BOOKING PREFERENCE FOR PASSENGERS FROM COASTAL ODISHA TO CHHATTISGARH(Only included trains via SBP)
1. 12994 Puri-Gandhidham Weekly SF Exp: This train must be the first priority while booking from Odisha to any state it serves, be it Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra or Gujarat. Cleanliness is excellent, Due to less number of halts and being a weekly train, rush of unreserved passengers in SL is very much low. Though there's no pantry car present, one can opt for IRCTC e-catering at BBS, there are a lot of options available. However, for those who board from the stations beyond BBS should bring their own food from home or better have their dinner and board the train, as it arrives at DNKL/ANGL/TLHD at relatively late hours, beyond...
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dinner time. The only disadvantage about this train is that, it is a weekly train and departs from PURI on Monday so weekend travellers can't take it. Ticket availability is not that great.
2. 22827 Puri-Surat SF Weekly Express: This is train shares the slot of Puri-Gandhidham SF. It has more no. of coaches than 12994 and thus tickets are easily available. As compared to 12994, this train's maintenance is a little bit lower. However, the difference is not that much. During my last trip on this train, the only thing that I didn't like was that the windows in the AC 2-tier were dirty and throughout the journey, they remained unattended. Regarding food, the advice is same as that of 12994.
3. 20813 Puri-Jodhpur SF Weekly Express: This train takes the route via Bilaspur and is the only overnight train to Chhattisgarh on that route. Tickets are easily available and maintenance is great too. However, it runs only on wednesdays. Pantry car is available in this train and the food offered by it is decent. Dinner is served within SBP. They start taking orders after departing DNKL mostly. E-catering can also be opted. For those going on official purposes, this one has the best timings of all as its arrival at Raipur is the earliest of all.
4.22866/12880:Puri-LTT weekly/BBS-LTT bi-weekly: Almost everything is the same about these 2 trains including their slots, so I ranked them jointly. Maintenance is good, tickets are easily available, great for railfanning. However, these are day time trains and that too not on weekends and hence not very useful for those going on official purpose and those preferring overnight travel to CG. Lunch will be served within SBP.
5. 18425 Puri-Durg(Intercity) Express: This is the dedicated train to Chhattisgarh. Maintenance and cleanliness is great. However, it has a large number of halts, after Sambalpur, it halts at almost all the stations. Unreserved passengers do board the SL class. Their presence is significant in S1,S2 and S4, most of them are MST holders. Some unreserved pax may bribe the TTE to board the 3A. However, they are only given the seats, that are vacant and almost no disturbance is caused. Almost all the unreserved pax get down within Sambalpur. Pantry is not available, however IRCTC e-catering can be opted and also one can carry his/her own food. Time table is also quite convenient and being daily is also an advantage.
6. 18405 Puri-Ahmedabad Weekly Express: This is the only LHB train to Chhattisgarh/Maharashtra/Gujarat from Odisha. This train is quite well known by the people of Odisha and thus, tickets are not that easily available within a short time. However, in some UR coaches, flushes of the toilets were not working during my last trip on this one. Another issue about it is that its a weekly and goes on Wednesdays. Pantry car is available on this train and the food offered is fine.
7. 12146 Puri-LTT Weekly SF Express: This train has great maintenance. The only reason for its relatively lower ranking is because of it's late departure from Odisha. So its a no go for those going for official purpose as it arrives at Raipur at noon. Ticket availability is good.
8. 18407/18422 Puri-Sai Nagar Shirdi/Puri-Ajmer Express: They are ranked low in the list because of their very late departure from Odisha. Tickets are easily available in these trains, however these two also arrive at Raipur at noon time.
As I have not travelled by the trains taking the Vizianagaram-Raygada route, I have not included them. Again the trains not going to Raipur are not included as well, these include 14710 Puri-BKN Express, 22910 Puri-BL SF Express and 18507 Hirakud Express, these trains run on basically use the same slot as that of 12880/22866 till Bilaspur. Those going to Bilaspur can consider these trains. However, tickets are not that easily available on 22910.

Good train for GIMB Passengers to NGP/R/SBP/BBS.
1.Problems-
A. Is a weekly train with OK timings at Ahemdabad.
B.Tickets for Gandhidham/Vadodara/Surat passengers to Nagpur/Raipur/Sambalpur / Bhubaneshwar are NOT easily avaliable. Book them 4 month in advance.
C.Pantry...
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Car not avaliable (However E-Catering avaliable at Nandurbar and Sambalpur).
D.Bad timings at Raipur (After Speedup in next TAAG it may be speeded up to reach Raipur by 0100 HRS)
2.Advantages-
A. Fastest connection between Surat-Bhubaneshwar
B.Cleanliness is just superb and Coaches are also newly made.
C.Rush of unreserved passengers is less in SL.
D.In return direction it covers a good amount of delay. (However 12993 reaches its destination delayed by 1.5 HRS).
3.Tips-
A.Carry your own food as on board vendors are also less
B. Book tickets 4 months in advance as RAC Clarence is also difficult in this train (Personal Experience)
C. Passengers could use E-Catering(served at Nandurbar)
D. Reaches its destination (as 12993) with a delay of 1.5 HRS. Return train is little bit good and a good delay coverer.
Thank you.

Located about 7 kms from Bhubaneshwar Station is the 2nd Century BCE Jain Vihara built during the Kalinga period. The rock cut caves are located in the Udayagiri & Khandagiri hills in Bhubaneshwar close to the Airport. There are about 35 caves in the locality, of which Rani Gumpha, Hati Gumpha and Ganesha Gumpha . The Hati Gumpha is also famous for the inscription of King Kharvela and his achievements during his tenure.

The caves also have well sculptured walls of various Jain Monks in meditation as well as various other...
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doorway sculptures