Bhubaneshwar, Odisha's capital is also called "The City of temples" . There are more than 700 temples here.The majority of these temples are dedicated to Lord Shiva. In fact the name Bhubaneshwar comes from Shiva's Sanskrit name, Tribhubaneswar, meaning "Lord of Three Worlds".
The wet and calm climate of monsoon tempted me to explore the city as it looked the best, drenched in rain.
Megheswar Temple: [Built : 12th- 13th Century AD]:
Like I mentioned, it was monsoon and quite coincidentally, the temple that we started our journey with was "Megheswar Temple". It was built in the traditional architecture style of the temples in Orissa, this shrine has an arched gateway and is surrounded by a lush green garden.This is one of the few place where you will find a west faced shiv ling.
Chausathi Yogini Temple/Mahamaya Temple: [Built : 9-10th Century AD]:
The 64 Yogini Temple is located in Hirapur, around 15 kilometers east of Bhubaneshwar. What makes this temple special is that it's one of only four yogini temples in India dedicated to the esoteric cult of tantra. It's shrouded in mystery and many locals are fearful of it.
The temple has 64 stone yogini goddess figures carved on its inside walls, representing the 64 forms of the diving mother created to drink the blood of demons. Interestingly, the temple doesn't have a roof. Legend has it that it's because the yogini goddesses would fly out and roam around at night.
The Daya River:
Rain... Clouds.. and the Daya River. I had to stop here to observe this beauty, drenched in monsoon. The epic Battle of Kalinga was fought at this river bank between Ashoka's army and Kalinga's warriors. Legend says, that after the battle which Ashoka won, the water of the river had turned red with blood.
Bhaskaresvara Temple : [Built : 13th- 14th Century AD]:
This temple provides a scale for the construction of Rukuna Chariot of Lord Lingaraja.
Rajarani Temple : [Built : 10th - 12th Century AD]:
The Rajarani temple is unique in that there is no deity associated with it. There's a story that the temple was a pleasure resort of an Oriya king and queen (raja and rani). However, more realistically, the temple got its name from the variety of sandstone used to make it.The carvings on the temple are particularly ornate, with numerous erotic sculptures. This often leads to the temple being referred to as the Khajuraho of the east.
Brahmesvara Temple : [Built : 11th - 12th Century AD]:
The Brahmeshwar temple was built by the reigning king's mother in honor of the deity Brahmeshwar (a form of Lord Shiva). It's approximately 60 feet tall. Iron beams were used in the temple's construction for the first time. In addition, another first in temple iconography were the musicians and dancers that appear prolifically on the temple walls.
The temple exterior is decorated with the figures of several gods and goddesses, religious scenes, and various animals and birds. There are quite a number of tantric related images on the western facade. Shiva and other deities are also pictured in their frightening aspects.
Parsurameswar Temple : [Built : 7th Century AD]:
Dedicated to Shiva, this is the best-preserved of the early temples at Bhubaneshwar.The building includes a curving tower (rekha deul, subdivided into bhumis) over the sanctuary, and an adjoining mandapa (jagamohan) with two horizontal roof tiers (pidhas).
There isn't a statue of Nandi on the grounds, although the sanctuary contains a lingam. The principal temple entrance is through the west end of the jagamohan, and there is a secondary door in the middle of the south side of the hall.
Mukteswar Temple : [Built : 10th Century AD]:
Standing 34 feet tall, the Mukteshwar temple is one of the smallest and most compact temples in Bhubaneshwar. However, it's famous for its exquisite stone archway, and ceiling with eight petal lotus inside its porch. A number of the carved images (including lion head motif) appear for the first time in the temple architecture.
The temple's name, Mukteshwar, means "Lord who gives freedom through yoga".
Lingaraja Termple: [Built : 11th Century AD]:
The splendid Lingraj Temple (the king of lingas, the phallic symbol of Lord Shiva) represents the culmination of the evolution of temple architecture in Odisha. Its spire is around 180 feet tall. There are more than 64 smaller shrines in the sprawling temple complex as well. They're magnificently decorated with sculptures of gods and goddesses, kings and queens, dancing girls, hunters, and musicians.
No journey is complete in Odisha without its sweet dishes.
It is a cheese dessert . Chhena poda literally means burnt cheese in Oriya.
We are the people who invented some of the most celebrated sweet dishes in India.
[Very Less people know, that it is Odisha from where Rasgulla originated centuries ago, while it became popular in Bengal in the 19th century.
The rasgulla originated in Odisha, as Khir Mohana. It has traditionally been offered as a special offering to goddess Lakshmi a day after the famous Ratha Yatra or car festival at Jagannath Temple, Puri. The ritual seems to have existed for at least 600 years.
The spongy, white variety of Rasgulla that is most popular today originated in present-dayWest Bengal. In 1868, a Kolkata-based confectioner named Nobin Chandra Das modified and perfected the traditional rasgulla recipe to produce this less perishable variant.]
I have my own way of eating the chhena maalpua. I put the whole of it in my mouth to enjoy the taste of it to the fullest.
