My Visual Travel Experience: Bhubaneswar

In 2007, I got a chance to visit Bhubaneswar on work. As I always did whenever I got the opportunity, I clubbed my work with a weekend, and managed to stay in the city for three days. I visited some of the city's best known temples, and I also had an added incentive - back then, my cousin was living there with her British husband. It was great to spend time with them. And it was a delightful experience to see the city's ancient, yet beautiful temples!

Bhubaneswar is the capital of the eastern Indian state of Odisha. The city has a population of over 830,000 and is also popularly known as the Temple City of India, thanks to the large number of well known temples it boasts of. 

The history of the region can be traced back to the 7th century BC. Many of the city’s temples date back to the 7th to the 14th centuries, and are a beautiful example of Kalinga architecture. The Mauryan Emperor, Ashoka, annexed Kalinga in 262 BC. In subsequent centuries, the region was ruled by several dynasties – the Mahameghavahana Dynasty, the Satavahana Dynasty, the Gupta Dynasty, the Matharas Dynasty, the Shailodbhava Dynasty, the Keshari Dynasty (which ruled from the 7th century till the 14th century), and the Karrani Dynasty.

In the 16th century, the region came under Mughal control. In the mid 18th century, the Marathas came to power. In 1803, the British took control. The region was then a part of the Bengal Presidency (1803-1912), Bihar and Orissa Province (1912-1936), and Orissa Province (1936-1947). After India’s independence from the British in 1947, Cuttack was made the capital of Orissa.

Despite the region’s rich history, Bhubaneswar itself is a modern city. The German architect, Otto Konigsberger, designed it in 1946. In 1949, the capital of Orissa shifted from Cuttack to Bhubaneswar. The decision was taken due to space constraints in Cuttack, and the city’s vulnerability to floods. Bhubaneswar is one of India’s few planned, modern cities, along with Chandigarh and Jamshedpur. In 2011, the name of Orissa was changed formally to Odisha. 

Lingaraja Temple is the city’s largest and best known temple. It has a 55 meter tall tower. The temple has a large complex wall, and there are a total of over 50 shrines inside. Lingaraja Temple dates back to the 11th century.

Lingaraja Temple

Rajarani Temple was built in the 11th century. It is also known as “Love Temple” because of the erotic sculptures of women along the temple’s pillars. The temple’s tower rises to a height of 18 meters. 

Rajarani Temple

Apsara, Rajarani Temple

Carved Pillar, Rajarani Temple

Mukteswar Temple is a 10th century temple. The temple has a distinctive torana, or entrance gateway, that makes it stand apart from other Bhubaneswar temples. The tower is 10.5 meters tall. The temple’s interior has beautiful sculptures of female forms, with nagas and naginis. 

Mukteswar Temple

Main Shrine, Mukteswar Temple

Gateway, Mukteswar Temple

Linga, Mukteswar Temple

Parasurameswara Temple dates back to the 7th century. It is one of the city’s oldest temples, and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple has a tower that has a height of 12 meters. It is a ticketed monument, maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). 

Parasurameswara Temple

Siddheshwar Temple dates back to the 10th century. It is situated within the premises of Mukteswar Temple. The sanctum sanctorum is dedicated to Lord Shiva, but the temple is also famous for a Ganesh idol. 

Siddheshwar Temple

I didn't get to see all the famous temples in the Temple City of India, but I did get to see some of the best known ones. The sheer beauty of the temples was mesmerising, and I was even more awe-struck when I discovered that the temples I saw were all around a thousand years old! It was also very heartening that the temples have been maintained well, and kept very clean. All in all, Bhubaneswar was a pleasure to visit.