WELCOME TO BHUBANESWAR

WORLD’S TEMPLE CITY

Bhubaneswar Facts! • Located at: Eastern coast of Orissa, INDIA• Famous for: Beautiful temples PLUS Buddhist and Jain

monuments• Mode of Transport: Road / Rail / Air• Airport: Biju Patnaik Airport• Local Language: Oriya• Other languages: Hindi and English • Temperatures: Temperatures in Bhubaneswar range from

16.45 to 36.9 (Celcius).• Rainfall: Rainfall in Bhubaneswar varies from 15.0 to

1356.0 (mm/month).• Best Time to visit: October to March

Introduction

The capital city of ORISSA popularly called “Temple city”, has a rich history. Once the platform of the glorious ancient kingdom of Kalinga dynasty, it is a perfect fusion of the past and present. One of mankind’s most vicious battles ‘Kalinga war’ was fought near Bhubaneswar, a tragic battle that saddened the famous king Ashoka and transformed him into a man who detested violence and worshipped peace. He attained worldwide fame as an apostle of peace.

Bhubaneswar is replete with numerous historic attractions. At one time, it was home to a thousand temples, many of which are still intact and depicts the proud legacy of the famed Kalinga style of architecture from inception to maturity. Three major religions Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism epitomize the advent and ascendancy of different periods of Orissan history.

Today, it is a vibrant city that throbs with life and is home to some of the finest companies in the world. Its excellent climate, elegant roads and stunning landscape is a veritable delight. It also offers a decent night life and superb hospitality.

Lets Visit

Here We Go!

Sunrise – Somewhere at Bhubaneswar

One Fine Day at The Mastercanteen

Lingaraj Temple(11th century AD) :

• Built in 11th century AD , the Lingaraj temple, presently at state capital Bhubaneswar , is considered as the epitome of Orissa architecture. More than two generations effort and about a century of time spents over to complete this amazing sculpture.Started by king Jajati keshari this was completed by king Lalatendu keshari. Here this scluptures show various aspects of contemporary life and it is really remarkable for the maturity of form and excellence of expression. Touring Orissa , excluiding this great sclptures, implies the tour is incomplete.

• Dedicated to the memory of the great Lingaraja of eleventh century. Located about 5 kms from Bhubaneswar, its remarkable Orissan temple architecture is a stunning attraction. So dazzling is its beauty that it has been described as 'time quintessence of Orissan architecture'. Its impressive height of 54 meters, dominates the skyline for miles around.

Lingaraj temple

Lingaraj temple

Ananta Basudeva

• Situated on the eastern bank of Bindu Sagar Lake, Ananta Vasudeva Temple is one of the few Vaishnavite temples in Bhubaneswar. This 13th century temple is located in a walled compound along with other shrines. The temple is devoted to Krishna, Balarama and Subhadra. Balarama stands under a seven hooded serpent, while Krishna holds a mace and a conch. Thousands of pilgrims visit this temple every year.

• Deities : Lord Vishnu, The temple dates back to the 13th century and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It also enshrines images of Krishna, Balarama and Subhadra. The main temple structure stands on an even platform - unique in itself, as it is the first of its kind. The images of Jagamohana, the Natamandira and the Bhogamandapa are placed in the three other main structure complexes.

Rajarani Temple(11th century AD) :

The compose of the temples is a variety by itself. The structure rising to a height of 17.98 meters in fine grained yellowish sand stone presents a dramatic sequence in temple building activities. Closely clustered with its own miniature replicas or Anga Sikhara projections, Rajarani has family resemblance with Kandariya Mahadeva temple of Khajuraho. The slender waisted life-size figures languorously posed, reflect the artists' realistic appreciation of the wealth of feminine charm a sumptuous feast for the visitor's eye. Historian says Originally the name of the temple was Indreswar.But it is widely famous as Rajarani temple. Rajarani means king and queen. Here the several unique type of stone was used to built this extraordinary sculpture .This is purely an example of the experimental and original tendencies of Orissan architects.

