Odisha is one of the most popular and a prominent site of pilgrimage because of the presence of the Jagannath Temple in Puri. However this is not the only site that makes the state a popular religious site. The Lingaraj Temple in the city of Bhubaneshwar is another important site of pilgrimage for the Hindu devotees. It is one of the largest and oldest temples in the country and attracts a huge chunk of visitors. On a daily basis the temple attracts more than 6000 visitors and it is therefore one of the top locations to visit in Bhubaneswar. Dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu this is an important temple in the city that holds a lot of importance for the devotees. Further some legends and a rich history is also associated with the temple that makes it prominent.
The temple is one of the ancient temples and is an architectural marvel in the city. Here the idol of Lord Shiva is in a Swayambhu form and the people have a lot of faith in him. The temple complex is huge and the architectural details are something to talk about. If you are ever visiting Bhubaneswar then a visit to this temple is a must. Different festivals and occasions attract even more visitors to this temple. People from all over the world visit the Lingaraj Temple to seek blessings from the deity. So you must also plan a visit to this temple in Bhubaneswar. Keep on reading this article as here I will mention everything that you probably need to know about the Lingaraj Temple. This will be a helpful article for you if you are planning a trip to this temple in Bhubaneswar any time soon.
Lingaraj Temple Bhubaneswar
Location: Lingaraj Temple Road, Lingaraj Nagar, Old Town, Bhumaneswar, Odisha
Timings: 6:30 am to 9 pm on all days
Entry fee: There is no entry fee
How to reach
By air
If you are travelling by air then the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar is the nearest airport to reach the temple. From the Bhubaneswar airport the location of the temple is only 3.6 km away. It would take around 10 minutes to reach the location of the temple from the Bhubaneswar airport. You can either take a car or take a cab from the airport to reach the Lingaraj Temple. Or else you can also take local transports like auto rickshaws as well to reach the temple from the airport.
By train
If you are travelling by train then the Lingaraj Temple Road Railway Station is the nearest railway station to reach the temple. From the railway station the location of the temple is 2.5 km away. It would approximately take you around 8 minutes to reach the location from the railway station. You can easily take local transport like auto rickshaws to reach the temple from the railway station. The Bhubaneswar Railway Station is also another major railway station located close to the temple. From the station the location of the temple is 4.5 km away. It would approximately take you around 14 minutes to reach the temple from the railway station. From here also you will get local transport like auto rickshaws to reach the temple conveniently.
By road
You can also reach Bhubaneswar by road as the location is easily accessible by roadways. From different cities and towns you will get buses to reach the location. There are both government as well as private buses that you can opt for to reach Bhubaneswar. Other than buses you can also take a car or a cab as well from different locations to reach the temple in Bhubaneswar. And if you are travelling within the city then auto rickshaws are easy ways of communication to reach the temple as well.
Overview of Lingaraj Temple
The Lingaraj Temple is one of the ancient and largest temples in Bhubaneswar that you should visit once. According to beliefs the construction of this temple took place at a time when the Jagannatha cult was getting extremely popular. And therefore there is history that also suggests a peaceful worship of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva at this temple. The form of deity that is worshipped here is the Harihara form which is a combined form of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. It is one of the most prominent temples in Bhubaneswar and on a daily basis the temple records a huge footfall. Furthermore during festivals the temple even records a huge footfall of more than 200,000 visitors as well. One of the major festivals of this temple is the Maha Shivaratri festival. And during the festival the temple complex gets decked up with flowers, lights and lanterns.
Other major festivals of the temple are Chandan Yatra and Rath Yatra festivals. If you wish to witness the most vibrant side of this temple then this would be the perfect time to visit the temple. So whenever you are in Bhubaneswar make sure you are paying a visit to this temple there.
Lingaraj Temple History
The construction of this ancient temple in Odisha is one of the most prominent temples here. Lingaraj Temple built by King Jajati Keshari goes back to the 11th century. It was when the king shifted his military capital from Jaipur to Bhubaneswar that he created this temple. But there are other views about the history of the temple as well. Some historians suggest that the temple existed since the 6th century AD however it was there in some other form. In the manuscript of Brahma Purana from the 7th century there has been mention of the significance of Lord Shiva in Bhubaneswar. Also there are historians who suggest that there was a peaceful worship of both Lord Shiva as well as Lord Vishnu during that period of time.
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Architecture of Lingaraj Temple
One of the major attractions of the Lingaraj Temple is definitely the stunning architecture of this ancient temple. The architecture reflects a mix of Kalinga style of architecture along with Oriya style of architecture. The construction is carried out using the darkest shade of sandstone and that gives a splendid look to the structure of the temple. The main entrance of this temple lies on the eastern side. However there are smaller entrances of the temple as well that are towards the northern and southern sides. The area of the temple is huge, spreading across an area of 2,50,000 sq feet. There are beautiful fortified walls of this temple that have beautiful sculptures in it.
Furthermore the compound wall of the temple is also huge, measuring 160 meters. The Lingaraj Temple height of the central dome is 180 feet tall. There are around 150 smaller shrines at the temple complex as well. There are a total of 4 sections of the temple namely Vimana, Jaganmohan, Nata Mandir and the Bhoga Mandapa.
What’s more?
The Vimana is the structure that houses the main sanctum. Further Jaganmohan is the Assembly hall here. The Nata Mandira is the Festival hall of the temple. And then there is the Bhoga Mandapa which is the hall of offerings. The Bhoga Mandapa has 4 doors on each of the sides. On the exterior of the walls you will find motifs of Hindu culture. The roof of the temple complex is in a pyramidal shape. On top of it there is a Kalash or an inverted bell. There are two doors of Natmandir as well. On the doors you will find beautiful sculptures of men and women.
The Jaganmohan has two entrances one from south and one from north. It also has a pyramidal room on top of it which is 30 meters in height. You will find intricate honeycomb windows here. Along with that there are some images of lions here as well in a seated position.
The inside Shivling of Lingaraj Temple is believed to be a self manifested or a Swayambhu form of Lord Shiva. The deity here rises up to 8 inches above the floor and the diameter is also 8 feet. In the north east side of the courtyard there is a small shrine of Goddess Bhagwati as well.
Read More: JAGANNATH TEMPLE PURI HISTORY, LOCATION, TIMINGS, PHOTOS
Wrapping Up!
So that was all about the Lingaraj Temple Bhubaneswar and you must plan a visit to this location as soon as you can. This ancient temple has attached itself with a lot of history and that makes it even more interesting as a location. Furthermore the beautiful architecture and the detailing of the temple makes it an even more popular sightseeing spot. But not just that even for the devotees of Lord Shiva this temple holds a lot of importance. The temple attracts a huge chunk of visitors from all around the world and the devotees have a lot of faith in the deity here as well. So if you are ever visiting Bhubaneswar then you simply cannot miss out on visiting this temple. You will truly love a visit to this beautiful temple and gain a lot of insight as well.
So when are you planning a trip to this temple in Bhubaneswar? And let me know if this temple in Bhubaneshwar is helpful for you in planning a trip to this location.
