Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar is often called the 'Temple City' of India, and the description undersells it: at its peak the city had over a thousand temples built between the 6th and 12th centuries, and several hundred survive, clustered densely around the sacred tank of Bindusagar. The Lingaraj Temple, a soaring 11th-century Kalinga-style structure dedicated to Shiva, is the centrepiece, though as with many active Hindu temples in India, non-Hindus are not permitted into the inner sanctum.
The Rajarani Temple, known for its ornate sculpted spire and lack of a deity (it's no longer used for active worship), and Mukteshwar Temple, a smaller but exceptionally well-preserved 10th-century structure often called the gem of Odishan architecture, are both easier for any visitor to appreciate fully since they're treated more as monuments than active shrines.
Just outside the city, the Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves are rock-cut Jain monastic dwellings dating to the 1st century BCE, carved with detailed friezes depicting royal processions and daily life. Bhubaneswar also functions as the natural base for visiting Puri's Jagannath Temple and Konark's Sun Temple, both reachable comfortably in a day.
Chilika Lake is Asia's largest brackish-water lagoon, a major wintering ground for migratory birds and home to a population of Irrawaddy dolphins, best seen from small boats out of Satapada. It's a large, ecologically significant wetland that supports fishing communities as well as substantial birdlife, flamingos, pelicans, and numerous other species during the winter migration. Boat trips combine dolphin-spotting with visits to nearby islands, and the sheer scale of the lake, over a thousand square kilometers, makes for a genuinely different kind of outing from Bhubaneswar's temple-focused sightseeing. Given the distance and the length of a proper boat trip, it's best planned as a full-day excursion.
Konark Sun Temple: The Konark Sun Temple is a 13th-century UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the form of a colossal stone chariot for the sun god Surya, with 24 elaborately carved stone wheels and a team of sculpted horses appearing to pull the structure forward. It's one of India's most architecturally ambitious temples, and though large portions collapsed centuries ago and worship ceased long ago, what survives is extraordinarily detailed. The carving covers everything from religious iconography to scenes of daily life, music, dance, and, in some sections, explicit erotic sculpture in the tradition of temples like Khajuraho. It's usually paired with Puri (about 35km further) on a day trip from Bhubaneswar, since the coastal route connects both easily.
Lingaraj Temple is Bhubaneswar's largest and most important temple, an 11th-century Shiva temple that remains an active center of worship and the focal point of the city's identity as the "Temple City" of India. The 55-meter tower and surrounding complex of smaller shrines represent one of the finest examples of Kalinga-style temple architecture. Non-Hindus are not permitted inside the main temple, a policy that applies at several major Odisha temples, though there's a viewing platform outside the walls (originally used by Lord Curzon) that gives a good view over the complex. For Hindu visitors, it's a significant and active pilgrimage site; for others, the exterior architecture and the platform view are still worth the stop.
Nandankanan Zoological Park is a large zoo and botanical garden built around Kanjia Lake, notable for its white tiger breeding program (it was among the first to successfully breed white tigers) and a walk-through lion safari section. It combines a conventional zoo layout with a safari-style enclosure for lions and, separately, tigers, giving closer viewing than a caged-vehicle safari. The zoo also has a botanical garden section and a small boating option on the lake, making it a fairly complete half-day family outing. It's one of India's better-regarded zoos in terms of enclosure design and conservation programs, though expectations should still be set for a zoo rather than a wild reserve.
Bhubaneswar FAQs
No, non-Hindus are not permitted inside the main temple, but a viewing platform outside allows anyone to see the structure and courtyard from a distance.
Yes, both are under 90 minutes away by road, and many visitors base themselves in Bhubaneswar for a multi-day loop covering all three.
Several hundred survive from an estimated original count in the thousands, with the Lingaraj, Mukteshwar and Rajarani temples being the best-preserved highlights.
Yes, they're ancient Jain rock-cut caves with detailed carvings dating back over 2,000 years, and make a good half-day addition to a temple-focused itinerary.
Hire a cycle-rickshaw or local guide who knows the cluster around Bindusagar tank; walking between the closely spaced temples there is easy once you're in the area.
Things to do in Bhubaneswar
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