Bhubaneswar - konark -udayagiri

Please can anyone help me ?

If I leave Bhubaneswar by taxi at 6am to the Sun Temple in Konark, where I believe that I will need about three hours to look around and take photos.

If I then go to Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves near Bhubaneswar, is this possible in the same day or will I not have enough time ?

How much would the taxi cost ?

Thank you

Hi
This is quite possible in one day...first half you visit Sun Temple..return back to bhubaneswar ..take your lunch ..Then go to Udaygiri & Khandagiri.Though I don't have idea about taxi fare.

Hi Don
It is possible to do Bhubaneswar and Konark in one day, either you go to Udaigiri and Khandgiri in morning and proceed to Konark at about 12PM, reach Konark at 1.30, take photographs till 4-5 PM and return to BBSR in evening. It will be very hot during daytime, always keep water and a cap with you. If you have time , why do not you go to Puri beach near Konark.

I was staying at Puri in the first week of March 2011, I booked a Indica AC taxi for Bhubaneshwar, went to a Buddhist Stupa,Lingaraj Temple, Udaigiri and could not go to Khandagiri because it was very hot that time around 1 PM, I told my driver to proceed towards Konark, took lunch in a Hotel namel Vithal Kamat near Pipli on Bhubaneshwar Konark highway and reached Konark at about 2.30 PM, Temple is East facing, could not take better front pictures of The Temple, took pictures from southern side as light was falling from southern side , was there till 5 PM, took pictures from west side also and returened to Puri in one hour.

Taxi cost was Rs 1500.

If are a pro photographer and want to take good pictures, it is better to stay one night at Konark, there is guest house run by Orissa Govt at Konark.
I have taken a lot of pictures there, I have to shortlist them ,I will post some pictures soon.
My best wishes and a very good journey to you.

Thanks & Regards
Alok



7

Many thanks Grupai and Alok for your advice and good wishes

You might also want to check out Dhauli ... You can see it in 1/2 hr ... It's between Konark and Bhubaneswar ... Here is a link to a relevant post from my blog http://10yearitch.com/travel/photo-p...dhauli-orissa/

You can go through it and see if you think it might be worth a stop ...

My 2 cents ... check Konark first. It is more popular with the domestic tourists ... Hence can get busy later during the day ...
plus early morning is better for pics

if you are an avid photographer & a history buff, this is what i would suggest for konark:
- leave bhubaneswar around 3-3:30PM & reach konark by 5PM.
- visit the sun temple with a guide, who can cover the major story in 1-1.5 hrs.
- then the temple is lit up after sunset & you can click snaps at leisure (almost upto 8PM).
- stay at yatrinivas or panthanivas for the night
- get up early in the morning 5-5:30AM & reach the sun temple before sunrise (ticket counter opens around 6AM, but check the night before to be sure)
- have a relaxed tour & photography session before it gets hot & the day visitors start pouring in (aroung 10AM onwards)
- finally visit the ASI museum (next to yatrinivas) for a crowd-free experience of history
- return back to bhubaneswar post lunch
* the only drawback is buying sun temple tickets twice, which might bite, if you are paying foreigner fare...

If we take a car (sumo)from puri for nandankanan and konark temple how much will it cost.We want to start around noon and visit konark at evening and back to puri within 7-8p.m

Hi himalayantrekker

Nandankanan is in Bhubaneswar and is near about 60km away from Puri and Konark is 34 km from Puri . If you are going late afternoon you will be only able to cover Konark Temple or visit Nandankanan Zoo and return back to Puri .Either way you can coverr only one ,not the both and reach back Puri by 8pm . Konark Temple you can cover in 2 hours and will suggest to go the chandrabhaga Beach some 15 mins away from the Temple during evening .
To reach Nandankanan Zoo it will take 3 hours to reach Bhubaneswar and some more 2 hours to cover whole of zoo .So taking in the Lunch break and stoppage on route add some more 1 hrours to it . About the Sumo taxi you can reserved at Rs 2500 max. But can easily try your luck on quick on spot bargain .

