Explore Bhubaneswar: History, Temples, and Attractions
Bhubaneswar the capital of Odisha has a long history. It has a large number of temples scattered in and at the outskirts of the city and hence is rightly called the ‘Temple City of India’.
History
The history of Bhubaneswar goes back to 2500 years. During the last several centuries, the historical city has seen many empires being formed and changed. The Bhubaneswar area first appears in history during the 5th century BC. The fortified city of Sisupalgarh in the outskirt had a well-developed civil and military architecture and was an established city-state through the beginning of the 3rd century BC until the middle of the 4th century AD. The archaeological remains at Dhauli, and hills of Udayagiri and Khandagiri give evidence of both Jain and Buddhist settlements around Bhubaneswar in the first two centuries BC. Apart from this temple building reached the zenith of its glory between 7th and 12th centuries, when thousands of sandstone temples were erected during the rule of Kesharis and Gangas. In the 15th century, the Mughals ruled the city. After independence from British, Bhubaneswar was declared the new capital, replacing Cuttack.
Bhubaneswar holds an affluent artistic tradition, which enjoys reforming customs from the temples. The temple city showers us to the life of sanctified places with its charismatic love and blessings from its myriad Gods. Even the most casual spectator is trilled at the sight of the majestic and sublime grandeur of its soaring between the sculpture and architecture, the superb workmanship of their carvings and the grand repertoire of their sculptural and architectural motifs.
Its sanctity of place had led the rulers of yesterdays to embellish the place with temples in all dimensions. The ancient capital of the Kalinga Empire and now the capital of Odisha, Bhubaneswar history dates back over 2000 years ago. With its many temples, dating from 8th to 13th Century AD, Bhubaneswar is known as the ‘Temple Town’.
It is said that one time the Bindu Sagar tank alone had 7000 temples around it, out of these only 500 or so still survive. This is the place where temple-building activities into the Odishian style blossomed from its very inception to its fullest terminating and extending over a period of over one thousand years.
Bhubaneswar is a rural Indian capital city with a delightful juxtaposition of modern building and ancient temples, which rise in gloomy splendor above new hotels, office blocks and industrial complexes. Being the seat of Tribhuvaneswar or the lord of the three worlds, Bhubaneswar is an important Hindu pilgrimage centre.
| Location | 20°15' N 85°50' E |
| Area | 155,820 sq. km |
| Languages | Odia, English |
| Population (Census 2011) | 41,947,358 |
| Climate | Average Summer max 38° C - Winter min 16° C |
- Cinepolis (Nexus Esplanade)
- PVR (Utkal Kanika)
- INOX (BMC Bhawani Mall / DN Regalia Mall / Symphony)
- Keshari Talkies
- Maharaja Picture Palace
- Sriya Swati Stutee Cineplexx
But sometimes, out of these kinds of entertaining places, you would always need to revive which you often find in parks. The parks are ideal as they provide a breath of fresh air. The lush green expanse of the city’s parks also offers children space to play around to their heart’s content. To take a respite from the summer heat, to crowd for your daily gossip - ‘khattis’ and to date out your lovers, we take you to the places where you feel the pleasure of refreshing yourself.
- Indira Gandhi Park
Also called IG Park, it is opposite the State Secretariat and is a favourite haunt for morning walkers and fitness enthusiasts in the morning and of young couples and families in the evening. It has large green lawns and ample tree cover.
- Nehru Park
Situated right in the middle of the busy Master Canteen square, it is the most ill-maintained green in the city. The tree cover is negligible and due to zero privacy, it is only frequented by the poor people who live around it.
- Mahatma Gandhi Park
Situated near Indian’s one of the best Management Institute, Xavier Institute of Management (XIMB), Jayadev Vihar the park covers 5 acres of land with a water fountain, stream, rockeries, balls fountains and land-scape Garden. Jogger’s and morning walkers often find it an ideal for their daily workouts.
- BDA Nicco Park
The park has a host of entertaining attractions for childrens as well as for the youngters. It has water- chute, glider, pirate ship, cater pillar, boating, toy train and giant wheel for kids and other fun and game stalls for the pleasure-seeking people. The amusement park also houses an inhouse eatery.
- Forest Park
Although it is officially known as Biju Patnaik Park, it still retains its old name since it was re-christened very recently. It has an undulating landscape and is the preserve of the city’s elite. It has lent its name to the area, also known as Forest Park, which among the elite also houses the UN and the British government’s DFID offices. In the morning hours, a society sells juices and extracts of various vegetables outside the park and has become a rage with the health conscious.
- Ekamra Kanan
Situated near IRC village in Nayapalli, it is the second largest park spread over 500 acres. It has boating facilities, a pyramidal greenhouse, playgrounds for children as well as landscaped flowerbeds.
- Satsang Vihar Park
Although originally named after Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherji, a prominent freedom fighter in India’s freedom struggle, the park is better known thanks to the Satsang Vihar temple belonging to the Anukul sect. which towers behind it. Even though it is right next to NH-5, careful maintenance has made the park an oasis of greenery and relief.