4 / 5 - 2 reviews
How to get there
1hr 30min by rickshaw from Puri
When to go
From October to May
Minimum stay
1 to 2 days
Bhubaneswar (India)
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FlickrccSubhashish Panigrahi
Practical information on Bhubaneswar
Reviews of Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar is a town associated with religion, being home to a very large number of temples. Situated to the west of India, it's the capital of the State of Odisha.
My suggestion:
If you're in the area during January, then you really should pay Bhubaneswar a visit. It's when the International Odissi Dance Festival is held. Music, dancing and traditional martial arts are on show, so it's a great way to immerse yourself in the culture of this part of India.
My review
Bhubaneswar is also known as 'Temple City' and, according to legend, there are over a thousand in the town. So that's one thing you can check up on when you're there. The best known temple in the town is probably Lingaraj, being the largest and oldest of the Bhubaneswar temples. It was built in honor of Harihara (a god who blends Shiva with Vishnu...and, yes, I know, it's all a bit hard to follow). It's an amazing and impressive building but, sadly, only open to Hindus! To get an idea of what it looks like from the inside, you'll need to climb onto a platform not far away, where you can see inside the compound.
To make up for this, you will be allowed into the Ananta Vasudeva Temple, which is similar in style, notably its Sikhara towers. I also suggest you visit the Muktesvara Temple, which is smaller but just as pretty and dates back at least 1,000 years. The list of temples at Bhubaneswar is too long to detail here, but for those of you who are interested in culture, I recommend you take your time to explore this town whilst you are traveling in India. You won't regret it!
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FlickrccSubhashish Panigrahi
Whether you're interested in Hindu history or just looking for a bit of peace and quiet, Bhubaneswar and its magnificent temples are for you!
My suggestion:
Enjoy the slow pace of this town and lose yourself in the innumerable tales told by its priests, who keep alive the legends associated with these archictecturally stunning monuments.
My review
Bhubaneswar is typical of Odisha, where it's the state capital and offers a gentle, easy going and unpretentious welcome. Not as well known as its neighboring towns, Konark and Puri, it's still well worthing visiting for a few days during atrip to India ! Nicknamed 'Temple City', the town is filled with Hindu temples, some of which are over 700 years old. The Lingaraj Temple is the most famous; a structural wonder dedicated to Lord Shiva. Although only Hindus are allowed in, you can still see it from an exterior platform.
But don't let that discourage you, as the town has over 500 temples and you'll be able to visit several during your time in Bhubaneswar!. I also really enjoyed strolling around Bindusagar Lake, which, according to legend, was filled with water from all the sacred Indian rivers at the time of its creation.
And once it was time to take a break from temple visits, I sipped a chai bought from a street vendor and tasted regional delicacies, whilst chatting to the locals about their town.
Odisha is also known for its scheduled tribes and the Bhubaneswar Museum of Tribal Arts & Artifactsprovides a great introduction. Whether or not you visit these tribal zones, I still highly recommend you take a tour of the museum. Plus it has a lovely, quiet garden.
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Achilli Family Journeys
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