Blissful Temples in Bhubaneswar for a Serene Pilgrimage

The Lingaraj Temple is an ancient temple situated in the city of Bhubaneswar and is the largest one situated in the city. Dedicated to Lord Shiva as the name suggests, the temple was built in the 7th century by King Jajati Keshari. It is highly revered because of the fact that the Shivalanga here, a manifestation of Lord Shiva, is believed to have appeared naturally. It rises to a massive height of 8 inches above the floor level and is about 8 feet in diameter as well. Lingaraj Temple is located in the old part of Bhubaneswar Town and can be easily reached using local transport.

Timings : 5:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Time Required : 1-2 hours

Entry Fee : Free

Built by the ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) in 1991, this temple serves as an alternative to Lord Jagannath temple of Puri as that temple is restricted to Indians. This temple is believed to offer abode to Lord Jagannath himself.

Constructed in 650 A.D. this temple is a unique specimen of Oriyan style of architecture. The most special feature of this temple is the presence of one thousand lingas in the north-west corner of the complex. Besides this, it is adorned with beautiful carvings of Lord Ganesha, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

A popular 11th-century Hindu temple that can be found in Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha, in India; the Raja Rani Temple is locally known as the 'love temple' because it contains some sensuous carvings of women and couples. No images can be found inside the sanctum, and hence the temple is not associated with any particular sect of Hinduism. This is perhaps exactly where the charm of the temple comes from: the temple belongs to no specific sect and is open to all people irrespective of the deity that they worship and admire.

The Brahmeshwara Temple is yet another relic of the brilliance of Oriyan style of architecture. Built in the 11th century, this temple is surrounded by four smaller shrines. The main shrine in this temple is that of a Shivalingam and there are also sculptures of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati alongside. Famous for its beautiful carvings, it attracts a lot of pilgrims throughout the year.

Mukteswara Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is a 10th century temple and presents a quintessential example of the longevity of the Kalinga style of architecture. This temple has stood the test of time and still stands 35 feet tall in all its glory and charm. This temple has beautiful sculptures and carvings depicting the various Panchatantra stories.

Ram Mandir is a stunning temple dedicated to Lord Rama, his consort, Goddess Sita and his beloved brother, Lord Lakshmana. Other than religious reasons, the architectural beauty of the temple attracts tourists in large numbers. The spires on the temple shikharas can be spotted from various locations in the city.

Located near the mesmerising River Narmada, Chausath Yogini Temple is a 10th century ancient temple that resembles the temple in Khajuraho. It was built during the Kalachuri Kingdom. The presiding deity is Goddess Durga. The temple follows the Yogini culture in India with about 70 Yoginis residing in the temple.

One of the eight Asthasambhu Temples, Kedar Gauri Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Gauri. Some locals also believe that the temple is dedicated to a couple with the names Kedar and Gauri. The attraction is, however, famous for the annual procession held to commemorate the marriage of Shiva and Parvati. This process starts from Lingaraja and goes on all the way till Kedar Gauri Temple.

Dedicated to Goddess Chamunda, Vaital Deul Temple is an 8th century structure built in the Khakara style. A unique feature of the structure is the set of three spires on the top of the shrine. It is also locally called the Tini Mundea Deula. The architecture includes stunning stone sculptures of Hindu Gods and Goddesses and intricate decorative carvings that are a treat to the eyes.

Bhaskareswara Temple is a 7th century ancient Shiva Temple with a nine feet tall Shivalinga. A unique feature of the temple, apart from the size of the Shivalinga, is the architecture of the shrine that resembles a Buddhist Stupa. It is believed that the temple has been built after destroying the stupa. Religiously important, Bhaskareswara Temple has been mentioned in the sacred texts of Vrihalingam.

Yameshwer Temple is an ancient Hindu Temple located in Bharati Matha, Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The temple's architecture dates it back to be built in around the 13th Century. The temple is built with marbles and sandstone. The Yamesgwar temple consists of a  mandapam, a big hall and a Parakara. The main festival of the temple is the Jiuntia or Puajiutia festival which is also called Dwitvahana osha falling in Ashwin (seventh month of the Hindu calendar). Other festivals celebrated within the temple are Shivaratri and Kartik Purnima. The temple is believed to be built during the existence of Eastern Ganga Dynasty with Rekha Deula style architecture that attracts devotees from all over the country. The temple timings are:
Morning - 6:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Evening - 3:00 PM – 8:30 PM
The temple is very close to the local bus stop. It is 5km from Bhubaneswar railway station and 4kms away from the airport.

As the name suggests, The Vishnu Temples is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple is located on the eastern bank of Bindu Sagar, Talabazar, Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The temple is believed to be built in 12th Century AD, with Rekha Deul architecture. Kartiki Purnima, Tulsi Vivah and Diwali, are some of the major festivals celebrated in the temple. The temple has various wall carvings and scriptures that dictate Lord Vishnu stories and mythologies. The best time to visit the place is in the months from March to October.

The Megheswar temple is located on the Tankapani road in the city of Bhubaneshwar. The temple was built by the Ganges Dynasty in the 12th century AD. This ancient temple is very popular for its beautiful architecture. The temple complex houses a Vimana, Jagamohana, and Sapta Ratha. It also houses idols of Ganesha, Parvati and Kartikey. The temple has many shrines and stone engravings that provide a lot of information about the time when it was built. It is one of the most beautiful temples of Odisha. The major festivals celebrated here are Shivaratri. The temple enjoys thousands of devotees and pilgrims all year round. The temple is located close to Bhubaneswar airport and railway station

Nageswara Temple is an abandoned Hindu temple located in the village of Bhubaneswar. The temple does not have a prime deity within the complex. However, according to the wall inscriptions in the temple, it is believed that the temple was dedicated to Lord Shiva. The entire structure is built with sandstone. The temple was once an architectural marvel however after renovation, it has lost a lot of its beauty. The temple has Kalinga style architecture however the locals believe that the temple was built by Kesharis. Although the temple is known to be abandoned, it sees visitors and is considered a sacred place by Shiva devotees. The temple timings are:

Morning 6:00 AM to Evening 9:00 PM