Dhauli is a site worth visiting in Orissa owing to its historical significance related to King Ashoka. Nestled along the banks of River Daya, lying about 8km. to the southern part of Bhubhaneshwar, this place is commonly referred to as Dhauli Hills. This Oriya town is home to many important temples and rock cut caves. It is believed that the famous Kalinga War was fought here. Read on the travel guide for other significant tourist information about Dhauli making evident why hundreds of spiritual and religious minded tourists visit this place every year apart from nature lovers.
The scenic town of Dhauli is located at the Khurda district of Orissa. Languages spoken here are Oriya, Hindi and English. The population residing in the town is heterogeneous. Buddhism is prevalent here with many attractions of Dhauli related to this religion and life of Buddha. Kalinga Mahotsav is a famous festival celebrated annually for 2 days in the first week of February at Peace Pagoda spreading the message of peace. Also known as the National Festival of Martial Dance, this festival showcases popular dance forms of martial art like Kalaripayattu of Kerala, Thang Ta of Manipur, and Chhow and Paika of Orissa.
As per historical documents, Dhauli is the site where the bloody battle of Kalinga was won in 265 BC by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka. Despite achieving the victory, the innate guilt of killing more than 150,000 people and the horror it caused amongst the country men filled Ashoka with extreme regret. His persona changed completely to a human being who left the ways of viole
Dhauli is one of the tourist places in east India offering a wide variety of regional dishes. Rice is the staple food served with different kinds of curries - both vegetarian and non-vegetarian. The favourite snack here is the “aaloo chaap” or potato cutlet. Sweets play a major role in the diet of Oriya people. Kheeri, peethas and rasgulla are some of the most popular dishes tourist should try. There are some decent eateries in Dhauli, though not very high profile ones.
You have ample opportunities to grab some Orissa handicrafts while your visit in Dhauli. The local shops sell lovely stone and wood artefacts, pipli hangings, applique works, and wood paintings.
Sightseeing around Dhauli is a great idea. Once that is over, you can check these places around as mentioned here:
- Bhubaneshwar: With a 30 minutes’ drive, you can reach the capital city of Orissa, Bhubaneshwar. This bustling centre of culture and art has been the heart of former Kalinga Kingdom. There are numerous historic temples and places of interest in the city.
- Chilka Lake: Located in the Puri district, Chilka is one of the world’s largest lagoons. The lake is dotted with several small islands. Being a wetland, Chilka is home to many migratory birds and animals.
- Chandrabhaga Beach: The Chandrabhaga Beach is near the famous Sun temple of Konark and is said to be one of the most picturesque beaches of eastern India. The lighthouse at this beach offers a lovely view during the night.
- Puri: Puri is one of the most visited tourist places in India. Apart from the serene beaches, this place is especially famous for its Jagannath temple and is considered as one of the main pilgrim spots for Hindus. The Ratha Yatra Utsav in Puri is worth a watch.
- Other places of interest around Dhauli are Nandan Kanan National Park,Cuttack, Pipli and Konark.