I think, eating it like roti, is an insult ;).
The wet and calm climate of monsoon tempted me to explore the city as it looked the best, drenched in rain.
Megheswar Temple: [Built : 12th- 13th Century AD]:
Like I mentioned, it was monsoon and quite coincidentally, the temple that we started our journey with was "Megheswar Temple". It was built in the traditional architecture style of the temples in Orissa, this shrine has an arched gateway and is surrounded by a lush green garden.This is one of the few place where you will find a west faced shiv ling.
Chausathi Yogini Temple/Mahamaya Temple: [Built : 9-10th Century AD]:
The 64 Yogini Temple is located in Hirapur, around 15 kilometers east of Bhubaneshwar. What makes this temple special is that it's one of only four yogini temples in India dedicated to the esoteric cult of tantra. It's shrouded in mystery and many locals are fearful of it.
The temple has 64 stone yogini goddess figures carved on its inside walls, representing the 64 forms of the diving mother created to drink the blood of demons. Interestingly, the temple doesn't have a roof. Legend has it that it's because the yogini goddesses would fly out and roam around at night.
The Daya River:
Rain... Clouds.. and the Daya River. I had to stop here to observe this beauty, drenched in monsoon. The epic Battle of Kalinga was fought at this river bank between Ashoka's army and Kalinga's warriors. Legend says, that after the battle which Ashoka won, the water of the river had turned red with blood.
Bhaskaresvara Temple : [Built : 13th- 14th Century AD]:
This temple provides a scale for the construction of Rukuna Chariot of Lord Lingaraja.
Rajarani Temple : [Built : 10th - 12th Century AD]:
The Rajarani temple is unique in that there is no deity associated with it. There's a story that the temple was a pleasure resort of an Oriya king and queen (raja and rani). However, more realistically, the temple got its name from the variety of sandstone used to make it.The carvings on the temple are particularly ornate, with numerous erotic sculptures. This often leads to the temple being referred to as the Khajuraho of the east.
Brahmesvara Temple : [Built : 11th - 12th Century AD]:
The Brahmeshwar temple was built by the reigning king's mother in honor of the deity Brahmeshwar (a form of Lord Shiva). It's approximately 60 feet tall. Iron beams were used in the temple's construction for the first time. In addition, another first in temple iconography were the musicians and dancers that appear prolifically on the temple walls.
The temple exterior is decorated with the figures of several gods and goddesses, religious scenes, and various animals and birds. There are quite a number of tantric related images on the western facade. Shiva and other deities are also pictured in their frightening aspects.
Parsurameswar Temple : [Built : 7th Century AD]:
Dedicated to Shiva, this is the best-preserved of the early temples at Bhubaneshwar.The building includes a curving tower (rekha deul, subdivided into bhumis) over the sanctuary, and an adjoining mandapa (jagamohan) with two horizontal roof tiers (pidhas).
There isn't a statue of Nandi on the grounds, although the sanctuary contains a lingam. The principal temple entrance is through the west end of the jagamohan, and there is a secondary door in the middle of the south side of the hall.
Mukteswar Temple : [Built : 10th Century AD]:
Standing 34 feet tall, the Mukteshwar temple is one of the smallest and most compact temples in Bhubaneshwar. However, it's famous for its exquisite stone archway, and ceiling with eight petal lotus inside its porch. A number of the carved images (including lion head motif) appear for the first time in the temple architecture.
The temple's name, Mukteshwar, means "Lord who gives freedom through yoga".
[The water over here is auctioned once in a year...Its believed that this water is helpful for ladies with conceiving problems.]
[Ancient Sun-dial]
The splendid Lingraj Temple (the king of lingas, the phallic symbol of Lord Shiva) represents the culmination of the evolution of temple architecture in Odisha. Its spire is around 180 feet tall. There are more than 64 smaller shrines in the sprawling temple complex as well. They're magnificently decorated with sculptures of gods and goddesses, kings and queens, dancing girls, hunters, and musicians.
No journey is complete in Odisha without its sweet dishes.
[Chhena poda at Lingaraja Temple]
It is a cheese dessert . Chhena poda literally means burnt cheese in Oriya.
We are the people who invented some of the most celebrated sweet dishes in India.
[Very Less people know, that it is Odisha from where Rasgulla originated centuries ago, while it became popular in Bengal in the 19th century.
The rasgulla originated in Odisha, as Khir Mohana. It has traditionally been offered as a special offering to goddess Lakshmi a day after the famous Ratha Yatra or car festival at Jagannath Temple, Puri. The ritual seems to have existed for at least 600 years.
The spongy, white variety of Rasgulla that is most popular today originated in present-dayWest Bengal. In 1868, a Kolkata-based confectioner named Nobin Chandra Das modified and perfected the traditional rasgulla recipe to produce this less perishable variant.]
[Mouth-watering, Chhena Maalpua at Lingaraja Temple]
I have my own way of eating the chhena maalpua. I put the whole of it in my mouth to enjoy the taste of it to the fullest.
I think, eating it like roti, is an insult ;).
Very good website, thank you.
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