Explore the 15 Famous Temples Of Odisha (2024)
Odisha is a state in India that is known for its esoteric and ancient temples. If you are in Odisha, you must visit the ancient famous temples of Odisha and explore the magnificent architecture. Tourists from all over the world visit the state to explore the great sculptures and architecture of the temples in Odisha. The excellent artistic work on the temples’ walls and the striking architecture is worth a glimpse. From the walls of the temples in Odisha, you can know about the culture, history, religious and artistic works of peoples of Odisha. You can also know about some of the mythological fascinating tales from the temples and their walls. So, if you are someone who loves to explore more about the temples of Odisha, then do read the following array of the article and know about some of the famous temples of Odisha.
Explore the 15 Famous Temples Of Odisha:
Odisha has a lot of beautiful temples that give you a great opportunity to explore the fine architectural work and amazing sculptures. Thousands of people come to the state to visit these amazing temples. Below are some of the famous temples of Odisha.
1. Jagannath Temple In Puri:
Jagannath Temple in Puri is one of the Char Dham pilgrimage spots for Hindu devotees of India. Lord Jagannath temple is located in Puri that is a coastal town of Odisha. This temple was built in the 12th century. The presiding deities of this temple are Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra. Lord Jagannath is known to be one of the forms of Lord Vishnu.
Rath Yatra is the famous Chariot festival that is the most prominent in the state of Odisha. The Jagannath Temple in Puri is renowned for its annual Rath Yatra when the three main deities of the temple are decorated in three temple carts.
The temple is always open from morning 5:00 AM till night 11:00 PM. Some of the nearest attractions of the temple are Puri Beach, Narendra Sarovara, Chilika Wildlife Sanctuary, and Sudarshan craft museum.
How To Reach?
You can travel to Puri by train. If you are looking to travel by air, then the nearest airport to Puri is Bhubaneswar airport. From Bhubaneswar, you can take cabs or bus to Puri and reach the Lord Jagannath Temple of Puri.
2. Konark Sun Temple, Konark:
Konark Sun Temple is located in Konark town of Odisha. This beautiful Sun temple was built in the 13th century around 1250. The temple is shaped like a gigantic chariot that is elaborately carved with stone wheels, pillars, and walls. The major parts of the temple are now ruined, still, the temple looks amazing. The temple is dedicated to the Sun God, Lord Surya. The wheels of the temple are sundials and can be used to calculate time. The Konark Sun Temple is built of black granite and thus it is also known as the “Black Pagoda”. The temple is known for its exquisite architecture and stone carvings. It is one of the most crowded temples of Odisha. There is a daily light and sound show for tourists in the temple, which begins at 7:00 PM and ends at 8:00 PM. The Konark Sun temple opens at 6: 00 AM in the morning and closes at 8:00 PM in the night. The best time to visit the temple would be between 7 PM to 8 PM and see the light and sound show.
How To Reach?
You can reach Bhubaneswar by air or train. The Bhubaneswar airport is 67 km away from Konark. You can reach Puri by train and the Puri railway station is 31 km away from Konark. You can reach Konark by a cab or a bus from Bhubaneswar or Puri and reach the Konark Sun Temple. Some other nearest attractions include the Chandrabhaga sea beach, which is 3 km away from the Konark temple.
3. Maa Tara Tarini Temple, Near Brahmapur:
Maa Tara Tarini Temple near the Brahmapur city in Odisha, is one of the oldest pilgrimage centers of the Tara Tarini Goddesses in the state. This is one of the major Shakti Peethas in India. The temple is situated on the Kumari Hills at the bank of Rushikulya River, near Brahmapur in the Ganjam district of Odisha. It is believed that the breasts of Sati Devi’s were fallen in the temple and the shrine is referred to as Maa Tara Devi.
Chaitra Jatra or Mela is the most widely celebrated festival in the Maa Tara Tarini Temple. This temple is very important for Hindi devotees as it is believed that all wishes are fulfilled by the Devi Goddesses when prayed wholeheartedly. The temple remains open from 5:00 AM to 12:35 PM, then from 2:15 PM to 9:45 PM in the night (though timings might vary in the night). Some of the nearest attractions include the Gopalpur sea beach, Jiranga Monastery, etc.
