An ancient city with a modern outlook, Bhubaneswar is as good as a city can get. While the centuries old monuments of the city remains wrapped up in Time, the new age corporate buildings are racing against Time to fulfill their objectives.
Being the capital city of the state Orissa the city Roadway network is very well connected to every corner of Orissa by several state highways and its adjoining states like Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh by NH-5 and NH-203. The main Bus Station of Bhubaneswar is located about 9 km away from city hub at Barmunda. You will get lots of buses from and to the neighboring cities of Cuttack, Jajpur, Patna, Sambalpur, Berhampur, Baripara, Balasor, Rourkella, etc.
Lingaraja Temple
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.[4] 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.
Location and How to reach
By Road
You can easily reach to Lingaraj Temple through a taxi, auto-rickshaw or a good network of local buses that drop you right at the temple are available from the city of Bhubaneshwar.
Distance
It is about just 5 km away from Bhubaneshwar town separated by the national highway NH-5.
Ram Mandir
Ram Mandir, (odia:ରାମ ଦେଉଳ) in the heart of Bhubaneswar[1], 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.
By Road
The Ram Mandir, an important landmark of the city, is located near Kharavel Nagar, Jan Path. It is easily accessible by local modes of transport.
Distance
It is about just 4.5 km away from Bhubaneshwar town.