If you require any more info i will be happy to share , for I am a native to this place .

to answer himalayantreker -

puri travel organizers provide standard package like this -

duration - 7 am to 7 pm,
route would be the following or the reverse

1.start from puri at morning
2. konark (1 to 2 hrs stay)
3. pipli (the shops are on both side or road, you can stop your car and take photo, driver don't like to stop for more than 5 minutes)
4. dhauli
5. udaigiri and khandagiri
6. lingaraj
7. nandan kanan

ac tavera or tata sumo will cost RS 1800-2000 .

this is standard package but too much places to cover in a single day, you have to hurry everywhere. nandan kanan closes at 5 pm , tell the driver to reach nandan kanan early and visit lingaraj and konark later because they are open till 8 pm.

all drivers stops for breakfast and lunch in two specific eateries because they provide free food to the driver, but these eateries are always full with tourists and takes time to serve, tell the driver to stop at other eateries and you will pay for his food.

Thanks commando, actually we want to see konark temple during sunset and at evening.Are you in Puri or bhubaneswar?
@kmahaldar, thanks for your info, actually we want to skip other places except nandankanan & konark.
Is the rate of sumo latest? Do you know anyone who gives car on hire?

I am actually from Rourkela city . But lived in Bhubaneshwar for some time and have frisked the city extensively . Its been quiet a time i have visited BBSR for i am now based at Pune for last 3 years.

No need to worry much on the reserved Taxi Prices .People there easily understands Hindi and are humble and cooperative .You will easily find the best bargain there on spot at Puri .Prepaid Taxi rate chart was around Rs8-9/km(Don't know of current ongoing rate,after the steep hike in Fuel charges :| )

It seems you are so eager to cover the two places you mentioned in a single day . Then i will suggest you to be little flexible with your time . Ready to start at least some two hours early i.e at around 9-10 am .Head first toward Bhubaneshwar. You will reach Nandankanan Zoo at around 12pm and take 2 hours for roaming around .Post lunch you can head back to Konark and you can reach there well during sunset hours. Will be tiring one though

FYI, Nandankanan Zoo remains closed on Monday and during working days zoo closes at 4.00pm .So plan your travel accordingly.

Is the marine drive road leading to Puri from Konark safe to drive after dark, in case I decide to stay at Konark up to eight at the evening? Is there any security issue, if I decide to return to Puri slightly later than usual? I am asking because I may be to only male member in my car, accompanied by my wife and daughter. A response from any knowledgeable person shall be very helpful.

Rahul

I drove on this road a bit after sunset and found it to be utterly desolate. While i cant speak for the security situation there's a practical problem of the road not being lit at all (and since it isnt divided, any incoming traffic losing control can be dangerous). The reflector lines painted on the trees on either side are very good though. Please check my trip report and call up the labanya lodge caretaker and he may be able to help ?

Not a very convincing answer but this is all that i can think of at this point of time.

Vaibhav

I eventually drove late next morning and even then there was nearly zero traffic on the road.

I am actually from Rourkela city . But lived in Bhubaneshwar for some time and have frisked the city extensively . Its been quiet a time i have visited BBSR for i am now based at Pune for last 3 years.

No need to worry much on the reserved Taxi Prices .People there easily understands Hindi and are humble and cooperative .You will easily find the best bargain there on spot at Puri .Prepaid Taxi rate chart was around Rs8-9/km(Don't know of current ongoing rate,after the steep hike in Fuel charges :| )

Thank you for your informations.Yes, I'm eager to cover both in a day because I have visited those places more than once and I only like to visit Konark at evening,but my friends and their wives want to visit the zoo. Ok we will start early.

Thanks for the information, Vaibhav. You are spot on. But I am not much worried about driving in undivided and unlit roads at night. What concerns me more is that the road being utterly desolate, security may be somewhat a concern, specially when I shall be accompanied only by my wife and daughter.
Thanks again. Any contact number? How far is this lodge from the Sun temple and what is the room rent?