Rajarani Temple

Mukteswar Temple(10th century) :

It is considered as the gem of Orissan architecture in sand stone. Belonging to the 10th century AD; its special features a crucial turning point in the tempo of the Orissan temple architecture. The magnificent arched gateway, the Torana, in the front of the Mukteswar is a unique piece of stonework. The graceful feminine figures in languorous poses are as captivating as the figures of monkeys and royal peacocks on it. For more than 10th centuries this temple has gracefully remained as a standing invitation to hold back the

visitors.

Mukteswar temple(10th century) :

• This distinctive 10th century temple is one of the smallest and most compact, beautifully decorated with intricate carvings. There is a tank inside the compound that is still in use by devotees. Women toss coins into the tank, wishing to cure infertility. The local saint, Lakulisa is carved into the doorway.

• The temple's red sandstone is covered with equisite carvings of lean Sadhus or holy men as well as voluptuous women encrusted with jewels.

• The temples most striking feature is the arched gateway also called Torana dating back to about 900 A.D. and showing the influence of Buddhist architecture. The arched gateway has thick pillars that have strings of beads and other ornaments beautifully carved on statues of smiling women in languorous repose. In the yard stands the Kedareswar Temple with a striking 8 foot statue of Ram Bhakt Hanuman (the monkey God).

•It is considered as the gem of Orissan architecture in sand stone. Belonging to the 10th century AD; its special features a crucial turning point in the tempo of the Orissan temple architecture. The magnificent arched gateway, the Torana, in the front of the Mukteswar is a unique piece of stonework. The graceful feminine figures in languorous poses are as captivating as the figures of monkeys and royal peacocks on it. For more than 10th centuries this temple has gracefully remained as a standing invitation to hold back the visitors.

Mukteswar temple gate

Brahmeswar Temple(11th century) :

Built in 11th century AD, Brahmeswar temple, is a milestone in the temple

architecture of Orissa. The slab-sealing interior is carved as an inverted lotus with serpentine figures at corners. The procession of armed infantry, cavalry and elephants, animals and birds adorn the friezes of the structure.

Brahmeshwar Temple

Daiteswar Temple(10th-11th

Century) :

Daiteswar temple is a single shrine of Rekha deula built with sandstone . The temple faces east and the door-jamb has carved designs. The Outer walls of the temple are found plain and without moulding or designs. From architectural features it is believed that this temple was built in between 10th - 11th century AD. The temple was in a collapsing stage and recently structural conservation and part renovation work was done.

• Constructed in sandstone, Daiteswar Temple is located on the left side of the road leading to Kedargauri Temple from Parsurameswar Temple in Bhubaneswar.

• This east-facing temple is noted for the exquisite carvings on its doors. The outer walls are plain, without any designs. The temple belongs to the 10th or 11th century. Due to age and neglect, the temple was in a dilapidated condition but recently it has been renovated.

Kedareswar Temple(11th Century) :

The architectural features as well the sculptural style noticed on the sculptures of this temple would place it during the Somavamsi rule in Orissa in 11th century AD. This temple is Pancharatha in design and contains a 'Rekha Deula' and a "Pidha Jagamohana". The temple faces south and the height of the sanctum would be about 13.7 meters. This is the main shrine of the Kedar-Gouri Complex, which can be approached on the east from the Lewis Road.

Kedargauri Temple

The temple closely resembles the Siddheshwara Temple and boasts a pancha-ratha sanctum. The jagamohana (a rectangular hall with a sloping terrace) has a three-divisional wall with crowning ornaments, which are found in a developed Orissan temple.

Mohini Temple

The 9 m high Mohini Temple on the south bank of Bindu Sagar bears a close resemblance to the Parashurameswar Temple, on the main Bhubaneswar-Puri road. Mohini literally means the temptress. The presiding deity is Goddess Chamunda, a ten armed tantric incarnation of Goddess Kali. The dancing icon of the goddess is there in the inner sanctum. A six-armed image of Mahishasuramardini is presented as lying on the floor of the Jagamohana, the prayer hall. Though unfinished in appearance, the temple has the images of Parvati, Kartikeya and Ganesh and carved wooden ceilings.

Parsurameswar Temple

• Parashurameswar Temple, built in 650 AD, is one of the oldest temples existing in Bhubaneswar. A typical example of the Orissan style of temple architecture, the temple features pine spire curving up to a point over the sanctum and the pyramid-covered Jagamohana, where people sit and pray.

