BHUBANESWAR TOURISM | TOURIST PLACES TO VISIT & TEMPLES IN BHUBANESWAR
City
About Bhubaneswar
#3 of 3 Places to visit in Orissa | #76 of 100 Places to visit in India
Ideal Trip Duration: 2 Full Days
Nearest City to Bhubaneswar: Bhubaneswar
Best Time to Visit Bhubaneswar: October to March
Peak Season: November to February
At a distance of 16 km from Cuttack, 58 km from Puri, 61 km from Konark, 191 km from Balasore, 264 km from Sambalpur, 342 km from Rourkela, 431 km from Vizag, 439 km from Kolkata and 456 km from Ranchi, Bhubaneswar or Bhubaneshwar is an ancient city situated in Khordha district of Odisha, India. It is the capital city of Odisha and also one of the best places to experience Odisha Tourism.
Known as 'The City of Temples', Bhubaneswar is one of the ancient cities located in the eastern part of India and is a thriving center of art and culture. Literally, Bhubaneswar means Lord of the Universe and is known for its architecture and temples. Bhubaneswar is one of the 3 cities designed by the German Architect Otto. H. Koeingsberges along with Chandigarh and Jamshedpur and is one of the first planned cities in Modern India.
The origin of the city dates back to more than 2,000 years while the modern city came into existence in 1948. Bhubaneshwar was the capital of the Kalinga dynasty. Later Emperor Kharavela established his capital in Sisupalgarh which is on the outskirts of the city. After that the area was subsequently ruled by several dynasties, including Satavahanas, Guptas, Matharas and Mughals. In 1803, the area came under the British and was part of the Bengal Presidency until 1912, and Bihar - Orissa Province till 1936.
In 1936, Odisha became a separate province in British India with Cuttack as its capital. In 1947, when India got independence, Orissa became one of the states of the Indian Union. However, for several reasons including exposure of Cuttack to floods and space constraints, the capital of Orissa was relocated to Bhubaneswar in 1948.
Along with Puri and Konark, Bhubaneswar forms the 'golden triangle' of Odisha and is one of the most visited destinations in East India. The city houses more than 500 temples, including the famous temples like Lingaraj Temple, Mukteswar Temple, Shatrughaneswar Temple, and Parashurameswar Temple. Orissa State Museum, Bindu Sarovara, Nandan Kanan, Dhauli Giri hills, Ram Mandir, Udayagiri Caves, Khandagiri Caves, and ISCKON Temple are some of the top places to visit in Bhubaneshwar.
Biju Patnaik Airport, Bhubaneshwar is well connected by flights with major international destinations like Sri Lanka, Dubai, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, USA, Europe and domestic destinations including Bangalore, Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad. Bhubaneshwar Railway Station has regular trains from Cuttack, Puri, Vishakhapatnam, Secunderabad, Guwahati, Bangalore, Trivandrum, Howrah, Kochi, Chennai, Mumbai, Rourkela, Patna, Ahmedabad, Mysore, Tatanagar, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Vijayawada, Dhauli, Kanyakumari, Surat, and Pondicherry. Bhubaneshwar is well connected by bus with Puri, Cuttack, Rourkela, Hyderabad, Sambalpur, Jamshedpur, Ranchi, Vijayawada, Shimla, Durgapur, Kolkata, and Raipur.
Ekamra Utsav is one of the major festivals of Bhubaneswar, held in January to promote the cultural heritage of Orissa. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Ekamra Utsav which lasts for 10 days is a series of festivals holding Kalinga Mahotsav (martial arts), Dhauli-Kalinga Mahotsav (dance), Rajarani Music Festival (music) and Mukteswar Dance Festival (Odyssey dance). Maha Shivaratri, Megha Mela, Durga Puja, Makar Mela, and Ashokastami are the other festivals celebrated here with great enthusiasm.
Bhubaneswar is located on the coastal plains of Odisha to the south-west of the River Mahanadi. It experiences tropical weather conditions. The best time to visit Bhubaneswar is from October to March, when the weather is pleasant and the temperature is suitable to explore the destination. During this time tourists can also participate in the Ekamra Utsav, which is held in the month of January.
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