How To reach?
You can reach Bhubaneswar by air. The Bhubaneswar airport is 174 km away from the temple. By train, you can get down at Berhampur, which is 32 km away from it. You can travel by road via cab or bus and reach the Tara Tarini Junction and go to the temple.
4. Ram Mandir, Bhubaneswar:
Ram Mandir is a temple complex in the heart of Bhubaneswar city in Odisha. It houses idols of Lord Rama, Goddess Sita, and Lord Lakshman. This temple has also shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Hanuman, and many other gods and goddesses. Ram Navami, Dusshera, Vivaha Panchami, Shiva Ratri, and Pana Sankranti, are some of the Hindu festivals which are celebrated grandly in Ram Mandir. This temple holds an annual fair on the festival of Raksha Bandha and many people come to see this fair here.
The timings of the temple might vary on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday; however, the usual timings of the temple for other days of the week are from 6 AM to 9:30 PM. One of the highlighting features of Ram Mandir is that a special Aarathi is being offered in the morning and evening every day.
The best time to visit the temple is during Ram Navami, Janmashtami, Dussehra, or Shiv Ratri. Some of the nearest attractions are Isckon temple, Odisha Modern Art Gallery, Museum of Tribal Arts and Artifacts, Udayagiri Caves, Nandankanan Zoological Park, and many more.
How To Reach?
You can reach the temple by taking a cab or an auto after reaching Bhubaneswar. The temple is located in the Naka Gate Chowk, Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar.
5. Lingaraj Temple, Bhubaneswar:
Lingaraj Temple is one of the oldest temples in the state of Odisha. It is located in Bhubaneswar and it is a Hindu temple that is dedicated to Lord Harihara or an incarnation of Lord Shiva. Lingaraj Temple is built in Kalinga architectural style and the temple construction includes four components, namely Vimana, Jagamohana, Bhoga-Mandapa, and Natamandira. One of the unique features of the temple is that the Lingam of the temple has been believed to be originated on its own. Thus, it is also known as Swayambhu, and hence the deity of the temple is worshipped as both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.
Here, there is the Bindusagar tank and it is believed that the water from Bindusagar tank heals physical and spiritual illness, and thus pilgrims take a holy dip in the river during several festivals. Shiva Ratri and Ratha Yatra are the two main festivals celebrated in this temple grandly. The temple remains open every day from morning 5:00 AM till night 9:00 PM.
Some of the nearest attractions include Dhauli Giri Hills, Ratnagiri Buddhist Excavation, Ekamra heritage walls, and Ashokan rock edict.
How To Reach?
You can reach Bhubaneswar by air or train and then take a cab, auto, or bus to the temple. The temple is dotted at Rath Rd, Lingaraj Nagar, Old Town, Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
6. Dhabaleswar Temple, Cuttack:
Another famous temple of Odisha is the Dhabaleswar Temple in Cuttack. It is one of the oldest temples in Odisha. This temple is located at a distance of 37 km away from Cuttack, on the beautiful island of Dhabaleswar. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Dhabaleswar temple of Cuttack is located at the banks of Mahanadi river and it has stone carvings that date back to the 10th and the 11th Century.
The main festivals celebrated in this temple are Shiva Ratri, Dola Purnima, Kartika Purnima, Pausha Purnima, and a fair on the Shukla Paksha Chaturdashi. The temple remains open from morning 5:00 AM to 12:30 PM and 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Some of the nearest attractions are Nandankanan Zoological Park, Odisha Maritime museum, Barabati Fort, and Cuttack deer park.
How To Reach?
The temple is located on Canal Rd, Ranihat Colony, in Cuttack. To reach the place, you can reach Cuttack by train. If you are traveling by air, the nearest airport is Bhubaneswar airport. You can then take a cab or bus to the temple.
