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Bindusagar Lake
- Holy Lake
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| Lying to the north of the Lingaraja Temple, the Bindusagar Lake is one of the popular tourist attractions of Bhubaneswar. Infact, the lake has been gaining more and more popularity amongst the tourists as a picnic spot. Every year, the idol of Lord Lingaraja (Lord Shiva), enshrines in the Lingaraja Temple, is brought to the lake for a ritual bath. People believe that when a person takes a dip in the Bindu Sagar Lake, the holy water washes away all his sins and he gets rid of all his diseases.
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Dhauli Hill
- Buddhist Pilgrimage Destination
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| Dhauli Hill, one of the most visited Buddhist pilgrim destinations in India, is situated in the state of Orissa. It is located in the Khurda district, at a distance of approximately 8 km from Bhubaneswar. The hill represents the place where, after witnessing the carnage of Kalinga War, Emperor Ashoka relinquished war and adopted Buddhism. Serving as a proof of this renunciation are the edicts of the Emperor, which have been preserved here. It is 8 km from Bhubaneswar.
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Lingaraj Temple
- Lord Shiva Temple
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| Lingaraj temple is one of the most popular temples of Orissa. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, also known as ‘Lingaraj’. It is adorned with beautiful sculptures, which have been carved on the spire. Lingaraja temple is approximately 54.8 metres high and enshrines a huge statue of Lord Shiva, made up of granite. The idol is 8 feet in diameter and is placed on a platform that is about 8 inches above ground. The deity is bathed everyday with water, milk and bhang (marijuana) |
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Mukteshwar Temple
- Gem of Orissa Architecture
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| Mukteshwar temple, one of the most prominent temples of Bhubaneswar, has been constructed in the style that is quite similar to the one used in the Kalinga School of Temple Architecture. The splendid Torana of the temple, an ornamental arched gateway, is very much reminiscent of the influence of Buddhism in Orissa. Established in the year 950 AD, Mukteswar temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Its major highlights consist of the exquisite carvings that depict ascetics in different meditative pose. On the eastern side of the temple, there is a large well.
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Nandankanan National Park
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| Nandankanan National Park is a must-visit tourist attraction of Orissa. On one hand, it fulfills the criteria of being a zoological park. On the other hand, it also serves as a grand botanical garden, where one can see even the rarest species of plants. The zoological park has been demarcated from the botanical garden with a natural lake. Nandankanan Wildlife Sanctuary has been named after the ‘mythical garden’ of Gods, the mention of which has often been made in the Puranic literature of India.It is 20 km from Bhubaneswar.
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Rajarani Temple
- Lord Brahma Temple
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| Rajarani temple is one of the most renowned temples in Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Orissa. It is made from the wonderful red and gold sandstone, which is locally known as Rajarani and this is what gives the temple its name of ‘Raja Rani’. The major attractions of the temple consist of the elaborately carved figurines. Rajarani temple of Bhubaneshwar is dedicated to Lord Brahma. The origin of this temple can be dated back to the eleventh century.
It is an epitome of elegance and grace. The sculptural images adorning its façade and interiors are simply outstanding. Females are portrayed in different postures, like holding the child in their arms, holding mirror in their hand, etc. There is no other temple of this kind in the entire state of Orissa. Rajarani temple has also been ornamented with marvelous artistic sculptural carvings and stands enclosed within a beautiful garden |
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Udaygiri & Khandagiri Caves
- Stupendous carvings
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| Orissa is well known for the ancient caves located in the twin cities of Udaygiri (meaning the hill of the sunrise) and Khandagiri (meaning the broken hill). They are situated near the capital city of Bhubaneswar. Udaygiri caves are approximately 135 ft high and Khandagiri caves are 118 ft high. The caves are reminiscent of influence of Buddhism and Jainism in Orissa. The origin of the rock cut caves of Udaygiri and Khandagiri dates back to the 2nd century BC.It is 90 km from Bhubaneswar.
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