About the City
Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Orissa, has to its credit a huge total of
500 temples even today. Known as the 'Temple City of India', it was once
home to around 7,000 such shrines. A dozen out of 500 reflect the brilliance
of the Orissan style of architecture. What is most interesting is the fact
that these temples, dominating the city skyline, are located within
reasonable walking distance from one another.
Climate Check
Summers are hot with temperature reaching a maximum of 40 degrees
centigrade. Winters, however, are pleasant with temperature hovering around
16 degrees. October to March is the ideal time to visit this city of
temples.
Attractions Around
Lingaraj
Temple
The 54-metre-high spire of the temple dominates the Bhubaneswar landscape.
Dedicated to Lord Lingaraj (Shiva), the temple is set in a walled compound,
with the Lingaraj being surrounded by many smaller shrines. During February/
March, the Shivratri festival is celebrated here with great fervour, pulling
in thousands of pilgrims from all across the country.
Parsuramesvera Temple
The Parsurameswara Temple, one of the oldest in Bhubaneswar, has a history
dating back to the 7th century. The temple occupies a position close to the
main Bhubaneswar-Puri road. This best preserved ancient temple has elaborate
bas reliefs of elephant/ horse processions and Shiva images.
Rajarani Temple
Set in the midst of well-laid-out gardens, the Rajarani Temple presents
some erotic carvings of women and couples. The temple is counted among some
of the best temples of the city. However, this 11th century temple is no
longer in use for worship.
Mukteswar Temple
Lying close to the Prsuramesvera Temple, this 10th century temple is like a
gem in the rich tapestry of Orissan architectural history. Particularly
interesting are the beautiful carvings of dwarfs. Figures of female
warriors, maids, elephants and monkeys can be observed on the walls of the
temple. A large green temple tank within the premises of the temple is yet
another attraction here.
Khandagiri & Udayagiri Caves
These Jain caves, belonging to the 2nd century BC, are a window to the life
and times of the Jain ascetics. They give an idea of the development of the
sculptural art in the 2nd century. Khandagiri has to its credit 19 caves
while Udaigiri has a total of 44.
Reaching
The Bhubaneswar Airport (3 km from city centre) connects the city to almost
all the major destinations of the country. There are regular flights to
Delhi, Kolkata, Vishakhapatnam, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Chennai and Mumbai. The
railway station is located in the heart of city and there are a number of
superfast trains connecting the city to different parts of the country.