7. Mukteshwar Temple, Bhubaneswar:
Bhubaneswar also houses another famous temple in it, named Mukteshwar temple. This is a Hindu temple that was built in the 10th century. Mukteshwar temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Mukteshwara, which translates to “God of Freedom”. The outer walls of the complex have niches of Hindu Goddesses and Gods, such as Lord Ganesha, Goddess Saraswati, and Lakulisha. Mukteshwar Dance Festival is a 3-day yearly dance festival that is organized every year within the temple premises. Mukteshwar temple is situated at 35 meters height, which is why it is known to be an important landmark in the history and architecture of temples in Odisha. The temple’s interiors are carved with fine sculptures and architectural works. Although Mukteshwar temple is a small one, many devotees visit Mukteshwara temple daily.
Some of the nearest attractions are Lingaraj temple, Ekamara heritage walls, Dhaulagiri hills, etc.
How to Reach?
To reach the temple you can reach Bhubaneswar city by air or by train. You can reach the Mukteshwar temple by taking cabs, taxis, or auto from the airport or railway station.
8. Gundicha Temple, Puri:
Gundicha temple is in Puri. This is also one of the most famous temples of Odisha. The temple remains vacant the whole year. However, during Ratha Yatra in Puri, the Gundicha temple is the significant destination. The temple has images of deities, Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra throughout the 9 days of the famous Chariot festival.
Gundicha temple of Puri is known as the Garden House of Jagannath. The temple is built in Kalinga-style architecture and is made of light-colored grey sandstone. The beautiful and huge garden is the primary attraction of the temple and is spread all around the temple. This s the reason why Gundicha temple is also known as The Garden House of Jagannath.
The temple opens every day from morning 6:00 AM till night 10:00 PM. The best time to visit the temple is during the 9-day chariot festival or Rath Yatra. The nearest attraction includes Puri beach, Jagannath temple, Vimala temple, and Chilika Wildlife sanctuary.
How to Reach?
The nearest airport is Bhubaneswar airport, which is 60 km away from the temple. However, if you are coming by train, the nearest railway station is in Puri.
9. Bramheswara temple, Bhubaneswer:
Bramheswara temple is in Bhubaneswar and is one of the oldest temples in the state. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It was constructed long back in the 9th century. Bramheswara temple was established during the Somvanshi Dynasty. The temple has great historical and architectural significance and it is a must-visit temple for you if you love mythology and history. The temple is carved out of a single stone and it is quite famous for its architectural marvel.
This temple is built in the Lingayat architectural style and the architecture of the temple is somewhat similar to the Mukteshwara temple. Bramheswara temple is built in the pyramidal style and it has several alluring carvings on its exterior and interior walls. The temple has banquets and dance halls, which are designed beautifully.
It remains open from morning 5 AM till night 9 PM.
How To Reach?
The temple is located on the Tankapani Rd, Siba Nagar, Brahmeswarpatna, Bhubaneswar, Odisha. You can take a cab or auto from the Bhubaneswar railway station or airport and reach the temple quite easily.
10. Cuttack Chandi, Cuttack:
One of the most famous temples of Odisha is the Cuttack Chandi temple in Cuttack. The temple lies on the serene banks of Mahanadi and is one of the oldest temples in the state. The origin of this temple is based on various tales, which are quite interesting. The temple is flocked by around 20 Lakh visitors every year. A special sweet named the ‘Chandi Bhog” is made every day in the temple. The temple’s timings are 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM and then from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
The Durga Puja festival is celebrated grandly in the temple. The celebration begins from Ashwina Krishna Ashtami and continues till Ashwina Shukla Navami and Vijayadashami.
How To Reach?
The temple is located on the Chandi Chakka, Cuttack. Once you reach Cuttack via train, you can take an auto, cab, or bus to the temple.
11. Parsurameswar Temple, Bhubaneswar:
Parsurameswar temple is an old temple that is in Bhubaneswar. It was built in 650 A.D and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The walls of the temples have multiple intricate designs that have been carved beautifully. There are also carvings of 8 planets from the Vedic Astrology ( excludes Ketu).
Parsurameswar temple has “Saptamatrikas” and depicted in the form of the Goddesses. It is believed that this place is the one where Parshurama or an avatar of Lord Vishnu punished himself and go penance from Shiva God. This temple has a tower and Vimana as a part of its structures, which almost look like most of the South Indian temples.
