Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, May 20:

As the sky pours down little drops of joy and washes down the dust and grime, making everything look clean and wet, you know monsoon is here reviving everything and giving it all a fresh start. Though, monsoon makes the roads slippery and to top it, there are traffic jams on narrow streets and busy junctions. But it’s not really as bad as it sounds, because Odisha Sun Times brings to you five idyllic monsoon destinations near Bhubaneswar that you can visit.

  1. Marine drive

Photo courtesy: Prasant's photography Photo courtesy: Prasant's photography

Puri-Konark Marine Drive is quite a serene road and it's just a few hours away from Bhubaneswar. Clean, well-constructed roads with low traffic, almost no pollution and sea alongside the road is what makes it just perfect for a long drive. Some good music and great company of friends or that special someone: what more can one ask for?

Distance from Bhubaneswar: 67 km

Photo Courtesy: Amit Jana PhotoSutra Photo Courtesy: Amit Jana PhotoSutra

Photo Courtesy: Pratik Prasenjit Das Photo Courtesy: Pratik Prasenjit Das

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2. Naraj

Photo Courtesy: Anurag Das Photography Photo Courtesy: Anurag Das Photography

Naraj is a picturesque spot on the outskirts of Cuttack and is famous for the scenic view of the river Mahanadi at the origin of its branch, Kathajodi. The site, which gives a panoramic view of the vast expanse of the river Mahanadi, is also frequented by devotees for      offering prayers at the temple of Lord Sidheswar nearby.

Distance from Bhubaneswar: 26 km

Photo Courtesy: Dipankar Ojha Photo Courtesy: Dipankar Ojha

Photo Courtesy: Smikash Mohapatra Photo Courtesy: Smikash Mohapatra

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3. Paradip

Photo Courtesy: weekenddestinations.info Photo Courtesy: weekenddestinations.info

Paradip, the beautiful port town is located in Jagatsinghpur district of Odisha. Being situated on the Bay of Bengal, Paradip is a witness to the Mahanadi river flowing into the Bay of Bengal. With ships docking on the ports, it provides for a scenic view.

Distance from Bhubaneswar: 106 km

Photo Courtesy: Pramod Dhal Photo Courtesy: Pramod Dhal

Photo Courtesy: Tashi Tobgyal Photo Courtesy: Tashi Tobgyal

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4. Chilika lake

Photo Courtesy: Ar Shakti Nanda Photo Courtesy: Ar Shakti Nanda

Queen of natural beauty, Chilika lake, is a great centre of attraction for a monsoon ride. If you are driving down from Bhubaneswar, you can see the fabulous horizon dotted with various birds. There are many places to explore in Chilika, such as Balugaon, Barkul,               Rambha and Satpada and of course, the Kalijai temple. The atmosphere of Chilika is undisturbed amidst the blue expanse of water on one side and an evergreen range of hills on the other.

Distance from Bhubaneswar: 103 km

Photo Courtesy: Pratik Prasenjit Das Photo Courtesy: Pratik Prasenjit Das

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5. Mundali

Photo Courtesy: Ar Shakti Nanda Photo Courtesy: Ar Shakti Nanda

A beautiful picnic spot near Cuttack, Mundali gives an exotic view of the river Mahanadi. Here, you can watch small boats floating around, fishermen waiting for their catch and above all the soaring birds. Vast overcast sky with the soulful sound of birds chirping around on the trees is a view to behold.

Distance from Bhubaneswar: 28 km

Photo Courtesy: Mahesh Kar Photo Courtesy: Mahesh Kar

Photo Courtesy: Pratik Prasenjit Das Photo Courtesy: Pratik Prasenjit Das

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