Famous Temples in India

LINGARAJ TEMPLE

Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

Share

God

Lord Lingaraj is the main deity of this temple, who is an incarnation of Lord Shiva. Here deity is in form of Shiva Lingam, which is Swayambhoo.

Interesting Facts

  • It is believed that the Bindusagar Tank consists of drops from all the major rivers in India and this fact makes it really unique.
  • Bhang is offered to the lord in the temple. This is one of the most common sites during the Odia New Year which is also referred to as Pana Sankaranti.

Best Season To Visit

The best season to visit the temple is Winter season. The best months to visit are September to February.

Weather

Highest - April to June (45°C during day and 35°C during night)Average - May (35°C during the day and 25°C during night)Lowest - December to February (26°C during day and 21°C during night)Monsoon season - August to October

Dress Code

  • For men the dress code is Shirt & Trouser, Dhoti or Pyjamas with upper cloth.
  • For women the preferred dress code is saree or half-saree with blouse or chudidhar with pyjama and upper cloth.
  • Shorts, mini-skirts, middies, sleeveless tops, low-waist jeans and short-length T-shirts are not allowed.

Do's & Dont's

  • Do bathe and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
  • Do respect ancient customs and co-piligrims while at temple.
  • Smoking and drinking is prohibited in this temple.
  • Chewing betel leaves, tobacco, gutka and spitting inside temple is strictly prohibited.

transport connections

Name Distance Contact Number
Bhubaneswar Bus Stand
5 KM 18004194287
Bhubaneswar Railway Station
5 KM 139
Biju Patnaik International Airport
4 KM 0674-2596322

Architecture

The temple has been named so as to denote the king of the Lingam which is in the phallic form of Shiva and facing in East direction. Lingaraj Temple was constructed in Kalinga style of architecture, the main temple has been divided into four distinct parts which are Yajna Shala, Natya Shala, Garbh Griha and Bhoga Mandap. This temple has a pond named as Bindusagar and temple is completely built in Red sandstone.

Architecture - The Lingaraja temple is the largest temple in Bhubaneswar. James Fergusson (1808–86), a noted critic and historian rated the temple as "one of the finest examples of purely Hindu temple in India". It is enshrined within a spacious compound wall of laterite measuring 520 ft (160 m) by 465 ft (142 m). The wall is 7.5 ft (2.3 m) thick and surmounted by a plain slant coping. Alongside the inner face of the boundary wall, there is a terrace to protect the compound wall against outside aggression. The tower is 45.11 m (148.0 ft) high and the complex has 150 smaller shrines in its spacious courtyard. Each inch of the 55 m (180 ft) tall tower is sculpted. The door in the gate of the entrance porch is made of sandalwood. The Lingaraja temple faces east and is built of sandstone and laterite. The main entrance is located in the east, while there are small entrances in the north and south. The temple is built in the Deula style that has four components namely, vimana (structure containing the sanctum), jagamohana (assembly hall), natamandira (festival hall) and bhoga-mandapa (hall of offerings), with all four in axial alignment with descending height. The dance hall was associated with the raising prominence of the devadasi system that existed during the time. The various units from the Hall of offering to the tower of the sanctum increase in height. 

The bhogamandapa (Hall of offering) measures 42 ft (13 m)*42 ft (13 m) from the inside, 56.25 ft (17.15 m)*56.25 ft (17.15 m) from the outside and has four doors in each of the sides. The exterior walls of the hall has decorative sculptures of men and beast. The hall has a pyramidal roof made of up several horizontal layers arranged in sets of two with intervening platform. It bears an inverted bell and a kalasa in the top. The natamandira (festival hall) measures 38 ft (12 m)*38 ft (12 m) from the inside, 50 ft (15 m)*50 ft (15 m) from the outside, has one main entrance and two side entrances. The side walls of the hall has decortive sculptures displaying women and couples. It has a flat roof sloping in stages. There are thick pylons inside the hall. The jagamohana (assembly hall) measures 35 ft (11 m)*30 ft (9.1 m) from the inside, 55 ft (17 m)*50 ft (15 m) from the outside, entrances from south and north and has a 30 metres (98 ft) tall roof. The hall has a pyramidal roof made of up several horizontal layers arranged in sets of two with intervening platform as in the Hall of offering. The facade to the entrances are decorated with perforated windows with lion sitting on hind legs. The inverted bell above second unit is adorned by kalasa and lions. The rekha deula has a 60 m (200 ft) tall pyramidal tower over the sanctum and measures 22 ft (6.7 m)*22 ft (6.7 m) from the inside, 52 ft (16 m)*52 ft (16 m) from the outside over the sanctum. It is covered with decorative design and seated lion projecting from the walls. The sanctum is square in shape from the inside. The tower walls are sculpted with female figures in different poses. The temple has a vast courtyard mired with hundreds of small shrines.