This is the 1st temple that has a hall for devotees or worshipers. The huge worship hall is known as “Jaganmohan” and it is one of its kind. One can find wonderfully carved motifs with intricate details on various walls of the Parsurameswar temple. The temple remains open from morning 5:00 AM till evening 6:00 PM.
How To Reach?
The temple is located near Bindu Sagar Pond, Kedar Gouri Vihar, Old Town, in Bhubaneswar. You can travel by air or by train and reach Bhubaneswar. You can reach the temple by taking a taxi, cab, or auto.
12. Rajarani Temple, Bhubaneswar:
This temple is referred to as the ‘Love temple” by the locals in Bhubaneswar. The temple derives its local name from the erotic carvings of couples within the temple premises. Rajarani temple is classified as Saivite based on the niches, however, in particular, it is not dedicated to any goddess or god. This was built sometime long back around the 11th and 12th centuries. Every year, a 3-day long Rajarani Music Festival is organized by the temple within the complex. This Music festival primarily focuses on Classical, Carnatic, Hindustani, and Odissi Music.
Rajarani temple remains open every day from 6:30 AM to 7:00 PM. The best time to visit the temple is during the Rajarani Festival that lasts for 3-days.
Some of the nearest attractions are Isckon temple, Dhauligiri Shanti Stupa, Udaygiri Caves, and many more.
How To Reach?
If you are coming by train to Bhubaneswar, get down at the Master Canteen Chowk and take an auto or a cab to reach the temple. You can also reach Bhubaneswar by air and take a cab or auto from the Biju Patnaik Airport in Bhubaneswar to Rajarani temple.
13. MAA Tarini Temple, Ghatagaon, Keonjhar:
Maa Tarini temple in Ghatagaon, Keonjhar, Odisha is one of the Shakti and Tantra Peethas or shrines in the state. Maa Tarini is always depicted as a red face Goddess with two big eyes and a mark in the middle, which serves as an indication for a nose and a tilak. Tarini Maa is the force of light. This is a holy spot in Odisha and the people of Odisha believe that their wishes come true when they come here and ask for their wishes with wholeheart.
How To Reach?
To reach the temple, you should first come to Bhubaneswar by air or train and then hire a cab or taxi to reach Ghatagon, in Keonjhar district.
14. Biranchi Narayan Temple, Bhadrak:
One of the famous temples of Odisha is the Biranchi Narayan Temple of Bhadrak district in Odisha, which is located at a distance of 17 km from Bhadrak. This temple is the only ancient Lord Brahmaa temple in the world. This temple draws many devotees who are enchanted with the divine sanctity and peace of the place. It was built in the 18th century.
How To Reach?
You can reach Bhubaneswar by air and the airport is 130 km away from this place. However, if you are coming by train, then the Bhadrak railway station is just 17 km away from the temple. You can take an auto or hire a cab to reach the temple.
15. Gupteswar Temple, Jeypore, Koraput:
Lord Gupteswara means ‘Hidden God”. The Gupteswar temple is a cave shrine that is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple is located in the Jeypore town of Koraput district in Odisha. In this temple, the Shiva Lingam is 2 m high. It is known as Gupteswar or Hidden God since it was remaining hidden for a long time. The Gupteswar temple cave is sacred and is extremely famous in Odisha as a great tourist spot. Many devotees come here during the festivals of Lord Shiva, especially on Shiva Ratri. The cave shrine offers a splendid view and many people love to come here to watch the beautiful sight here. The Gupteswar temple is located 58 km away from Jeypore town. Gupteswar is surrounded by deep forest. So, it would be an interesting trip if you are a nature-lover.
How To Reach?
You can reach Bhubaneswar by air and take a bus or cab to reach Jeypore in Koraput. There are regular buses, autos, and taxis from the center of the Shrine.
Final Words:
If you like to have a wonderful time watching the ancient history and sculptures of India then you should plan a trip to Odisha. A temple visit at Odisha is one of the best choices to go for if you love discovering ancient temples and their magnificent architecture and stone carvings.