Bhubaneswar  is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Odisha. It is a centre of economic, educational and cultural importance of East India.

Along with the old town, the region historically was often depicted as Ekamra Khetra (Temple City). With the diverse ranges of heritage resources, it showcases significant sacred cultural landscape components which have evolved with the support of available natural resource base and cultural trigger.

Although the modern city of Bhubaneswar was formally established in 1948, the history of the areas in and around the present-day city can be traced to the 3rd century BCE and earlier. It is a confluence of Hindu, Buddhist and Jain heritage boasting of some of the finest Kalingan temples. With many 6th-13th century CE Hindu temples, which span the entire spectrum of Kalinga architecture, Bhubaneswar is often referred to as a “Temple City of India”. With Puri and Konark it forms the Swarna Tribhuja (“Golden Triangle”), one of eastern India’s most visited destinations.

One of the oldest cities of India, the history of Bhubaneswar stretches back over 2000 years where it held the distinction of being the capital of ancient Kalinga. Retaining its place of glory and importance, Bhubaneswar today is the capital of the state of Orissa (Odisha). Apart from its obvious political significance, Bhubaneswar is an important pilgrimage centre and the home to over 500 of India’s finest temples which has earned it the nomenclature of ‘City of Temples.’ These temples not only form the core around which the religious life of the city revolves but they are of tremendous archaeological and historical significance. A trip to this ancient city of India will find any traveler lost in the pages of history. Here the past and the present co-exist peacefully to create a fine balance between modernity and antiquity.

Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves, formerly called Kataka Caves or Cuttack caves, are partly natural and partly artificial caves of archaeological, historical and religious importance near the city of Bhubaneswar in Odisha, India. The caves are situated on two adjacent hills, Udayagiri and Khandagiri, mentioned as Kumari Parvata in the Hathigumpha inscription. They have a number of finely and ornately carved caves built during 2nd century BCE. It is believed that most of these caves were carved out as residential blocks for Jaina monks during the reign of King Kharavela.Udayagiri means Sunrise Hill and has 18 caves while Khandagiri has 15 caves. The caves of Udayagiri and Khandagiri, called lena or leṇa in the inscriptions, were dug out mostly during the reign of Kharavela for the abode of Jaina ascetics. The most important of this group is Ranigumpha in Udayagiri which is a double storeyed monastery. Other important caves include Hathi gumpha, Ananta gumpha, Ganesha gumpha, Jaya Vijaya gumpha, Mancapuri gumpha, Bagha/Byaghra/Vyaghra gumpha and Sarpa gumpha.
B. M. Barua, based on a reading of line 14 of the Hathigumpha inscription, declared that a total of 117 caves were excavated by Kharavela and others on the Kumari hill (Udayagiri). Marshall has counted more than 35 caves in both the hills, while M.M. Ganguli has enumerated only 27 caves.The number of existing caves at Udayagiri is 18, while Khandagiri has 15.The local names of the existing caves are listed below, numbered according to the enumeration of the Archaeological Survey of India.

Lingaraja Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva and is one of the oldest temples in Bhubaneswar, the capital of the East Indian state of Odisha. The temple is the most prominent landmark of Bhubaneswar city and one of the major tourist attractions of the state.

The Lingaraja temple is 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 is believed to be built by the kings from the Somavamsi dynasty, with later additions from the Ganga rulers. The temple is built in the Deula style that has four components namely, vimana (structure containing the sanctum), jagamohana (assembly hall), natamandira (festival hall) and bhoga-mandapa (hall of offerings), each increasing in the height to its predecessor. The temple complex has 50 other shrines and is enclosed by a large compound wall.

Bhubaneswar is called the Ekamra Kshetra as the deity of Lingaraja was originally under a mango tree (Ekamra) as noted in Ekamra Purana, a 13th-century Sanskrit treatise. The temple is active in worship practises, unlike most other temples in Bhubaneswar and Shiva is worshipped as Harihara, a combined form of Vishnu and Shiva. The temple has images of Vishnu, possibly because of the rising prominence of Jagannath sect emanating from the Ganga rulers who built the Jagannath Temple in Puri in the 12th century.

Lingaraja temple is maintained by the Temple Trust Board and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The temple has an average of 6,000 visitors per day and receives lakhs of visitors during festivals. Shivaratri festival is the major festival celebrated in the temple and event during 2012 witnessed 200,000 visitors. The temple compound is not open to non-Hindus, but there is a viewing platform beside the wall offering a good view of the main exteriors. This was originally erected for a visit by Lord Curzon when Viceroy.

