The Temple City of India, Bhubaneswar, is in the state of Odisha, or Orissa, as it was known earlier, in India.

Ram Mandir, Bhubaneswar

Bhuvaneswar is known as the Temple City of India as there are a large number of temples across Bhuvaneswar, which once had around 2000 temples. Bhubaneswar is an important Hindu pilgrimage center in India. It boasts around 500 temples, which may be the highest in any part of the world.

The most famous temple in the temple city is Lingaraj Temple. It is over 1000 years old. Also, it is among one of the tallest Shiva temples in India.

Vaital Temple, Ananta Vasudeva Temple, Muktesvara Temple, and Rajarani Temple are major temples in the temple city.

The Temple City of India Bhubaneswar, by name, means the seat of Tribhubaneswar or Lord Lingaraj. This City’s history dates back a minimum of 3000 years, starting with the Mahamegha-bahana Chedi dynasty in the 2nd century BCE.

This temple city is on the Eastern Coastal Plains.

Main Festivals of the Temple City of India

The main festival is Ashokashtami. It is in March or April. During the Ashokashtami festival, the deity Lingaraja or Lord Shiva and other deities are taken from the Lingaraja Temple in a procession to the Mausima Temple. They are kept there for four days. Then, they take them back to Lingaraja Temple. Lacks of devotees participate in the Rukuna Rath or Rath-Yatra or Temple Car Festival, which carries the deities.

Durga Puja in September / October is yet another festival here. Deepavali, Ganesh Pooja, and Saraswathi Pooja are other major festivals.

How Do I Go to the Temple City of India, Bhubaneswar?

Bhubaneswar Puri Transport Services Limited (BPTSL), under the JNNURM scheme of central and state government partnership, operates buses between Bhubaneswar and Puri. These buses operate from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Bhubaneswar Airport is the closest airport to these ancient temples. Bhubaneswar railway station is the nearest railway station with station code BBS.