Why I like Bhubaneswar

When I told my friends I was living in Bhubaneswar, I could almost see the question marks on their faces. Why would I not choose larger cities like Delhi, Mumbai or Bangalore that have better facilities as well as opportunities? What did Bhubaneswar have to offer? Did I not get bored with the ho-hum life here?

I have to admit, I had my own doubts when I first moved here. The reviews of my peers weren't inspiring. Besides, I had lived the better part of my life in more developed cities and generally preferred all the glamour associated with metros. It took me all of eight months (the length of my stay at the time of writing) to realize what a gem this city was.

While most religious folks would immediately consider the ubiquity of temples in and around Bhubaneswar as its major selling point, I being somewhat more laid back about religion will have to differ. Obviously, the temples are amazing. Tourists throng from all corners of the country as well as globe to admire the beautiful temples. I have visited the Sun temple several times but still cannot get enough of its graceful architecture. However, there is more to Bhubaneswar than its temples or proximity to Jagganath Puri.

For one, this place is really clean. Of course there are cluttered slums and occasional potholes but in general if you were to compare it to other important cities in India, Bhubaneswar wins by a huge margin in cleanliness. The pollution levels are low which means you actually get to breathe clean air most of the times. Also, rarely is a heap of trash visible near residential buildings. The government here has taken pains to ensure hygienic conditions and it shows in the dearth of dirty areas in the city.

There is a decided attempt to build good roads throughout the place. Sturdy footpaths are built that make life for pedestrians much easier. Not many smaller Indian cities can claim this as most have a rather blotchy and poor road construction history. Pretty little shops are constructed along the road and open vending is discouraged on road side. This gives a neat and organized look to the city.

There is a lot of greenery. That maybe because of the vast lands still not industrialized but it does make Bhubaneswar a very healthy place to live in. I can actually see a sea of trees from my apartment and that when I live in the center of the city. I think all this green is doing wonderful things to my overall well being, so it certainly earns many brownie points over green free cities.

Since Bhubaneswar is still rather traditional in comparison to the rapidly modernizing India, no blatant symbols of modern entertainment as multiplexes, malls or Mac Donald are to be seen here. I am too used to these to concede that I do not miss their absence, but, as if to compensate, the city has some of the best restaurants at incredibly affordable prices. Every weekend I go out with my hubby for a tasty retreat in these five star restaurants and I am certainly not complaining. What better way to spend weekends than not cook, eat in a classy place and still not pinch your pocket?

With its peaceful life, friendly people, excellent craft fairs and lack of crowds, Bhubaneswar stands out among other big cities. In a nutshell, if you do not mind traffic free roads and noise free joints, this is the place for you!