Bhubaneswar city tour & Konark Sun Temple: Private car with guide

Follow five centuries of stone carvings across Odisha's sacred sites

A nine-hour private tour of Bhubaneswar visiting Dhauli Hill, Konark Sun Temple, Khandagiri and Udayagiri caves, and Raja Rani Temple, with an English-speaking guide, hotel pickup and lunch. The route traces Buddhist and Hindu architecture from the 2nd century BC through the 13th century, stopping at each site long enough to walk the grounds and read the carved details.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Dhauli Hill45m · entry included
2. Khandagiri Caves1h · entry included

Bhubaneswar and Konark sightseeing

• Visit Dhauli battle site and Ashoka edicts
• See Shanti Stupa Peace Pagoda
• Drive to Konark Sun Temple
• Explore Khandagiri and Udayagiri caves
• Visit Raja Rani Temple sculptures

The experience

The tour starts at Dhauli Hill at 8 AM, where Emperor Ashoka fought a decisive battle in 260 BC and then renounced war after witnessing the bloodshed. You'll see Ashoka's edicts carved into rock in the ancient Brahmi script, and the Peace Pagoda built in 1972 by a Japanese-Indian collaboration. From there the drive heads to Konark, where the Sun Temple rises as a colossal stone chariot with seven horses and twelve wheels: each wheel pair at the base functions as a working sundial that marks the hours. The temple was built in the 13th century by King Narasimhadeva and earned the nickname "Black Pagoda" among early European sailors.

After Konark, you visit Khandagiri and Udayagiri caves, ancient dwelling cells carved for Jain ascetics in the 2nd century BC during the reign of King Kharavela. An 18th-century Jain temple sits at the top. The day ends at Raja Rani Temple, an 11th-century structure built from reddish and yellow sandstone and known for its detailed sculptures of women in Odissi dance poses and everyday moments. The tour wraps at 6:30 PM.

Your private car and English-speaking guide stay with you throughout. Hotel pickup and drop-off, lunch and all taxes are included in the price. The itinerary suits all fitness levels, though you'll be walking at each site to view the carvings and architectural details up close.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• private car for the full day.
• professional English-speaking guide.
• lunch.
• all taxes and fees.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to14h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by 5 Senses Walks

Is this one for you?The nine-hour span means you cover five major sites in one day without doubling back, so the route fits a single day in Bhubaneswar. A private car lets you move at your own pace between stops and spend as long as you want at each temple or cave.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What is the Konark Sun Temple and why is it shaped like a chariot?

The Konark Sun Temple was built in the 13th century by King Narasimhadeva and designed as a colossal chariot with seven horses and twelve wheels to carry the sun god Surya across the heavens. The twelve pairs of wheels at the base are not decorative. They form a working sundial that tells time.

What will I see at Dhauli Hill?

Dhauli Hill is the site of Emperor Ashoka's battle in 260 BC. You'll see his edicts carved into rock using the ancient Brahmi script and Prakrit language, a rock-cut elephant sculpture (one of the oldest in India), and the Peace Pagoda built in 1972.

Are the Khandagiri and Udayagiri caves difficult to reach?

Khandagiri and Udayagiri are ancient cave dwellings carved for Jain ascetics in the 2nd century BC. An 18th-century Jain temple sits at the top of the caves. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, though you will walk to view the carved details.

What makes Raja Rani Temple distinctive?

Raja Rani Temple, built in the 11th century, is famous for its unique sculptures of women carved in reddish and yellow sandstone. The sculptures show women performing Odissi, the traditional dance form of Odisha, as well as in everyday life moments.

Does the tour include meals?

Lunch is included in the tour price. Drinks are not included.