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Location :
The capital of the East Indian state of Orissa, Bhubaneswar extends from latitude 20°15' North to longitude 85°52' East. An important city of the temple triangle of Orissa, Bhubaneswar has direct air, road, and rail connection with the other major cities of India.
Climate:
Situated at an altitude of 45 m above sea level, the temperatures range between 15.7°C in winter to a maximum of 30°C to 40°C in summer. Bhubaneswar is comfortable round the year, but the best season to visit the city is during the months of October to April.
Site to Visit:
Built in 650 ad, Parashurameshwara Temple is one of the best examples of the Orissa style of temple architecture. This temple followed very rigid parameters set by the ritualistic books. The temple has some exquisite carvings and sculpture.
Vaital Deul (800 ad) has a double-storied wagon roof, which in turn is an influence of the Buddhist cave architecture. The interior of the temple has the image of Chamunda (an incarnation of Goddess Kali).
Mukteshwar Temple(7th-8th century ad) is one of the most ornate temples in Bhubaneswar. The intricate carvings of the deities testify the influence of Hindu, Buddha, and Jain style of architecture. The carvings on the roof are specially striking.
The Rajarani Temple (1100 ad), which derives its name from the stone known as the Rajarani, was built earlier in comparison to the impressive Lingaraja. Set amongst picturesque paddy fields, the relatively small Rajarani temple is noted for its fascinating female figures portrayed in a stunning variety of amorous poses and moods.
Brahmeswara Temple (1050 ad) is situated around a kilometer east of the main road. The temple stands in a courtyard flanked by four smaller temples.
The 10th- or 11th-century Lingaraja temple of Bhubaneswar has been described as "the truest fusion of dream and reality". A rare masterpiece, the Lingaraja temple has been rated one of the finest examples of purely Hindu temple in India by Ferguson, the noted art critic and historian. Every inch of the surface of the 55-m-high Lingaraja temple is covered with elaborate carvings. Sculpture and architecture fuse elegantly to create a perfect harmony. Devout pilgrims, who wish to go to the Jagannath temple at Puri, must first offer worship at the Lingaraja temple.
The Orissa State Museum is one of the best places to explore sculptures, stone inscriptions, lithic and bronze-age tools, rare copper plates, palm-leaf manuscripts, paintings, anthropological specimens, and musical instruments.
The Handicrafts Museum at Secretariat Road has a good collection of folk paintings, horn toys, brass castings, and sculptures.
The Tribal Museum deals with the various aspects of the tribal life and culture in Orissa.
How to Reach:
Bhubaneswar is connected to the cities of Kolkatta, Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Vishakhapatnam, Hyderabad, and Raipur through regular flights. Biju Patnaik Airport in Bhubaneswar is the only major airport in the state.
Bhubaneswar is directly connected by rail with Kolkatta, Puri, Madras, Delhi, Bombay, Bangalore, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Tirupati, and Trivandrum.
Buses ply regularly between Bhubaneswar and Berhampur, Chilka, Cuttack, Konark, Paradip, Puri, Rourkela, Sambalpur and other places. Interstate bus services operate daily between Kolkatta and Puri via Bhubaneswar and Tatanagar (Jamshedpur).
For local transport, taxis, cycle rickshaws, and autos are available to move around in the city. Tourist taxis and deluxe buses are also available on rent.
Major Hotels:
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