Nandankanan Zoological Park(Odia: ନନ୍ଦନକାନନ ଜୀବ ଉଦ୍ୟାନ) is a 437-hectare (1,080-acre) zoo and botanical garden in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. Established in 1960, it was opened to the public in 1979 and became the first zoo in India to join World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) in 2009. It also contains a botanical garden and part of it has been declared a sanctuary. Nandankanan,
literally meaning The Garden of Heaven,is located near the capital city, Bhubaneswar, in the environs of the Chandaka forest, and includes the 134-acre (54 ha) Kanjia lake.

A major upgrade was done in 2000 (after the damage caused by the super-cyclone of 1999 in coastal Odisha). More than 3.3 million visitors visit Nandankanan every year.

Dhauli hills (Odia: ଧଉଳିଗିରି) are located on the banks of the river Daya, 8 km south of Bhubaneswar in Odisha (India). It is a hill with vast open space adjoining it, and has major Edicts of Ashoka engraved on a mass of rock, by the side of the road leading to the summit of the hill. Dhauli hill is presumed to be the area where the Kalinga War was fought.

The Rock Edicts found here include Nos. I-X, XIV and two separate Kalinga Edicts. In Kalinga Edict VI, he expresses his concern for the welfare of the whole world. The rock-cut elephant above the Edicts is the earliest Buddhist sculpture of Odisha. The stone elephant shows the animals foreparts only, though it has a fine sense of form and movement.It is considered as one of the few remains of Mauryan art.

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. He saw to it that Dhauli became an important centre of Buddhist activities. He built several chaityas, stupas and pillars there. He got abodes excavated for the recluse, instructions inscribed for officials, expounded the main principles of dandaniti (strict enforcement of laws) for the public, provided special status to his new kingdom including the stupas at Dhauli.

The nearby region also houses Ashokan edicts and possibly a Stupa at Bhaskareshwar temple at Tankapani road as arglars.[citation needed] The Dhauligiri hills also has an ancient Shiva temple which is the place for mass gathering during Shiva Ratri Celebrations.
The Peace Pagoda built by the Kalinga Nippon Budha Sangha in 1973 and known as Shanti Stupa commemorates the change of heart of Emperor Ashok and the journey of budhism to the nation. There are two temples at Dhauli. One of Vairangeswar Mahadev and Dhabaleswar Mahadev. The proclamations of Emperor Achok are recorded in prakrit language in bhramin script on the rock of Dhauli on the Southeast end.

Odisha State Museum is a museum in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. In its original form it was established in 1932 and later moved to the current building in 1960.The museum is divided into eleven sections, viz, Archaeology, Epigraphy, Numismatics, Armoury, Mining Geology, Natural History, Art Craft,
Contemporary Art, Patta Painting, Anthropology and Palmleaf Manuscripts.The museum is headed by a superintendent and the administrative control lies in the hands of Cultural Affairs Department, Government of Odisha.
The origin of this museum can be traced back to 1932, when some historians and professors, like William Jones, Ghanashyam Das, N. C. Banerjee, Harekrushna Mahatab established a museum in Ravenshaw College, Cuttack. In 1945-46, the Museum was shifted to Brahmananda building in old Bhubaneswar and given the status of a State Museum by the Government of Odisha. Later, the Museum was shifted to Patel Hall in 1950 and again to another building in Unit – I, Bhubaneswar. In 1957, the foundation of the Museum was laid by then President of India, Rajendra Prasad, and finally the Museum in the current building started operating from 1960.

Mukteshvara Temple (IAST: Mukteśvara; also spelt Mukteswar) is a 10th-century Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. The temple dates back to 950–975 CE and is a monument of importance in the study of the development of Hindu temples in Odisha. The stylistic development the Mukteswar marks the culmination of all earlier developments, and initiates
a period of experiment which continues for an entire century, as seen in such temples as the Rajarani Temple and Lingaraj temple, both located in Bhubaneswar. It is one of the prominent tourist attractions of the city.

The Mukteshvara Temple is found to be the earliest work from the Somavamshi period. Most scholars believe the temple is the successor to Parashurameshvara Temple and built earlier to the Brahmeswara Temple (1060 CE). Percy Brown puts the date of construction of the temple to 950 CE. 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. K.C.
Panigrahi places the temple to be built during 966 CE and postulates that the Somavamshi king Yayati I built the temple. He also associates the legend of Kirtivassa to this temple, but the postulation is not accepted as Kirtivasa is associated with Lingaraja, though both were built at the same time for the same deity, Shiva. There is no historic evidence to conclude that Yayati had built the temple.

Ram Mandir, (odia:ରାମ ଦେଉଳ) in the heart of Bhubaneswar, near Kharavel Nagar, Janpath, is a temple housing beautiful images of Lord Rama, Lord Lakshman, and Goddess Sita. The high rising spire of the main temple visible from many parts of the capital city, is its main attraction. Built and managed by a private trust, the temple complex also comprises shrines devoted to ochre-painted marble idols of Lord Hanuman, Lord Shiva and other gods.
Almost every festival of Hindus are celebrated around the year. Ram Navami, Vivaha Panchami, Janmashtami, Dussehra, Shivaratri, Pana Sankranti are the major ones. The magnificent Aarathi during morning and evening draws a lot of devotees. Annual fair is also organised here on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi.

