“City of Temples” is another name given to the city of Bhubaneshwar in Odisha that attracts a lot of tourists not only from the country but all over the world. The temples in Bhubaneswar are the reason why! The name Bhubaneshwar is derived from the Sanskrit name Tribhubaneshwar which means the Lord of three worlds referring to Lord shiva. This is one of the reasons why many of the temples around this place are in reverence to lord shiva.
There are many old temples in and around the city as ancient as between the 8AD-12AD period, during which Saivism was gaining prominence. Explore this article to have a look at the famous temples that are a must-visit in the temple city!
List Of Famous Temples In Bhubaneswar:
1. Lingaraja Temple:
Lingaraj temple is one of the oldest temples located in Bhubaneshwar, where devotees worship Lord Shiva as Harihara, who is a combined form of Shiva and Vishnu. This temple represents the architecture of Kalinga or Deula style, which has four parts- Garbh Griha, Yajna Shala, Bhoga Mandap, and Natyashala. The deity in this temple is worshipped with water, milk, and bhang daily. Daily, around 6000 devotees visit this shrine.
Highlights:
- Temple Address: Rath Rd, Lingaraj Nagar, Old Town, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751002. +91-674-2340105| +91-94392-63655|+91-94370-82440.
- Temple Timings: Temple is open every day from 5 am to 9 pm with a break from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm.
- Dress Code: Devotees must wear traditional attire such as lehenga, saree, kurta pajama, suit, etc.
How to Reach:
- The nearest airport to reach the temple is Biju Patnaik airport which is 3.5 km away.
- Bhubaneshwar rail route is well connected to all the major cities in India.
- Baramunda bus stand is the nearest one to this temple, which is 9 km away.
Visit Duration: It takes 20-30 minutes to complete the visit.
Festivals and The Best Time to Visit:
- Shivaratri, Chandanyatra, Rathayatra, Sunian day are some of the prominent festivals celebrated in this temple.
- Mondays and Shivaratri give you a magnificent look at the temple.
Other Attractions Near the Temple:
- Dhauli Giri hills, Ekamra heritage walls, Ratnagiri Buddhist excavation, and Ashokan rock edict are some of the places you can visit.
2. Ram Mandir:
This Ram Mandir is located at the heart of Bhubaneshwar, and it is filled with graphic images of Lord Rama, Lord Lakshmana, and Goddess Sita. There are also shrines for other deities for Lord Hanuman, Lord Shiva, and other gods and goddesses. The timings of the temples may vary on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Another highlighting feature of this temple is the morning aarti, which attracts many tourists.
Highlights:
- Temple Address: Naka Gate Chowk, Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751030.
- Temple Timings: The temple is open on all days from 6:30 am to 9:30 pm.
- Dress Code: There is no specific dress code.
How to Reach:
- You can board bus no. 333 and halt at Naka Gate stop. Another option is to get into bus nos. 405, 423, and get down at the world stop.
Visit Duration: It takes around 30 minutes, including travel time.
Festivals and The Best Time to Visit:
- Rama Navami, Vivaha Panchami, Janmashtami, Dussehra, Shivaratri, and Pana Sankranthi are some of the major festivals celebrated in this temple.
- An annual fair is celebrated on the eve of Raksha Bandhan.
- Morning aarti is very beautiful and attracts a lot of devotees.
Other Attractions Near The Temple:
- Mangalajodi, Museum of Tribal Arts & Articrafts, Mukteshwara Temple, Udayagiri caves, Biju Patnaik Park, Nandankanan Zoo park are some of the attractions surrounding the temple.
3. Mukteshvara Temple:
Mukteshwara temple is located in Bhubaneshwar and is built in the tenth century. It displays a perfect blend between architecture and sculpting. The deity here is Lord Shiva and is referred to as Mukteshwara meaning “God Of Freedom.” The prominent feature of this temple is the Torana or the arch that is elaborately decorated with ornates of beautiful women and other intricate designs. This temple displays influence from Kalinga architectural style.
Highlights:
- Temple Address: Kedar Gouri Ln, Old Town, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751002.
- Temple Timings: The temple is open from 7 am to 7 pm on all days.
- Dress Code: Although there are no dress code restrictions, it is better to wear traditional clothes.
How to Reach:
- Bhubaneshwar airport is the nearest airbase connecting to all major cities and is just 3 km away from the temple.
- Bhubaneswar railway station is the nearest rail route connecting you to all the major cities.
- Odisha state road transport corporation connects the city to all the other major cities.
Visit Duration: It takes around 45 minutes to one hour to visit this temple.
Festivals and The Best Time to Visit:
- Mukuteshwar temple organizes a dance festival during the winter months of October to February that would be fun to attend.
- Bhubaneshwar is pleasant during those months, too, as it gets too hot in summers.