Religious Significance

Lord Shiva once told Goddess Parvati that he likes Bhubaneshwar (referred as Ekamra Kshetra according to Bhrama Purana) more than Benaras. As such Parvati decided to have a glance at the city and changed herself as a cowherd. Two demons named Kritti and Vasa, expressed their desire to marry her. She ordered them to carry her upon their shoulders and they agreed. Parvati sat on their shoulders and crushed them. On seeing this Shiva created a lake called Bindu Sagar to put out her thirst and resided there as Lingaraja.

History

Lingaraj Temple was built in 6th Century by King Jajati Keshar and renovated in 11th Century.

Temple Timings

Day Timings
All Days 06:30 AM - 09:00 PM

Tours










Airports

Airport Name Distance
Shamshabad 40 KM
Lorem Ipsum 12 KM

Railway Stations

Railway Station Name Distance
Secunderabad 10 KM
Nampally 12 KM
Begumpet 6 KM
Lingampally 20 KM

Bus Stations

Bus Station Name Distance
MGBS 35 KM
CBS 28 KM
kukatpally 20 KM
Lingampally 30 KM
Uppal 35 KM

Private Transports

Transport Name Distance Contact Number
Private Transport 8 KM 9546858757
Private Transport1 8 KM 9546858757
Private Transport1 8 KM 9546858757
Private Transport1 8 KM 9546858757
Private Transport1 8 KM 9546858757

Local Transports

Transport Name Distance Contact Number
Local Transport 5 KM 9546858757
Local Transport1 5 KM 9546858757
Local Transport1 5 KM 9546858757
Local Transport1 5 KM 9546858757
Local Transport1 5 KM 9546858757

Nearest Temples

BHARATI MATHA TEMPLE
 Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

Temple was built in 11th century A.D.

Distance: 0.4 KM
BAITALA DEULA MANDIR
 Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

It was built in 8th century A.D. by Kalinga Empire

Distance: 0.6 KM
KEDAR GOURI TEMPLE
 Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

It is regarded as one of the eight Astasambhu temples

Distance: 1 KM
RAJARANI TEMPLE
 Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

Temple was built in 11th century A.D

Distance: 1.5 KM
BHASKARESWARA TEMPLE
 Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

This temple was built in Kalingan style of architecture

Distance: 2.4 KM
MEGHESWAR TEMPLE
 Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

This temple was built in Saptaratha style of architecture

Distance: 2.8 KM
BRAHMESWARA TEMPLE
 Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

Temple was built in Kalinga architectural style in 1058 AD

Distance: 2.8 KM
CHAUSATHI JOGINI TEMPLE
 Hirapur, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

This temple was built in 9th century by Queen Hiradevi

Distance: 7.6 KM
JALESWAR MAHADEV TEMPLE
 Kalarahanga, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

Temple was built in 7th century A.D. by Padma Keshar

Distance: 19.4 KM

Nearest Attractions

Caves UDAYGIRI AND KHANDAGIRI CAVES
  Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

The Udayagiri caves are considered among the wonders of India

Distance:7.5 KM

User Reviews

Map

LINGARAJ TEMPLE

Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

You can upload a maximum of 15 photos (max 15 MB per Image) of temple and accepted formats are gig, .jpeg,.gif and .pn g. You will be credited with the images and videos If they abide by our photo guidelines and our top contributors ore eligible for discounts on tour packages offered by us.

I certify that the review is based on my own experience on visiting the temple/attraction and have not been paid to write the review, and I don't have any personal or business relationship with anyone managing the temple/attraction. I understand that my review will not be posted if it does not comply with content guidelines of Velpu.com.