Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar is rightly named as the Temple City of India. The city is blessed with a range of grand temples adorned with unmatched architecture. Most of the shrines here date back to 8th -10th century and underline reminiscence of Odiya traditions.
Lingaraj Temple is one of the most visited temples of Bhubaneswar. Its construction was started in 11th century and it resembles the Kalinga Architectural style. The whole complex of this temple has 50 shrines of diverse sizes which are dedicated to different Hindu deities. The most interesting fact about the temple is that here 22 services are offered to the deity in single day. Another important temple of the city is Ananta ? Vasudeva Temple built in 13th century AD. ?The temple houses idols of Lord Jagannath, Balarama and Shubhadra.
Next you can visit the Bhaskareshwar Temple, a two storied Shiva shrine. The architectural magnificence of this temple is remarkable and here stands a 2.74 meter (9 feet) Shiva Linga in the upper chamber.? For the devotees of architecture, the beauty of Brahmeshwar Temple is worth exploring. It was raised at the end of 9th century AD and brings streams of devotees of Lord Shiva. The temple has a mature Orissan style of architecture which includes minute detailing. The temple showcases wood carving skills of the artisans of those times.
For some mental solace, a visit to Dhauli is must. It symbolizes pure tranquillity and sits along the banks of river Daya. The white Buddhist Stupa here remains the main attraction of Dhauli. Here visitors can also see rock edicts with inscriptions of Buddha’s quotations.
How to Reach:
By Air: The Biju Patnaik International Airport is an international airport in the state.
By Rail: The Bhubaneswar Railway Station is a major station connected to all cities of India.
By Road: Road travel to Bhubaneswar is also easy with availability of many Deluxe Buses, AC coaches and Government buses.