Balangir

Ranipur Jharial

Temples, heritage and monuments

The Chausathi Yogini Temple of Ranipur Jharial stands as a symbol of pride and heritage for the Balangir district and the entire Odia community. Located in the Bangomunda Block under the Titilagarh subdivision of Balangir district, Ranipur Jharial has gained national and international recognition as an important Shakti and Tantra Peetha. The site is best known for its rare roofless Chausathi Yogini Temple, one of only four rare 64-Yogini temples in India. The rich Shakti tradition of Balangir is believed to have originated at Ranipur Jharial.

Historical and religious traditions suggest that the worship of Chausathi Yogini in Odisha began during the 8th–9th century CE, and the temple at Ranipur Jharial is also believed to date back to this period. Ranipur Jharial represents a unique spiritual confluence where Saivism, Buddhism, Vaishnavism, and Tantrism coexist. The area is scattered with more than fifty ancient monuments, including the magnificent Someswar Shiva Temple and the towering Indralath Temple. This brick-built structure ranks among the tallest of its time.