Once a thriving townscape of Kalinga under the rule of Ashoka,
Bhubaneswar is a major tourist attraction that you must visit
on your tour to Orissa. Known world over as the 'Temple city
of India', Bhubaneshwar was once home to more than 2000 temples
of which hundreds of temples still survive in Bhubaneshwar.
The most prominent temple in Bhubaneshwar is the Lingaraj
Temple that is dedicated to Lord Lingaraj or Tribhubaneswar
from whom the city derives its name.
Built around the 10th century AD, the Lingaraj Temple is
a popular pilgrimage destination for the Hindus. The other
major temples that you must visit on your tour to Bhubaneshwar,
organized by Tourism of Central India, Mukteswar Temple,
Parsurameswar Temple, Rajarani Temple and Vaital Temple.
Built over a thousand years, these temples and many others
(that you can check out if time permits) tell the evolutionary
tale of Orissa's temple architecture.
The temples of Bhubaneswar, like the other temples in Orissa,
were also the birthplace of the classical dance form called
Odissi. Odissi dance was initially practiced by the
devdasis (married to god) behind closed temple doors. This
energetic and aesthetic form of dance would have been lost
forever had it not been for the images carved on the temple
walls that rescued Odissi from oblivion and gave it an international
platform. Many foreigners tour Bhubaneswar, Orissa in pursuit
of Odissi dance training with a backdrop of temples that hold
the secrets of its origin and extinction.
Khandagiri and Udaygiri caves on the twin hills of
Kumargiri were built in the 1st and 2nd century AD.
These rock cut caves built were Jain monasteries and are a
must visit for there historical significance and paintings
on your tour to Bhubaneswar, Orissa. One of the major attractions
amongst the many caves at Kumargiri is the Hatigmpha
(Elephant Cave) that bears the engraved records of King Karavela
of the Pali Kingdom.
Besides the temples of Bhubaneswar, your tour to Bhubaneswar
can also include visits to the Cactus Park and IG Park,
BDA Nicco Park, Fortune Tower, Info City, Pathani Samanta
Planetarium, Kalinga Stadium and Science Park. These destinations
are symbols of the progressive Bhubaneswar society. You can
also go shopping for souvenirs to take home for family and
friends and the Sambalpuri Bastralaya, Ekamra Haat
and Utkalika on your tour to Bhuabeswar.
Easily accessible by air, road and rail; tour to Bhubaneswar
can also be clubbed with visits to the nearby places such
as Dhauli (rock inscriptions), Hirapur (Hypaethral
Temple), Nandankanan (Biological Park) and Atri
(Hot water springs) made possible by Tourism of Central India's
specialized tour packages.
Tourism of Central India offers specialized tour booking,
and travel packages for Bhubaneshwar, Orissa. To book your
tour, or for more information, please fill the form below.
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