The Sun Temple at Konark once acted as a beacon for sailors for nearly a millennium, while the great and architecturally astonishing temples of Bhubaneshwar and Puri have drawn pilgrims by the millions. Meanwhile, holidaymakers have long enjoyed Puri’s broad, sandy beaches. Over 2,000 years ago, the fertile delta on which Bhubaneshwar stands witnessed one of the most significant battles in India’s history, when Emperor Ashoka – having conquered his Kalingan opponents – converted to Buddhism and laid the foundations for one of the great empires of world history. This journey brings together temple architecture, living pilgrimage traditions, and idyllic coastline, with an optional extension to the unspoilt shores of Gopalpur on Sea.