Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar, the 'Cathedral City' was once the capital of an ancient
kingdom. Today this hustling centre for commerce and religious activity
is Orissa's modern capital. Having merged its intriguing past so
uniquely with its modern aspirations, it forms an integral link
in the Golden Triangle that incorporates the holy city of Puri and
Konark, for the tourists that flock to pay their homage to the religious,
cultural and natural wonders that abound here.
The striking features of the city are the numerous temples and
shrines that seem to be all around you. Bhubaneswar's skyline
is dominated by some of the most spectacular engineering and artistic
feats of its ancient heritage. The imposing spire of the Lingaraj
Temple, the quiet beauty of the Vishwa Shanti Stupa and the pink
transluscence of the Mahavira Jain Temple in nearby Khandagiri,
inspire feelings of wonder at their sheer beauty and their cross-cultural
permutations. These three alone offer an excellent insight into
the ancient cultural strength of Orissa and are well-worth exploring
at greater length.
Places to visit
Lingaraja Temple
Among the finest of its 600 temples is the Lingaraja Temple of Shiva, built in the 11th century. It is also the biggest in Bhubaneswar.Mukteswara Temple
No less famous is the which was built in the 10th century. It is well known for its stone arch at the entrance and is richly sculpted. With the tales from the Panchatantra carved on it, the temple is a magnificent example of Orissan architecture.Rajarani Temple
The Rajarani Temple. set in picturesque surrounding, is noted for its intricate carvings of floral, animal and human figures. Constructed in the 11th century, it has an unusual tower. More interestingly, the temple has no deity.Parsurameswara Temple
Close to the Mukteswara Temple is the Parsurameswara Temple, a small but richly decorated shrine of Shiva that was built in the 7th century. It is one of the best preserved. It has sculptures featuring amorous couples, animals and floral motifs.Svarnajaleswara Temple
The Svarnajaleswara Temple located a little south of Parsurameswara Temple has beautiful depictions from the epic Ramayana.Vaital Temple
Vaital Temple is architecturally striking. It is a temple for Goddess Chamunda (Kapali) and has a tantric influence.Yogini Temple
About 15 km from Bhubaneswar is the Yogini Temple at Hirapur. One of the four Yogini Temples in India, it has beautiful Yoginis carved from black chlorite.Ashokan Rock Edict
The Buddhist influence is spread all over Bhubaneswar. Ashokan Rock Edictis situated at Dhauli, 8 km south of the city. The sculpted elephant atop the edict signifies the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka's conversion to Buddhism after his Kalinga victory. This is said to be the earliest rock-cut sculpture in India.Vishwa Shanti Stupa
On the Dhauligiri Hills, where the great Kalinga war was fought, stands a very modern monument to world peace, the . This magnificent Buddhist Temple was built by Indo-Japanese collaboration. Below the Dhauligiri Hills, the river Daya flows peacefully.Rock-Cut Caves are also seen on the hills of Khandagiri and Udayagiri which are about 8 km from Bhubaneswar. The double-storeyed Rani Gumpha (Queen's Cave) is the largest cave with ornate carvings.
Hati Gumpha
The Hati Gumpha(Elephant Cave) has the Chronicle of King Kharavela carved on it.The excavated ancient township Sisupalgarh lies a few kilometers southeast of the city towards Puri. A fortified town surrounded by a natural moat, it was probably the capital of Kalinga in the 2nd century B. C.
Bhubaneswar has three museums, one celebrating Orissan heritage and the others; the handicrafts and the tribal research museum. The Orissa State Museum in the city has a rich collection of sculptures, coins, copper plates, stone inscriptions, lithic and bronze-age tools, rare palm leaf manuscripts and traditional folk and musical instruments. The Handicrafts Museum has a handsome collection of stone sculptures, patta-paintings, brass castings, horn toys and silver filigree.
Nandan Kanan Zoological Park
While the temple and monuments and redolent with the culture of a hoary era, the vibrance of life throbs in the sprawling Endowed with a natural lake, it is known for the rare white tigers and migratory birds which nest here during winter. It has also the country’s largest Lion Safari Park and White Tiger safari with Ropeway and Toy Train. The park is located 20 km from Bhubaneswar but it is closed on Mondays.Atri Hot Sulphur Spring
Another attraction is the Atri Hot Sulphur Spring. 42 km from Bhubaneswar, near the famous Hatakeswara Temple. It has a Bathing Complex for tourists.
How to get there
By Air: Bhubaneswar is connected to the cities of Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Vishakhapatnam, Hyderabad, and Raipur through regular flights. Biju Patnaik Airport in Bhubaneswar is the only major airport in the state.By Rail: Bhubaneswar is directly connected by rail with Kolkata, Puri, Madras, Delhi, Bombay, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Tirupati, and Trivandrum.
By Road : Roads are linked with Bhubaneswar and Berhampur, Chilka, Cuttack, Konark, Paradip, Puri, Rourkela, Sambalpur and other places. Interstate bus services operate daily between Kolkata and Puri via Bhubaneswar and Tatanagar (Jamshedpur).Best Time to Visit
October to April.Climate of Bhubaneswar:
Summer: 40 °C - 29°CWinter: 28 °C - 16 °C.