Often named as Black Pagoda, The Konark temple was built by King Narasimha of the Eastern Ganga dynasty in the thirteenth century. The temple is today known for its amazing legendary stories and unique Kalinga architecture. Konark Sun temple is located on the shores of Bay of Bengal and signifies the glory of the Sun God. The entire temple is in the form of a chariot for the Sun God with twelve giant wheels depicting the twelve months of a calendar and driven by seven horses resembling the seven days of a week. It has three significant sections known as the Sanctrum with images of the sun god, natya mandir or the area where the devadasis used to perform their dances and Jagamohana. Mayadevi Temple and Vaishnava temple has also been discovered near the main temple. It is included in UNESCO as a world heritage site, unfolds many mysteries about the architectural excellence of those days.
This largest coastal lake of India and Asia's largest in-land salt water lagoon enriched with picturesque view that soothes to your soul. This huge lake has many islands treasuring many beautiful assets. The migratory birds visit the Nalaban forests around the lake all the way from regions like Siberia for nesting during the winters, the lake also proudly flaunts the ‘Bird Island’ which is extremely popular amongst the tourists for its rich aquatic life and an impressive population of the native and the migratory birds. The Kalijai Island is famous for the temple of goddess Kalijai. Satapada houses the astonishing Chilka Dolphins in their natural abode. Parikud and Malud are the other islands while Brahmaputra is known for its scenic beauty.
The state capital has several names as per its treasures. From very old known as temple city Bhubaneshwar of Odisha is now got a new name as Smart city of India houses many places of tourist attraction. It is the site for many ancient temples, Bhubaneswar the prominent ones amongst them being the Lingaraj Temple, which was built in the medieval period, when the architecture was in its zenith in Odisha. Lord Shiva is worshipped in this temple made up of granites. The 7th century Parshurameshwar temple is one of the oldest temples in Bhubaneswar. The Rajarani Temple is popularly known as the love temple because of the graceful sculptors of females and couples carved on the temple wall. The 10th century Mukteshwar temples are the classic examples of ancient Kalinga Architecture. The city also has a state museum showcasing coins, stone inscriptions paintings and other articles of historical significance. You can explore the art works of Odisha in the Handicrafts Museum of Bhubaneswar. The city also has many parks and a zoo for your kids.
Bhubaneswar is fortunate enough to have treasures like ancient Jain monuments which are turned as most popular tourist destination for world over tourists. Located at distance of 6 kilometers this is the site for the caves on the hilltops of Udayagiri earlier known as KumariParvata and Khandgiri known as Kumara Parvata. There are 332nd century built caves built by King Kharavela of Chedi dynasty. Rani Gumpha, HathiGumpha, BaghGumpha and Ajanta Gumpha are the impressive caves, with symbols of Jain religion and paintings depicting the glory of the kings, on their walls.
If you want to go for a long drive then nothing is better than Puri-Konark Marine Drive Road. Get best scenic views, when you shoot the marine drive road of Puri- Konark. The place is very much attractive which causes most of the film makers love to have scenes for their filmshere. If you want to know more then go to local people as film makers are new to this place. So to get firsthand information like what to do, whom to contact will make things easy for them by get in touch with locals. Film makers can make things easy by choosing local people or even local companies at Bhubaneswar and Puri to work with for the best results.
The Jagannath Temple of Puri is a sacred Vaishnava temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath and located on the eastern coast of India. The temple is an important pilgrimage destination and is one of the Char Dham pilgrimages that anyone is expected to make in one's lifetime. The major construction of Jagannath temple was initiated by king Chodagangadeva And was completed by his grandson Anangabhimadeva in the late 12th century. The huge temple complex covers an area of over 400,000 square feet (37,000 m2) and is surrounded by a high fortified wall. This 20 feet (6.1 m) high wall is known as Meghanada Pacheri. It contains at least 120 temples and shrines. With its sculptural richness and fluidity of the Odia style of temple architecture, it is one of the most magnificent monuments of India. The temple is famous for its annual Rath Yatra or chariot festival, in which the three main temple deities are hauled on huge and elaborately decorated temple cars.
Alarnatha Temple is a temple dedicated to Vishnu. It becomes crowded during the krishnapaksha of Ashadha, after the Snana Yatra when lord Jagannath cannot be seen in Puri. During this period, popularly known as Anasara or ‘Anavasara’ (literally meaning no opportunity to see the lord of Puri), instead of having darshan in Jagannath Temple, peoples believe that Lord Jagannath during this time manifests as Alarnath Dev, at the Alarnath temple.
It is also known as the Garden House of Jagannath. The temple is built using light-grey sandstone and architecturally, it exemplifies typical Kalinga temple architecture. On the first day of the yatra, the deities are transported in chariots from the main temple to Gundicha temple. Except for the 9-day Rath Yatra when Jagannath is worshipped in Gundicha temple, the temple remains empty the rest of the year.
It is situated towards the northern end of Puri town and at a distance of 3 kilometers from the Lord Jagannath temple. This temple is dedicated to Lord Gauranga.
Lokanath Temple lies the 11th century, dedicated to Lord Shiva. According to history the lingam in this temple was established by Lord Rama. The unique feature is that the shivalinga is always under water which substantiates the legend that Goddess Ganga flows through the top of the Shiva Linga as a stream. The utsava murti of Lokanatha is kept inside the Jagannath temple, Puri. He is the guardian deity of all the treasures and jewellery of Lord Jagannath.
It is One of the Highest Dham among four in India and is one of the four cardinal mathas founded by Adi Shankara in the 8th century CE. The deities here are Jagannath (Bhairava) and the devi is Vimala (Bhairavi).