Other Attractions Near The Temple:
- Pokhariput market, Old town market, Lingaraja temple, Saraswathi temple, World shopping mall are some of the places you can visit.
[See More: Famous Temples In Odisha]
4. Rajarani Temple:
Raja rani temple is built in the 11th century and is an ancient one that has erotic carvings all around the temple, attracting a lot of young tourists. It is also popularly known as a love temple by locals because of the depictions on the temples. Another significance of this temple is that it is constructed during the same time as the Jagannath temple in Puri. Although it is not dedicated to any god or goddess, you can find many Saivite influences in the niches.
Highlights:
- Temple Address: Tankapani Rd, near BOI ATM, Kedar Gouri Vihar, Rajarani Colony, Rajarani Temple, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751002.
- Temple Timings: The temple is open on all days between 7 am to 5 pm. It has an entrée fee of Rs.5 for Indians and Rs.250 for foreign tourists.
- Dress Code: There is no specific dress code.
How to Reach:
- Raja rani temple is 4.1 km away from the Bhubaneshwar railway station and 3.3 km away from Biju Patnaik international airport. You can take a cab or an auto to reach the temple.
Visit Duration: It takes one to two hours to visit the place.
Festivals and The Best Time to Visit:
- The temple inside the complex organizes a Raja rani music festival every year that focuses on all kinds of classical music such as Hindustani, Carnatic, and Odissi.
- October to November is the ideal time of the visit.
Other Attractions Near The Temple:
- Dhauligiri Shanti Stupa, Isckon temple, Udaygiri caves, Vaital deul temple, and Ekamra Kanan are some of the places you can visit.
5. Ananta Vasudeva Temple:
Located in Bhubaneshwar, the Anantha Vasudeva temple is constructed in the 13th century and is dedicated to Lord Krishna, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. There are complete idols of Krishna, Balarama, and Subhadra. This temple bears a lot of resemblance to the famous Lingaraja temple, but it also includes Vaishnavite sculptures. The idols in garbhagriha are made up of black granite stone rather than wood.
Highlights:
- Temple Address: Gouri Nagar, Old Town, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751002
- Temple Timings: It is open on all days from 6:30 am to 7 pm.
- Dress Code: There is no specific dress code.
How to Reach:
- You can reach Bhubaneshwar through air, train, and busways as it is well connected with the major cities. You can take an auto or a cab from the Gowri Nagar bus stop.
Visit Duration: It takes around 30 minutes to visit this temple.
Festivals and The Best Time to Visit:
- Anantha Vasudeva temple is at its best during Janmashtami celebrations with thousands of devotees pouring in. They offer butter, sweets, milk, curd, new clothes, and flowers as offerings to the Lord.
- You can visit this temple all round the year.
Other Attractions Near The Temple:
- Biju Patnaik Park, Ocean world water park, Dhauli Giri hills are some of the places to visit around the temple.
6. Brahma Temple:
It is a temple built in honor of Lord Brahma when he attended the coronation of Lingaraja Deva. It is located on the banks of the Bindusagar river. The main temple depicts the Kailangan style from the 15th century, and the present temple is built during the rule of Gajapati rulers. This temple features an image of four-handed Brahma made out of black chlorite holding water vessel and Veda in two upper hands, Abhaya mudra in lower two hands.
Highlights:
- Temple Address: Bindu Sagar Rd, Old Town, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751002.
- Temple Timings: This temple is open on all days from 6:00 AM to 1:30 PM and 3:00 PM to 8:30 PM.
- Dress Code: Though there is no specific dress code, it is advised to wear modest clothes.
How to Reach:
- You can reach the Brahma temple through airways and railways and prefer to take an auto to visit the temple.
Visit Duration: It typically takes two hours.
Other Attractions Near The Temple:
- Lingaraj temple is a must-visit. You can enjoy a musical fountain show around the evening.
[See More: Famous Hindu Temples In India]
7. Chintamanisvara Shiva Temple:
Lord Shiva is diety that is offered prayers in Chintamanisvara shiva temple. It is located at the end of Chintamanisvara road towards the west. This temple is enshrined with a shiva lingam with yoni pitha that is built in the 14th century by Kesharis. Many people perform thread ceremonies and marriage ceremonies in the premises of this temple.
Highlights:
- Temple address: Chintamanishwar, Chintamanishwar Rd, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751006
- Dress Code: There is no specific dress code.
How to Reach:
- You can achieve this temple in an auto-rickshaw.
Festivals and The Best Time to Visit:
- Shivaratri, Shiva Vivaha, Jalasaya, Rudrabhisheka are some of the things celebrated with great enthusiasm attracting a lot of tourists from all over the country.
Other Attractions Near The Temple:
- There is a temple tank around the temple where festivals like Karthika Purnima and Sravana Purnima are celebrated here.
