Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha (Orissa), is also popularly known as the “Temple City of India”. Being the seat of Bhubaneswar or ‘Lord Lingaraj‘, Bhubaneswar is an important Hindu pilgrimage centre. Hundreds of temples dot the landscape of the Old Town, which once boasted of more than 2000 temples. Bhubaneswar is the place where temple building activities of Orissan style flowered from its very inception to its fullest culmination extending over a period of over one thousand years.
The new Bhubaneswar with its modern buildings and extensive infrastructure perfectly complements its historic surroundings. With facilities to cater to every type of visitor, Bhubaneswar makes an ideal tourist destination.
Approach
Bhubaneswar is well connected by air, rail and road to the rest of India. The modern Biju Patnaik airport is being extended to receive wide bodied aircraft, and one may well see international charters landing here soon.
Best time to visit
Bhubaneswar can be visited round the year, but the ideal time, especially for visitors from colder climes, would be from October to March.
Stay
With numerous hotels as well as the Odisha (Orissa) Tourism Development Corporation’s Panthanivas, Bhubaneswar is well equipped to accommodate every type of visitor.
Handicrafts of the Region
Silver filigree, Stone and Wood carving, Patta paintings, Tie and Dye textiles, bamboo basketry, b rass and bell metal work, horn work, and many other famous handicrafts of Odisha (Orissa) can be selected as souvenirs from the local markets. Purchases can be made from Utkalika (run by the Department of Handicrafts) or at the many privately run shops.
Some of the other important tourist spots of Bhubaneswar are:
| Ananta Vasudeva (c. 13th century A.D.) |
Bharateswar Temple (c. 6th century A.D.) |
Bharatimath |
| Bhaskareswar Temple | Brahma Temple | Brahmeswar Temple (c. 11th century A.D.) |
| Chandana Temple | Chitrakarini | Daiteswar Temple |
| Dwarabasini Temple | Gosagareswar Temple | Kainchi Temple |
| Kedareswar Temple | Kotitirtheswar | Laxmaneswar Temple (c. 6th century A.D.) |
| Lingaraj Temple (c. 11th century A.D.) | Makarewswar | Markandeswar Temple |
| Mukteswar?(c. 10th century A.D.) | Mohini Temple | Papanasini |
| Parsurameswar Temple (c. 7th century A.D.) | Rajarani Temple (c. 11th century A.D.) | Rameswar Temple |
| Satrughaneswar Temple (c. 6th century A.D.) | Subarneswar | Swarnajaleswar Temples (c. 7th century A.D.) |
| Taleswar Temple | Tirtheswar Temple | Uttareswar Temple |
| Vaital Temple?(c. 8th century A.D.) | Vimaleswar / Gaurisankar | Vishnu Temple |
| Khandagiri & Udaygiri caves (c 1st century B.C.) | ||
Modern Temples
| Baya Baba Matha | Ram Mandir | Shirdi Sai Baba Mandir | ISKCON Temple |