Attractions In bhubaneswar
Attractions in Bhubaneswar
Just look at the map of Bhubaneswar, and you will see that it has no dearth of insightful places to visit. The most famous
of them all are Lingaraja Temple, Rajarani Temple, Udayagiri Caves, Khandagiri Caves, Dhauli, Nandankanan Zoological Park,
Parasurameswara Temple, Mukteshwar Temple, Odisha State Museum, ISKCON Temple, Nicco Park and Yoginis Temple. Read on to
know more about these fascinating attractions.
Temples – Places of Worship and Architectural Masterpieces
When in Bhubaneswar, you must make it a point to visit the imposing Lingaraja Temple, one of the finest examples of Kalinga
architecture. Its highlight is the almost 55-metre high, richly sculpted tower above its sanctum. Facing east, the shrine
has three halls one after the other and then the sanctum. The sculptures in the interior and exterior are of humans, and
animals like lions. The complex has several smaller shrines that you can explore while here.
Dating from almost the same time as Lingaraja Temple, Rajarani Temple is another shrine worth a visit. Unlike the larger
shrine, this one has only two major structures: a covered hall and the sanctum. It too is embellished with intricate
sculptures of serpents, and the guardians of eight directions, who include Kubera, Varuna, Indra, Agni, Yama, Nirriti, Vayu
and Isana. The images here also depict mythological scenes like the wedding of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
Another temple in the city, known for its detailed carvings, is Parasurameswara Temple. Among the carvings to see here is a
6-armed representation of Goddess Durga, as well as those of Saptamatrika (seven goddesses), Lord Ganesha, Kartikeya, Ganga,
Yamuna, Indra, Vishnu and Shiva. Mukteshwar Temple is another interesting site as its architecture depicts distinct Buddhist
influence, most apparent in the arched gateway, called torana.
Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves – A Window into the Past
Those, who are interested in learning about the rich history of Bhubaneswar, can plan an excursion to Udayagiri and
Khandagiri Caves. In total, the twin hills of Udayagiri and Khandagiri house 33 rock-cut caves. Cave 2 of Udayagiri has an
inscription in the Brahmi script, dated between 1st century BC and 1st century AD. Ananta Gumpha has carvings of serpents,
geese, lions, bulls, elephant, blue lotuses, horses and Goddess Lakshmi. Jaya Vijaya Gumpha has a carving of a Bodhi tree,
shedding light on its Buddhist association.
Dhauli – A Message of Peace in an Ancient Battleground
Dhauli is another interesting attraction that many Bhubaneswar packages include. It is believed to be the place, where the
bloody battle of Kalinga was fought, after which Emperor Ashoka embraced Buddhism. His message of peace, equality,
compassion and justice is inscribed on one of the rock edicts in Dhauli in the Brahmi script. Its top has been carved to
represent the head of an elephant, alluding to the dream the Prince Siddhartha’s mother had before his birth. Another spot
to visit in Dhauli is Shanti Stupa, built by Indian and Japanese monks to promote world peace.
Education with a Bit of Fun
There are loads of places in Bhubaneswar where you can take your children to make them learn new things in a fun manner. You
can plan a trip to Nandankanan Zoological Park, where you can see pheasants, pelicans, doves, hornbills, owls, parrots,
Asiatic lions, tigers, Himalayan black bears, deer and one-horned rhinos. The complex also consists of a botanical garden
with a rose section and arboretum. You can also enjoy a boat ride on Kanjia Lake within the premises.
Regional Science Centre is also a great place to visit with kids as here they can see the working of numerous scientific
principles while playing. It has galleries on motion and maths along with an area dedicated to pre-historic life. Pathani
Samanta Planetarium hosts audio-visual shows related to various astronomical objects.
Cultural Exploration
For an insight into the vibrant culture of Bhubaneswar, you can head to the Odisha State Museum and Tribal Museum. The
Odisha State Museum has exhibits on numismatics, epigraphy, natural history, geology, mining, archaeology and anthropology.
Here, people can also see historical weapons, manuscripts and paintings. A visit to the Tribal Museum will tell you about
the life and culture of the natives of the state. It has ornaments, weapons, fishing and hunting tools, farming equipment,
household items and musical instruments.