• Small but richly decorated shrine of Lord Shiva, the Parashurameswar Temple has sculptures of amorous couples, animals and floral designs. The windows of the temple have exquisite bas-relief of horses and elephant processions and lattice work. The outer wall of the temple has carvings of Lord Ganesh, Kartikeya, Shiva, Parvati, and other deities. There are also several carvings depicting stories from Puranas. The architrave of the inner doorway is decorated with figures of the eight planets.

• The decorative scheme of the shrine, in the temple, is well-organized, with close adherence to ancient architectural texts. This is apparent in the base molding, the clear-cut division of the wall into three segments, and the very precise decorative treatment of the shrine tower. There is considerable disparity in the quality of carving of the walls of the main hall and that of the shrine. The carvings of the shrine are vastly superior to those of the hall. In the northwest corner of the temple compound is the exotically unique ‘one thousand Lingas’.

Chitrakarini Temple

• Chitrakarini Temple is a highly revered shrine, situated in Bhubaneswar, Orissa. It is a Panchayatana type (five-shrined) shrine with four subsidiary shrines at the corners and the whole group is surrounded by a compound-wall. The presiding deity here is Goddess Chamunda Devi.

• The Pithas are arranged in two tiers. There are two friezes on the lintels of the non-functional barrier windows of the 'Jagamohana'. The frieze on the south side depicts the marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, while that on the north shows Lord Krishna playing on his flute among his followers and the cattle listening his play.

Chitrakarini Temple

Siddervara Temple

Siddervara Temple is a highly revered shrine, located to the north-west of Mukteswar Temple, in Bhubaneswar of Orissa. It is a typical temple, with simple architecture and carvings. The vertical lower section of the temple is divided into five parts and there are four images in squatting posture to support the amla atop the sanctuary. Gauri Temple, built in the Kahkhara style, is to the south of the Siddervara Temple.

Khandagiri & Udayagiri

• Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves are the caves of archaeological, historical and religious importance near the city of Bhubaneswar in Orissa, India. The caves are situated on two hills Udayagiri and Khandagiri, mentioned as Kumari Parvat in Hathigumpha inscription and face each other across the road. They have a number of finely and ornately carved caves. It is believed that most of these caves were carved out huge residential blocks for the Jain monks, during the reign of King Kharavela. Udayagiri meaning Sunrise Hill, has 18 caves while Khandagiri has 15 caves.

• The caves of Udayagiri and Khandagiri, called lena or lena in the inscriptions, were dug out mostly during the reign of Kharavela for the above of Jaina ascetics. The most important of this group is Ranigumpha in Udayagiri which is a double storeyed monastery.

Khandagiri Cave

Khandagiri

Udayagiri Caves

Udayagiri-Hathigumpha

Udayagiri-Hathigumpha

Udayagiri-Ganeshagumpha

Dhauli

• Dhauli hills are located on the banks of the river Daya, 8 km south of Bhubaneswar in Orissa (India. It is a hill with vast open space adjoining it, and has major Edicts of Ashoka engraved on a mass of rock, by the side of the road leading to the summit of the hill. Dhauli hill is presumed to be the area where Kalinga War was fought.

• The Rock Edicts found here include Nos. I-X, XIV and two separate Kalinga Edicts. In Kalinga Edict VI, he expresses his concern for the "welfare of the whole world". The rock-cut elephant above the Edicts is the earliest Buddhist sculpture of Orissa. The stone elephant shows the animal foreparts only, though it has fine sense of form and movement. It has another significance, which is related to earth in form of an elephant, and to that extent, elephant probably represented the Buddha to devotees.

• Ashoka had a special weakness for Dhauli, where the battle was fought. He saw it that Dhauli became an important centre of Buddhist activities. He built several chaityas, stupas and pillars there. He got abodes excavated for the recluse, instructions inscribed for officials, expounded the main principles of 'dandaniti' for the public, provided special status to his new kingdom including the stupas at Dhauli.

• On the top of the hill a dazzing white peace pagoda has been recently built by the Japan Buddha Sangha and the Kalinga Nippon Buddha Sangha in the 1970s.

Shanti Stupa Dhauli

Budha Statue at Dhauli

Sunsets at Bhubaneswar

Have a Nice Day!!Bhubaneswar Goodbye’s you