Bhubaneswar – An Ancient Holy City Of India

Bhubaneswar is the capital city & largest city of Orissa it is considered one of the oldest cities of India. The holy city is located on the eastern coast of India and is home to thousands of temples.  Visit the city to explore and experience ancient traditions, culture, religious beliefs, and places.

Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa, is an old city dotting the eastern coastline of India.  Popular for its old temples and rapidly changing infrastructure, the city is one of the most illustrated cities in India.  Replacing Cuttack, which has been the capital of Orissa since the 12th century, Bhubaneshwar came into the limelight when it was declared the new capital of Orissa in 1948.  Taking its name as a reference to the Lord of the Universe, the current name of the city is a distorted version of Tribhubaneshwar, which means “Lord of the Three Worlds” referring to Lord Shiva.  It is amongst the earliest planned cities of India and today the largest city in the state.

Perched at an altitude of about 45 meters from sea level, it is a coastal city overlooking the Bay of Bengal.  For a long time period, fishing, agriculture, and other maritime industries remained the prime sources of income.  But as the city grew in terms of industrialization and commercialization, a number of industries like education, public servicing, healthcare, and FMCG also came into play. Today, the city is one of the leading hubs of Information Technology and education.  The city is categorized as a Tier-II city.  The World Bank has declared the city as the best place in the country to start a business.  Plus, the city has also been declared as one of the top ten developing cities in India by Cushman and Wakefield.

Jain Statue

The history of Bhubaneshwar dates to a time older than 3000 years when it was a part of the kingdom of the Mahamegha-banana Chedi dynasty.  There are a number of records of the city being the seat of many Hindu kingdoms during the 7th to 13th centuries.  Also, just often referred to as the “The Temple City of India”, most of the temples of Bhubaneshwar were built during the Kalinga era.  It is particularly during the 1st and 2nd centuries when Emperor Kharavela was in power that many of the temples in the city were built.  Apart from being a major center of Hinduism, the city was also a chief religious learning center of Jainism and Buddhism. The existence of many of the Buddhist and Jain shrines and monasteries in the city today consolidates the fact.  These old temples, shrines, monuments, and other testaments form the chief attractions of places to visit in Bhubaneswar.

Udaygiri & Khandagiri Caves

Bhubaneshwar has long been a popular tourist haunt. The immense religious significance and the ancient temples bring huge tourist traffic to the city. Apart from being highly revered sites, the temples of the city also exhibit the best of the architectural style from the Kalinga era and other eras of ancient India. Besides, the scenic beaches alongside the sky-reaching buildings are known for being perfect for relaxing and rejuvenating. To name the most significant sightseeing spots: Nandankanan Zoo, Orissa State Museum, Lingaraj Temple, ISKCON Temple, Nicco Park, Ram Mandir, Raj Rani Temple, Dhauli Giri Shanti Stupa, Dhauli Giri, Sisupalgarh, Biju Patnaik Park, Indira Gandhi Park, Swargadwar Beach, Mukteswara Temple, Daiteswar Temple, Pathani Samanta Planetarium, Ekamra Kanan, and Odissi Research Centre.

Bhubaneswar is well-connected to the rest of India. It houses an airport, a railway station, and a number of bus stands. The city’s international airport is about 3 kilometers from the city center.  It connects the city not just to major Indian cities but also to prime destinations across the globe.  Besides, the Bhubaneswar railway station is a major railhead in the East Coast Railway line of Indian Railways.

Simply visit the city to explore and experience the culture, history, and religious beliefs of India.  For lodging, the hotels near Bhubaneswar railway station make ideal options to pick as they have the advantages of close proximity to the city and good connectivity.