8. Parsurameshvara Temple:
Parsurameshvara temple is built in the Shailodbhava period between the 7th and 8th centuries. It is one of the well-preserved temples that is dedicated to Lord Shiva constructed in Nagara style architecture. This temple also has Shakta deity idols and has beautiful depictions of Saptamtrikas. This temple is maintained and administered by the Archeological Survey of India.
Highlights:
- Temple Address: Near Bindu Sagar Pond, Kedar Gouri Vihar, Old Town, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751002
- Temple Timings: The temple is open all week.
- Dress Code: There is no specific dress code.
How to Reach:
- You can take an auto or a car to reach the temple from Bhubaneshwar transport center.
Visit Duration: It takes around one hour to complete the visit.
Other Attractions Near The Temple:
- Raja rani temple, Odisha state museum,
9. ISKCON Temple Bhubaneswar:
ISCKON temple is located at a distance of 6.5 km from the Bhubaneshwar railway station, built in the year 1991 by Srila Prabhupada. It is also the 108th ISCKON temples in the world, attracting a lot of tourists around the world. This temple is the second most visited temple after the Jagannath temple in Puri. It houses the deities of Lord Krishna, Balarama, Gaura Nithai, Subhadra, and Jagannatha. This temple follows the scriptures of Bhagavadgita and Bhagavatham in propagating and educating spiritual knowledge.
Highlights:
- Temple Address: NH-5, Near Krishna Tower, IRC Village, Nayapalli, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751015, India. Phone number:+91 93373 1840
- Temple Timings: It is open on all days of week 8 am to 9 pm.
- Dress Code: Although there is no specific dress code, it is better to wear modest clothes.
How to Reach:
- As it is at a distance of 6.5 km from the Bhubaneshwar railway station, you can visit the temple in an auto or taxi.
Visit Duration: It takes around one hour, including the travel.
Festivals and The Best Time to Visit:
- The ISCKON movement ideology is very prevalent in these temples.
- All the Vaishnav festivals are celebrated grandly.
- The temple also organizes kirtans, pooja, and bhajans regularly, which is also called the Sankeerthana movement.
Other Attractions Near The Temple:
Museum of tribal arts and artifacts, Mangalajodi, Mukteswara temple, Ram mandir are some of the places to visit around the temple.
[See More: Famous Vishnu Temples in India]
10. Brahmeshwar Temple:
It is located in Brahmeshwarapatna, which is 10 km away from the city of Bhubaneshwar. It is a temple built in the 11th century CE to worship Lord Shiva. Brahmeshwara temple has a specialty that lies in the structural formation and architectural design. It is also known for the additional shrines in the four corners of the sanctum that comes under the Panchatanaya temples. A pyramid stone is used to carve out the structures, making it aaa medieval masterpiece.
Highlights:
- Temple Address: Near Tankapani Rd, Siba Nagar, Brahmeswarpatna, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751002.
- Temple Timings: It is open every day from 6 am to 8 pm.
- Dress Code: There is no specific dress code, but it is best to wear traditional attire.
How to Reach:
- This temple is at a distance of 10 km from the city center and is easily accessible by auto or cabs.
Visit Duration: It takes around 30 to 45 minutes to visit this temple.
Festivals and The Best Time to Visit:
- Important rituals for Lord Shiva are performed daily.
- Mahashivaratri is celebrated with great pompous and on a grand scale.
- Winter is the best time to visit as the weather is comfortable in Bhubaneshwar.
Other Attractions Near The Temple:
Udayagiri caves, Mukteshwara temple, Lingaraja temple, Odisha state museum, Dhauli hill, and Nandankanan Zoo park are some of the places to visit around this temple.
Bhubaneshwar, one of the capital cities of the Kalinga dynasty, is known for the architectural structures. Most of the temples are built around the 8th to 12th centuries and are quite old. Temples in Bhubaneshwar are the best religious tourist destinations of India ad the city is filled with a plethora of small and big temples. Go through our list to plan a perfect trip and let us know how the article has helped you! Most of the temples in this city are not open to non-Hindus, so look through before you visit.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers:
Q1. Which City is Known as The City of Temples?
Ans: The capital city of Odisha is Bhubaneshwar, which is commonly known as the “City Of Temples” as the city is filled with temples as old as 1000 years and displays architecture for many centuries. The word Bhubaneshwar means God’s World.
Q2. Who Built The Brahmeshwara Temple?
Ans: The Brahmeshwara temple is situated a kilometer east to the Lingaraja temple. It is built in honor of lord Brahmeshwara in the 9th century by Kolavati Devi, the mother of Somavasi king.
Q3. Can I Take a Camera When I Visit Temples in Bhubaneshwar?
Ans: Cameras and luggage are not allowed into the temple premises. There are lockers available outside all the temples where you can place your valuable belongings.
