When people say that Odisha is India’s best-kept secret, they couldn’t be more right. Odisha has some of the best tourist locations across India. You can find its very own Kashmir, Daringbadi, and you can also find the largest brackish water lagoon, Chilika. But today we will take a spiritual route and explore all the temples in Odisha.
We will discuss some of the major temples in Odisha. It will be a little tough to include all the temples, but this article will include some of the major ones, like-
- Jagannath Puri
- Gundicha Temple
- Konark Sun Temple
- Dhauli Shanti Stupa
- Lingaraj Temple
These are the major temples that we are going to discuss in this particular article. So without further ado, let’s start exploring the temple-rich state that is our Odisha.
TEMPLES IN ODISHA
Odisha is a state rich in temples. For most people (Who are not from Odisha), The temple that is the most significant, or let’s just say, the only temple in Odisha they know of, is Puri’s Jagannath Temple. They think, “If we ever visit Odisha, then we will have to visit Puri for the Jagannath Temple.”
BUT ARE THEY CORRECT TO ASSUME THAT?
But if you are visiting Odisha just for the Jagannath Temple in Puri then, you are wasting your money. Now, don’t take it the wrong way. If you are visiting Odisha, then Puri’s Jagannath Mandir is the temple you must visit. But if you are spending your money to make a trip to Odisha, spending it on (Ticket, travel, stay, food), and you just visit a single temple, then think about it yourself whether you are in loss or profit.
If Jagannath mandir were actually the only major temple of Odisha, then we wouldn’t be having this conversation right now. So why are we having this conversation?
TEMPLES ONE COULD VISIT WHEN THEY MAKE A TRIP TO ODISHA
Now, Jagannath Puri is actually the most prominent temple of Odisha (It is one of the four Char Dhams, after all), but that doesn’t take the credibility away from other major temples in Odisha that we are going to talk about right now.
There are temples across Odisha, temples in Puri (Apart from the Jagannath Temple), Konark, and Bhubaneswar (Also known as the Temple City of India). So, without wasting any more of your time, let’s just jump into the list.
PURI’S JAGANNATH MANDIR (TEMPLE)
Starting the list with the most obvious temple of Odisha. One of the Chardhams, Puri’s Jagannath Mandir. It’s a no-brainer that you will visit this temple, no matter what you read here. But still, as it is the Number-1 devotional place in all of Odisha, it should (And must) make this list.
Once you visit this temple, you’ll understand why it is so special for millions of devotees. There are several mysteries surrounding this temple, and when you look at it through a scientific lens, you’ll be intrigued by the scientific genius of the temple’s craftsmen, so many years ago.
The temple also contains one of the biggest kitchens in the world that serves Mahaprasad to 1000s and 1000s of devotees every single day. The annual Ratha Yatra attracts millions of devotees across the globe.
GUNDICHA TEMPLE
Gundicha temple is another tourist attraction for being the vacation “home” for the Holy Siblings (Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra) during the annual 9-day Ratha Yatra. The temple is 3 km away from the Jagannath Temple.
According to legends, Hindu deity Viswakarma (who crafted the Idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra) created the idols in the Gundicha temple. During the Ratha Yatra, the siblings visit the Gundicha temple as a vacation at their aunt’s.
KONARK SUN TEMPLE
Konark sun temple not only holds spiritual and historical significance but is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. World-renowned for its Kalinga Architecture. The temple is shaped as a chariot dedicated to the Sun God. There are several mysteries surrounding this temple as well. There are time-telling wheels (sundials) that are crafted in the temple.
LINGARAJ TEMPLE
Lingaraj temple is another major tourist point for devotees coming for a spiritual visit in Odisha. Built in the 11th century, this temple has 4 main halls and the mesmerising architecture of Ancient Kalinga. According to legends, this temple is a swayambhu (Self-originated) temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in the Hari-Hara form. This form symbolizes the unity between Shaivism and Vaishnavism.
DHAULI SHANTI STUPA
Dhauli shanti stupa, also known as the Peace Pagoda. This place holds not only spiritual but historical significance. This is the exact place where the devastating war of Kaliga took place. There were 1,000s of casualties, not just soldiers in the war but also civilians who didn’t take part in the war died because of the effects of the war (Famine and disease).
What makes this place so spiritual and religious is that the bloody aftermath of the Kalinga War led to Emperor Ashoka changing, as he abandoned the path of violence and chose the path of peace instead, adopting Buddhism. So this place that has a stained history of violence eventually turned into a symbol of peace.
THE ISKCON TEMPLE
Another temple in the temple-rich city of Bhubaneswar is the ISKCON temple. What makes this temple so special is that, unlike other Odisha temples that have traditional Kalinga construction of dark sandstones, the ISKCON temple was constructed with white marble. Dedicated to the divine brothers, Lord Balram and Lord Krishna, this temple holds spiritual significance for devotees.
RAMACHANDI TEMPLE
A Shakti Peetha dedicated to Goddess Ramachandi. Ramachandi temple is located in the Puri district near Konark. According to the locals, the Ramachandi temple in Konark is believed to be older than the Konark Sun Temple. Another legend says that Lord Rama visited this temple before heading towards Lanka to pray for his victory against the demon king, Ravana. The temple also holds great historical significance with the Legend of Kalapahaad.
Now that you know about some of the important temples in Odisha beyond Jagannath Puri, it may be time to plan your own spiritual journey. Keep in mind that this blog covers only some of the major temples in the state, not all of them. Odisha is home to many more temples, both within and beyond Puri, Konark, and Bhubaneswar, each with its own spiritual, cultural, and historical importance.
So, when you next plan a spiritual trip to Odisha, look beyond Jagannath Puri and explore some of these lesser-known and significant temples as well. If you’re ready to plan your spiritual journey to Odisha, you can get in touch with us and book your travel plans, temple visits, and other requirements.