Bhubaneswar- City of Temples

Bhubhaneshwar :
The land of all reasons, Bhubaneswar offers a fascinating spectrum filled with a bewildering mixture of the past & the present. The Orissa's gateway point offers a delightful blend of rural and urban cultures. A city where history, religion, heritage, beaches, wildlife, water sports and sand sculptures combine are together, bringing alive brilliant hues of Bhubhaneshwar.

Climate :
Summer: 38°C (Max) - 25°C (Min)
Winter : 28 °C (Max) - 15 °C (Min)
Rainy Season : June to September, June to October, 155 cms rainfall, immense humidity
Best time to visit : November to March

Main Tourist Attractions : Lingaraj temple, Bindu sagar, Parsurameswar temple, Orissa State Museum, Nandankanan Zoo.

Location :
Geographic : Bhubaneswar, capital of the South-eastern state of Orissa has a history which goes back almost 2000 years & is a cultural repository of the ancient Kalinga Empire.
Famous As : Literally meaning the lord of the Universe, Bhubaneswar, is famed for its hundreds of temples, most notably the grand Lingaraj temple.

How to Reach bhubaneswar :
By Air: The airport located 4 kms from the city is well connected to Delhi, Chennai & Hyderabad.
By Road: Puri, one hour, Cuttack, five hours, Calcutta, 12 hours.
By Railways:Train connectivity is well established since Bhubaneswar is located on the Chennai-Calcutta line, Calcutta, seven hours.

Attractions :
Bhubaneswar is a paradoxical city filled with a bewildering mixture of the past & the present. A rapidly expanding urban sprawl fails to engulf mammoth temples which seem to rise like titans, their mighty granite facades seeming to shrug off the burden of centuries that have gone by, a sight to behold as part of Bhubaneswar city guide.
Some of prime tourist places in Bhubaneswar are -

Lingaraj temple:
Dedicated to the deity Tribhuvaneshwar, or Lord of the Three Worlds', The Lingaraj Temple is a colossal architectural achievement with parts of the temple dating back to 600 A.D. The temple is a visual extravaganza, both in terms of its scale & intricacy. The well planned scheme shows careful planning & offer a glimpse of how once the temple was the hub of activities in the city and main tourist place.

Bindu Sagar:
Literally meaning, drop of the ocean, Bindusagar tank is said to contain holy water from every holy source in India. Surrounded by numerous temples, it is the center of various religious activities. Notable here is the Vaital Mandir, which dates back to the 8th century A.D. & has distinctive double roof architecture, a remnant of Buddhist architecture.

Parsurameswar temple:
Part of the Bhubaneswar tour this set of temples devoted to Lord Shiva, dates back to 650 A.D. & is richly decorated with bas-reliefs of mythological figures & scenes of religious significance. Close by are the Mukteswar, Siddheswar & Kedargauri temples, of the 10th century A.D. which display a unique blend of the Jain, Buddhist & Hindu styles & are also richly decorated with statues & carvings.

Orissa State Museum:
This museum boasts one of the best collections of ancient Indian antiquities: Bronze Age relics, ancient inscriptions & texts, arms & tribal artifacts. The museum also has a sizeable display of natural history & also works of contemporary Orissan artists.

Nandankanan Zoo:
Ranked amongst the best zoos in India, Nandankanan is a great way to spot large Indian fauna in a state quite close to their natural habitat. Its enclosures are spread over a large area & it also has a beautiful lake. Visitors can enjoy safaris on elephant top rides or in open air buses.

Cities near Bhubaneswar :