happiness index (Gross National Happiness) instead of Gross National Product index. Through their continuous efforts, Bhutan sets an environmental benchmark as the only country with zero carbon emission in the World. Here are a few pictures from my trip to Bhutan that will inspire you to visit the land of the thunder dragon – Bhutan.

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Offbeat Travel Destinations in Bangladesh That You Are Missing Out On

Bangladesh is one of the less touristy destinations in the World according to a survey done by the World Bank. It is a hidden gem in Asia, sharing its border with India and Myanmar. With less crowd of tourists, there are no tourism-related scams, relatively less transport cost and locals warm-heartedly welcome foreigners into their land.

I have made a list of offbeat destinations in Bangladesh besides Sundarbans, Dhaka and Cox’s Bazaar that you shouldn’t miss. These places will provide you experiences which are off the beaten tracks and are less crowded. You can easily fly to the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka and travel to each of these spots either in local buses, cabs or trains.

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Why I Miss the City of Joy: Kolkata

I had moved out of my hometown of Kolkata during my college days and once I graduated, I went on to live in Bangalore city due to my work. Even though I visit my family in Kolkata every year, I must admit, there are certain things about the city that I dearly miss. Here is why I miss Kolkata: The City of Joy while living far away from it. It’s my list of things that I believe many others like me miss about Kolkata too.

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A Guide to Spend an Incredible Summer in Italy

Going on a holiday can be thrilling but planning the perfect itinerary before leaving the house can be hectic. To add to everything else, the timing of your trip is an important factor.

People usually tend to make a trip when they have a few days off from work – sounds obvious, right? But if you live in a country with different holiday/peak seasons compared to your destination, then you should carefully evaluate the timing.

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