The city of Bhubaneswar is well-known for its vibrant culture hence there are numerous festivals that are celebrated with great fanfare and enthusiasm.
January and February are also the months when the vibrant and colourful festival of Megha Mela or Fair is held in the city.
The Ashokastami Festival is celebrated in the month of April. This festival is also known as Rath Jatra or Chariot Festival. During the festival, the idol of Lord Lingaraj is placed on a chariot and carried from the main temple to Rameswar temple. The idol is returned after four days.
Lingaraj Temple area is the focus of the Heritage zone but, unfortunately is the most crowded and disorganised area. With the increasing number of visitors the pressure on the area is also increasing, thereby seriously affecting the historic and religious qualities. One of the main causes of temples falling into disrepair is their inaccessibility for the
common visitor. Since the earlier pedestrian routes were upgraded into vehicular routes,the provision of adequate parking facilities have not been made.
Tanks which were once the life line of the populace have become polluted. Bindusagar tank is the most sacred and important tank of the Heritage area with many untapped potentials for public amenity.
The Tanks /Kunds need to be rejuvenated for the ecological system, hygiene of the tourists and pilgrims and religious rituals. Contextually designed gateways can alleviate the problems while adding and interesting urban element. There are more than 25 package tours to Bhubaneswar daily from Puri and many of them do not check into any
lodge since they need no night stay. Instead, they use the available open and roadside areas for all the needs like drying clothes, resting and also cooking. The Old Town areas are fast becoming mere dormitories due to the serious lack of social and public amenities. With the areas getting denser, the present dependence of informal activity around Lingaraj and organized facilities in the new capital cannot be considered adequate.
Temples : Lingaraj, Anant Vasudev, Uttameshwar, Mohini, Mitreshwar, Taleshwar,Papanasi
Tanks/Kunds: Bindusagar Lake, Shoshi Kund, Papanasini Kund, Devi Padhara Kund, Ganga Yamuna Tank, Gouri Tank, Bramha Tank, Meghasvara Kund, Ramakund, Sidhara Kund, Kedara Kund, Kapila Kund, Kotitirtha Sarovara an uniqe historical heritage of exemplary archaeological value. Considering the fact that we have already lost the majority of historic character that once existed in Ekamra Kshetra, preserving what is left is imperative.
Amenities: Bharti Matha, Doodhwala Dharamshala, Shiv Thirth Matha
Most Indian visitors come to see temple town, but have to stay in the new capital.Both the existing Dharamshalas are now more the 80 years old and are always overcrowded. Both the existing Dharamshalas are now more the 80 years old and are always overcrowded. With no economical alternative most of the poor pilgrims tend to use the open roadside areas for their basic needs. There are more than 25 package tours to Bhubaneswar daily from Puri and many of them do not check into any lodge since they need no nightstay. Instead they use the available open and roadside areas for all the needs like drying clothes resting and also cooking.
A total number of 26,848 foreign and 10,44,477 domestic tourists visited Orrisa during the year 1987, and Bhubaneswar alone received 2,36,382 domestic tourists and 11,216 foreign tourists. In 1988, 2,47,604 domestic and 11,975 foreign tourists visited Bhubaneswar recording an increase of 4.8% in the total tourist inflow over the previous year. From statistics we understand that tourist flow in the recent years is lower than expected, this might be because of the lack of amenities and awareness of yatras.
