Click it and Unblock the Notifications
Bhubaneswar, Odisha's capital and one of the state's top tourist places, is renowned for being a city of temples as there are more than 700 of them! The majority of these temples are dedicated to Lord Shiva. According to mythology, it was said that Bhubaneswar was one of Lord Shiva's favourite places, where he liked to spend time under a huge mango tree.
In addition, many of the temples in Bhubaneswar were built from the 8th-12th century AD, during the time that Saivism (worship of Lord Shiva) dominated the religious scene. The towering, heavily sculptured spires of the temples of Bhubaneswar are quite astounding. It's mind boggling imagining the work that went into creating them and their exquisitely carved basis.
Read on to discover some of the important Shiva Temples in Bhubaneswar that travellers should not miss visiting when touring Bhubaneswar.
Champakesvara Siva Temple
The temple is located at Ambika Sahi in the Old Town area of Bhubaneswar. It is a laterite temple. Local people believe that the enshrined Shiva lingam is the abode of nagas (champa naga) after whom the deity is named as Champakesvara. The local people also believed that the temple precinct which is a den for the snakes, do not harm any body. An important feature of the temple is that, in one of the shrines there is a four armed broken image of Kartika in standing position. There is also an ancient well inside the temple complex. This Shiva Temple is a must-visit place for travellers visiting Bhubaneswar.
Brahmeshwara Temple
It is a Hindu Temple located in Bhubaneswar and the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple was built at the end of the 9th century and is richly carved inside and outside. The temple is built with traditional architectural methods of wood carving.
Parsurameswar Temple
The temple is located in Bhubaneswar and the best preserved specimen of an early Hindu temple dated to the Sailodbhava period of the seventh and eighth centuries A.D. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and one of the oldest temples in Odisha. Built during 650 AD in Nagara style, the Parsurameswar temple has all the main features of the pre-10th century Orissan style of architecture. The temple is maintained by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI).
Vaitala Shiva Temple
Vaitala Shiva Temple's striking feature is the shape of its sanctuary tower. The semi-cylindrical shape of its roof is a leading example of Khakhara order of temples which resembles to the Dravidian Gopuram of the South India temples. Shivaratri festival is the major festival celebrated in the temple.
Rameshwar Shiva Temple
The temple was built in the 9th century and is one of the oldest temples of Bhubaneshwar. It is located 2 km from the famous Lingaraj Temple. According to traditions, during Ashokashtami which falls one day before Rama Navami, Lord Lingaraja comes to this temple by a large chariot called 'Rukuna Rath' and stays in the temple for four days.
Lingaraj Temple
It is a Hindu temple dedicated to Harihara, another name for Lord Shiva is the biggest of all Shiva Temples in Bhubaneshwar. Alongside the inner face of the boundary wall there runs a terrace probably meant to protect the compound wall against outside intrusion. Lingaraj Temple is the most prominent landmark of the Bhubaneswar city and one of the major tourist attractions of the state. It has an average of more than 4,000 visitors per day and receives lakhs of visitors during festivals. Shivaratri festival is the major festival celebrated in the temple.
