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Bhubaneswar

Once dubbed the ‘Temple City’, Bhubaneswar is a worthwhile pit stop for a day or two. This will allow you to take in the old city’s holy centre, which surrounds the ceremonial tank called Bindu Sagar. Thousands of medieval stone temples once stood here; around 50 currently remain. Temples aside, there are a couple of worthwhile museums, an ancient cave complex and the most varied dining scene in Odisha, along with a smattering of decent hotels.

Explore Bhubaneswar

Lingaraj Mandir
The 54m-high Lingaraj Mandir dedicated to Shiva dates from 1090 to 1104 – though some parts are more than 1400 years old – and is surrounded by several…
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Museum of Tribal Arts & Artefacts
This superb museum is a must for visitors interested in Odisha's 62 tribes or considering a visit to the state's tribal areas. Complete with interactive…
M
Mukteswar Mandir
This small but beautiful 10th-century structure is one of the most ornate temples in Bhubaneswar; you'll see reproductions of it on posters across Odisha…
Udayagiri & Khandagiri Caves
Six kilometres west of the city centre are two hills riddled with rock-cut shelters. Khandagiri is topped with a fine temple. Many of the caves are…
R
Rajarani Mandir
Built around AD 1100, this temple surrounded by manicured gardens is famous for its ornate deul (temple spire). Around the compass points are pairs of…
S
State Museum
This museum houses Odisha’s best collection of rare palm-leaf manuscripts, as well as patachitra (scroll paintings), traditional musical instruments,…
P
Parsurameswar Mandir
This is an ornate Shiva temple built around AD 650. It has lively bas-reliefs of elephant and horse processions, panels of musicians and dancers, and…
O
Odisha Modern Art Gallery
Right near the airport, this gallery exhibits the best of Odisha's contemporary art. The permanent collection includes over 200 works by prominent Odishan…
V
Vaital Mandir
This 8th-century temple, with a double-storey ‘wagon roof’ influenced by Buddhist cave architecture, was a centre of tantric worship, eroticism and bloody…

Lingaraj Mandir
The 54m-high Lingaraj Mandir dedicated to Shiva dates from 1090 to 1104 – though some parts are more than 1400 years old – and is surrounded by several…
M
Museum of Tribal Arts & Artefacts
This superb museum is a must for visitors interested in Odisha's 62 tribes or considering a visit to the state's tribal areas. Complete with interactive…
M
Mukteswar Mandir
This small but beautiful 10th-century structure is one of the most ornate temples in Bhubaneswar; you'll see reproductions of it on posters across Odisha…
Udayagiri & Khandagiri Caves
Six kilometres west of the city centre are two hills riddled with rock-cut shelters. Khandagiri is topped with a fine temple. Many of the caves are…
R
Rajarani Mandir
Built around AD 1100, this temple surrounded by manicured gardens is famous for its ornate deul (temple spire). Around the compass points are pairs of…
S
State Museum
This museum houses Odisha’s best collection of rare palm-leaf manuscripts, as well as patachitra (scroll paintings), traditional musical instruments,…
P
Parsurameswar Mandir
This is an ornate Shiva temple built around AD 650. It has lively bas-reliefs of elephant and horse processions, panels of musicians and dancers, and…
O
Odisha Modern Art Gallery
Right near the airport, this gallery exhibits the best of Odisha's contemporary art. The permanent collection includes over 200 works by prominent Odishan…
V
Vaital Mandir
This 8th-century temple, with a double-storey ‘wagon roof’ influenced by Buddhist cave architecture, was a centre of tantric worship, eroticism and bloody…

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Bhubaneswar.

See
Lingaraj Mandir
The 54m-high Lingaraj Mandir dedicated to Shiva dates from 1090 to 1104 – though some parts are more than 1400 years old – and is surrounded by several…
See
Museum of Tribal Arts & Artefacts
This superb museum is a must for visitors interested in Odisha's 62 tribes or considering a visit to the state's tribal areas. Complete with interactive…
See
Mukteswar Mandir
This small but beautiful 10th-century structure is one of the most ornate temples in Bhubaneswar; you'll see reproductions of it on posters across Odisha…
See
Udayagiri & Khandagiri Caves
Six kilometres west of the city centre are two hills riddled with rock-cut shelters. Khandagiri is topped with a fine temple. Many of the caves are…
See
Rajarani Mandir
Built around AD 1100, this temple surrounded by manicured gardens is famous for its ornate deul (temple spire). Around the compass points are pairs of…
See
State Museum
This museum houses Odisha’s best collection of rare palm-leaf manuscripts, as well as patachitra (scroll paintings), traditional musical instruments,…
See
Parsurameswar Mandir
This is an ornate Shiva temple built around AD 650. It has lively bas-reliefs of elephant and horse processions, panels of musicians and dancers, and…
See
Odisha Modern Art Gallery
Right near the airport, this gallery exhibits the best of Odisha's contemporary art. The permanent collection includes over 200 works by prominent Odishan…
See
Vaital Mandir
This 8th-century temple, with a double-storey ‘wagon roof’ influenced by Buddhist cave architecture, was a centre of tantric worship, eroticism and bloody…

Guidebooks

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