A serene temple that houses Lord Krishna, Blaram, Gaura Nithai, Subhadra and Jagannath, this temple is located right in the heart of the city. Compared to the ISKCON Temple in bigger cities, the ISKCON Temple in Bhubhaneshwar can be called the humble cousin. The temple has been established to carry out the vision of ISKCON's founder, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, in order to promote Vedic culture and spiritual learning. The salient feature of the temple is the distribution of free Sri Krishna prasadam to all the visitors during the darshana hours barring religion, caste and creed. You can also enroll for the Spiritual Tour programme at this temple, where you can accompany the Temple Practitioners for group tours to Vrindavan, Mathura, Dwaraka, Ayodhya, Sri Kshetra Puri and Navadwip Dham. Touring with them is a great learning opportunity, as at each of these places, you will be given enlightening sermons about the spiritual relevance of the place and life.

The temple attracts visitors from all over the world and it offers a truly commendable experience to devotees and visitors from a general, spiritual and architectural perspective. The temple is more than a place of rituals as it reaches out to all classes of society across age groups through a series of spiritual, educational and cultural activities. The temple offers various amenities including drinking water, elevators for senior citizens and the specially-abled, hygienic washrooms along with the others.

At a distance of 4.5 km from Bhubaneswar Railway Station, Kedar Gauri Temple complex is a popular religious site located in Bhubaneswar. Situated behind the Mukteswara Temple, it is one among the eight Astasambu temples in Bhubaneswar.
Kedar Gauri Temple is actually a complex which consists of two separate temples, one is dedicated to Lord Shiva and another is to Goddess Parvati. Legend holds that King Lalatendu Kesari constructed these temples in dedication to two lovers named Kedar and Gauri. Even today, the lovers who want to get married come to this temple to get the blessing of the deities. Another legend holds that Lord Shiva along with Goddess Parvati came to this place from Varanasi, as he preferred a more silent place.
Kedar Temple is one of the two temples in the Kedar Gauri Temple complex. The architectural features of this temple resembles with Siddheswara Temple located in Mukteswara Temple complex. It was built by the Ganga Kings in the 12th century CE. This south facing temple enshrines Shivalinga named as Kedareshwar. It has rekha type vimana and pidha type Jagamohana. The temple is pancha ratha on plan and panchanga bada on elevation. There are Parsvadevta idols found around the exterior wall such as Ganesha, Kartikeya and Parvati.
Gauri Temple is the second temple in the complex and is dedicated to Gauri, consort of Lord Shiva.
Although the legends try to associate both the temples, but both were built in different periods by different kings. This temple belongs to Somavamsi period (10th century CE) older than Kedar Temple. The exterior walls of this temple are intricately carved with the sculptures. This east facing temple has Khakhara deula type vimana and pidha type Jagamohana. The complex also houses three small shrines for Shiva, Hanuman, Durga and Ganesha. The temple premises also houses two ponds namely Khira Kund and Marichi Kund which are said to have sacred powers. The water from Khira Kund is believed to relieve man from the cycle of birth and death whereas the water from Marichi Kund cures womans infertility.
Every year during Shital Sasthi festival, Lord Lingaraj (Shiva) is taken from Lingaraja Temple in a grand procession to Kedar Gauri Temple, where he marries Devi Parvati.

Parashurameshvara Temple (IAST: Paraśurāmeśvara) also spelt Parsurameswara, located in the East Indian city of Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha, 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 Orissan-style temples. The temple is one among the Parashurameshvara group of temples.

Decorations outside the temple consisting of engravings of divine geese (hamsa) as well as flowers, at the lower part it can be apreciated the symbol of the Purna-Kalasha and on the left the image of a Lingam that represents Shiva.

Parashurameshvara Temple has a vimana, the sanctum, and a bada, the curvilinear spire over its roof, rising to a height of 40.25 ft (12.27 m). It is the first temple to have an additional structure called jagamohana, compared to the earlier temples that had only the vimana. Though the temple is dedicated to Shiva, it contains sculpted images of Shakta deities, which are otherwise normally part of Shakta temples. The temple is the first in Bhubaneswar to contain depictions of Saptamatrikas, namely, Chamunda, Varahi, Indrani, Vaishnavi, Kaumari, Shivani and Brahmi. The temple is maintained and administered by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as a ticketed monument Parashurashtami is the major festival celebrated in the temple during June–July every year. The temple is one of the most prominent tourist attractions in the state of Odisha.