Bhubaneswar Sights and Landmarks Guide, India

Bhubaneswar also known as the “Temple City of India” is the capital of the state of Orissa in India. The name Bhubaneswar is derived from the name of Indian God “TriBhubaneswar” which is another name for the Lord Shiva meaning the “God of the three Worlds”.

Bhubaneswar is the largest city of the state and also the economic and religious center of Orissa. Although it is an old town, the recent developments have made the town stand among major economic cities like Calcutta, and Ranchi.

Bhubaneswar Sights: Temples

Most of the Bhubaneswar sights constitutes of beautiful temples. The temples of the town depict fabulous architectural sense of the past. One of the most beautiful temples in this religious town is the Parashurameshwara Temple dating back to 650 AD. The temple is decorated abundantly with beautiful carvings all over.

Another lavishly decorated temple in Bhubaneswar is the Mukteswar Temple. The temple is considered to be built during the 7th or the 8th century. The temple is a perfect blend of Hindu, Jain and Buddhist style of architecture. The ceilings of the temple are fabulously carved and decorated.

The beautiful temple of Vital Deul was built around 800 AD. The temple is dedicated to “Chamunda” who is regarded as the incarnation of Indian Goddess Kali.

The skillfully built and decorated Lingaraja Temple of the 10th century is another masterpiece in the list of Temples. The Bindu Sagar is a holy pond near this temple. Taking bath in this pond is considered to be very sacred as per Hindu customs.

The newly built ISKON Temple dedicated to Lord Krishna, built and maintained by the ISKON society is also worth a visit. The ISKON movement has become a global symbol for people who have faith in Lord Krishna.

Bhubaneswar Sights: Museums and Galleries

The Orissa State Museum has some of the rarest collection of ancient sculptures, artifacts, Bronze Age weapons, palm leaf documents and other exceptional items. One of the palm manuscripts in the museum is as old as 12th century.

The Handicrafts Museum in town exhibits folk paintings, brass castings, toys and sculptures.The Tribal Museum lets you peep in the tribal culture and traditions of the town.

Bhubaneswar Sights: Miscellaneous Attractions

Apart from beautiful temples and art galleries, one of the most visited Bhubaneswar sights is Dhaula Giri. The place has a rock erected by the Mauryan King Ashoka in the 3rd century after the bloody battle of Kalinga here.

The Nandankanan Zoo is located amidst greener pastures of the conserved Chandaka Forests. The zoo is an adobe to rare species and is more of an open sanctuary than a zoo. The splendor of the Kanjia Lake nearby adds to the beauty of the zoo. The zoo also has a Botanical Garden with some rare plants.