It is one of the significant Ancient Pond of Holly city Puri. The Pond is specifically used for Summer Navigation of Lord Jagannath & the festival Chandan Yatra is one of the significant event of Jagannath Puri in summer (June / July) which is performed in this pond.
Ramachandi Temple is on a beautiful spot on the banks of the Kusabhadra River where it flows into the Bay of Bengal. Goddess Ramachandi, the deity of Konark is thought by some to be the presiding deity of this temple, while others thought it to be the temple of Mayadevi, wife of Surya (Sun God). From the religious point of view, it is one of the famous Sakta pithas of Odisha. A graceful Chandi, seated on a Lotus flower in a small temple half hidden by sand mounds, on the river mouth of Kushabhadra and the endless Bay of Bengal stretched to eternity.
It is also known as Peace pagoda. Dhauli hill is presumed to be the area where the Kalinga War was fought. Ashoka had a special weakness for Dhauli, where the battle was fought. The Daya River is said to have turned red with the blood of the many deceased after the battle and enabled Ashoka to realize the magnitude of horror associated with war. It has major Edicts of Ashoka engraved on a mass of rock.
Chausathi Jogini Temple is believed to be built by the Queen Hiradevi of Bramha dynasty during 9th century. 64 Joginis Temple is a tantric temple, with hypaethral architecture as tantric prayer rituals involve worshiping the Bhumandala (environment consisting all the 5 elements of nature - Fire, Water, Earth, Sky and Ether).
It is one of the oldest & the largest temple in Bhubaneswar. The central tower of the temple is 180 ft (55 m) tall. The temple represents the quintessence of the Kalinga Architecture and culminating the medieval stages of the architectural tradition at Bhubaneswar. The temple in its present form dates back to the last decade of the eleventh century. Fergusson (Scottisharchitectural historian) believes that the temple might have been initiated by Lalatendu Keshari who reigned from 615 to 657 CE.
Rajarani Temple is an 11th Century Hindu temple, known originally as Indreswara. It is locally known as a Love Temple because of the erotic carvings of women and couples in the temple. The architecture of other temples in central India is believed to have originated with this temple, the notable ones being the Khajuraho temples and Toteswara Mahadeo temple in Kadawa.
Mukteshvara Temple is a 10th Century Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva. The temple dates back to 950 – 975 CE. It is known as “Gem of Odisha architecture” for its magnificent architecture. The presence of a torana, which is not part of any other temple in the region, makes this temple unique and some of the representations indicate the builders were starters of a new culture.
Parashurameshvara Temple is considered the best preserved specimen of an early Orissan Hindu temple dated to the Shailodbhava period between the 7th and 8th centuries CE. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and is one of the oldest existing temples in the state. It is believed to have been built around 650 CE in Nagara style and has all the main features of the pre-10th century Odia style temple.
The temple is a significant Shaiva temple as it is one of the eight Astasambhu temples in the city. The legend goes that king Lalatendu Kesari, after a tragic episode relating to two lovers Kedar & Gouri, had built this temple in their memory.
Ananta Vasudeva Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Krishna. The temple was constructed in the 13th century. The temple dates back to the period of Chandrika Devi, the daughter of Anangabhima III, during the reign of the king Bhanudeva. In form, the temple resembles the Lingaraj temple, but includes Vaishnavite (Lord Vishnu related) sculptures.
Vaitala Temple is an 8th Century Hindu temple of typical Khakara style dedicated to Goddess Chamunda located in Bhubaneswar. It is also locally known as “Tini Mundia Mandira”(Three headed temple).
Brahmeswara Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, erected at the end of the 9th century CE, is richly carved inside and out. The temple is built in the 18th regnal year of the Somavamsi king Udyotakesari by his mother Kolavati Devi, which corresponds to 1058 CE.
The Cuttack Chandi Temple is an ancient temple dedicated to the Goddess Chandi. Maa Chandi is worshipped in various incarnations of Durga during the puja. People strongly believe Maa Cuttack Chandi as “The Living Goddess”.
Among the historical monuments, Qadam-I-Rasool at Dargha Bazar in front of Cuttack Jail (Old) stands out as a symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity. Qadam-I-Rasool was built by Nawab Shujauddin Khan in the year 1715. The building has entrance doors each in the direction of North, South, East and West; the floor covered with plaque and white square marble is divided into eight squares. The foot-print of the Prophet engraved in circular stone is placed in the center of the monument.
The Biraja Temple is a historic Hindu temple located in Jajpur. The present temple was built during the 13th Century. The principal idol is Devi Durga, who is worshiped as Viraja (Girija). After Jagannath Dham (Shreekshetra), this is the second highest pilgrimage destination in Odisha known as Biraja Kshetra.
Chhatia is popularly known as Chhatia Bata as sacred place of pilgrimage. The shrine of Lord Jagannath at Chhatia is a modern piece of Odisha Temple Architecture. It is the saint Mahapurusa Hadi Das's Samadhi Pitha. The trinity of Jagannath, Balabhadra & Subhadra in militant form seated on horse back. The three deities brandish their sword in their hand.
Mahavinayak temple is a major center of pilgrimage and one of the oldest Ganesha temples in Odisha and also a major Shaiva Pitha or centers of Odisha. It is a place of both mythological and historical importance. This sculpture (i.e. the Mahavinayak temple) has been constructed by the kings of Keshari Dynasty of Odisha during the 12th century and later it became the center of worship of Darpan King.
Visit famous and great Budhhist attraction and Budhhist history of sculptures at Ratnagiri, Udayagiri and Lalitgiri. These are also famous as the name of “Dimond Triangle” of Odisha.
