41 Hindu Temples to Explore in Odisha

Ladubaba Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva worshiped as Ladukesh Mahesh but affectionately called Ladubaba in the town of Saranakul in Nayagarh District of Odisha. The Shrine of Lord Ladukesh Mahesh, known popularly as Ladubaba is situated 100 kms from Bhubaneswar on the Nayagrah-Aska Road and 13 kms from Nayagarh town. The temple dating back to medieval times shows a fusion of kalinga and dravidian temple architecture.

Leaning Temple of Huma is one of only two leaning temples in the world. It is not known if this structure is leaning by design or for another reason. Although the edifice leans. The pinnacle of the temple is perpendicular to the ground.

Goddess Bhairabi is the presiding deity of the place. Previously the deity was being worshipped in a thatched hut, but recently a local businessman has constructed a temple.GoddessBhairabi was the presiding deity of the then Samanta Raja SarangadharaMahapatra, who was the Samanta Raja of the last King of Brahmin dynasty of the 10th century AD, late Raja GandhamardanaDev of Dhrutipura of Gandharadi.Durga Puja festival is observed here for 16 days.

The temple is situated on the banks of the River Mahanadi. As per Puranic tradition Parasuram facing certain defeat at the hands of Saharasjuna prayed to Durga who appeared in this spot to impart her divine power to the aid of Parashuram. Shakti Pitha Bhattarika of Badamba in the district of Cuttack is one of the notable holy place of Orissa, India. This sacred pitha is associated with Devi Bhattarika.

Maa Ghanteswari Temple is one of the most holiest and beautiful place in Sambalpur. As the name indicates, there are bells (Ghanti) everywhere. People offer bell to Maa after their the fulfillment of their wishes. A large number of pilgrims visit this place everyday from acrooss the state. This is treated as Heart of Chipilima (a beautiful picnic spot). The specialty of this temple area is, thousands of bells hanging all around,

Goddess Mangala is the presiding deity of this temple. Built in 15th century, the temple is a symbol of the ancient heritage of Kalinga. According to legend, the Goddess Mangala kept herself hidden under the waters of the River Prachi. One day a boatman was unable to cross the river in full spate when Maa Mangala told him in a dream to recover her from the middle of the river and establish her in the village of Mangalapur. He dived and recovered goddess idol and built the temple.

Shree Shree Samaleswari, the presiding deity of Sambalpur, is a strong religious force in western part of Orissa and Chhattisgarh state of India. On the bank of the river Mahanadi the mother goddess Samaleswari is worshipped from ancient times as Jagatjanani, Adishakti, Mahalaxmi and Mahasaraswati.

This is aBhairavi temple located in Ganjam district, Carved in crude fashion, the idol features one leg and four hands. It is said that this idol was excavated from a ploughed field. and was enshrined as such in a new temple in 1937. All the Sankranti days in every month of the Hindu Calendar and Tuesdays are considered auspicious here.

The loftiest peak of Kapilas range enshrines the temple of Lord Shiva, i.e. Chandrasekhar, at a height of about 457 meters. The place is identified with Kailash, the legendary abode of Lord Shiva. A flight of 1,351 steps and a ghat road leads to the temple. Thousands of devout souls throng to Kapilas on Mahasivaratri, the night consecrated to Lord Shiva, in the month of February-March. The hill has several caves and as well as the ruins of a mediaeval fort which are regularly visited by pilgrims

Standing elegantly on the banks of the river Mahanadi, Kantilo is famous for the temple of Lord Nilamadhaba, on top of the twin hills with surrounding green forests. Lord Nilamadhaba occupies a prominent position in the cult of Lord Jagannath. This temple is a miniature form of the Sri Jagannath Temple at Puri and observes similar rites rituals. One can also find amazing brass and bell metal crafts here, which are lovingly carried by many visitors as souvenirs.

Perched atop of a hillock in Nilagari Hill in the Balasore district, Odisha, Panchalingeswar Temple is a Lord Shiva’s temple which is named after the five lingas of Shiva that are installed inside this shrine. On reaching the top of the hillock, one has to bend down in order to look for the lingas inside a pool created by the waterfall. These lingas are continuously washed by the water of a perennial stream that flows over them.

Patali Srikhetra is a famous place with significant historical importance for Subarnapur district and Odisha. This religious place is associated with Shaktism, Buddhism and Vaishnavism. It is located in the foot of Trikut Hill at Kotsamalai of the Birmaharajpur subdivision of Subarnapur district, Odisha, India.

This is a very old temple in Bhubaneswar, Khordha. It is located from 2 km distance from Lingaraj shrine. The architecture of this temple is a wonder of the ancient age.

A group of three temples of Siva at Boudh town called the Ramswara or Ramanatha Temples, dating back to the 8th Century AD are reputed for their special feature. Archeological Survey of India has preserved this temple.

Nrusinghanath is a famous visiting place of the district which belongs to the Borasambar Kingdom of the past now known as the Padampur Sub-division. It is 150 kms far from the district headquarters.The temple of Sri Sri Nrusinghanath is situated at the bottom of the Gandhamardan Mountain which is approximately 3234 feet high. Baijaldev, the 8th Chouhan King of Patna had built the temple. An inscription on one of the stone walls of the temple speaks of the history related to its construction.

It is a famous religious place in Southern Odisha where the twin sister Goddess i.e. Tara & Tarini adorn the sanctum situated on the top of a hillock girdled by the waddling holy river Rushikulya. Taratarani attracts thousands of devotes, picnickers and visitors through out the year.

It is one of the famous Temples in Odisha dedicated to Lord Ramachandra. Ramanavami is the most important festival celebrated here. Odagaon is 26 km away from Nayagrah (town). It is said that the renowned poet of Odisha Upendra Bhanja meditated here and attained perfection in the Rama Taraka Mantra. This temple was built around 1903. The ‘Kalas” of the Temple was made of gold. There is a small museum inside the temple premises.

Subarnameru Temple, an ancient Hindu pilgrimage centre dedicated to Lord Shiva. The shrine enshrines a Sivalingam within a circular yonipitha, installed inside the sanctum sanctorum or Garbhagriha.

This is an old Shiva temple located in the heart of sunabeda which is away from the sounds and rush of the city. The place is very caim and surrounded by forests and this temple is located on the top of a small hill.

The temple is dedicated to Goddess Varahi. This temple was built in the first quarter of 10th century AD during Somavamsi rule. Locally known as Matsya Varahi, the presiding deity Goddess Varahi sits in lalitasana on a plain platform with her right foot resting on the buffalo mount carved on the pedestal. She is presented as the pot-bellied goddess with the face of a boar.