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Very Beautiful Temple. There are many small and big temple inside premises. Architecture is so beautiful. Vibes inside the temple are awesome Need to maintain cleaning Security is very tight. Must go place.

Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar is a sacred gem, showcasing intricate Hindu architecture. With a towering spire, it embodies the cultural richness of Odisha, offering a serene space for spiritual reflection and appreciation of ancient craftsmanship. It's a very big temple, there are many small temples are present in the temple promises. Mobile Phone, Camera, any leather products are not allowed inside the premises.

The largest and the most sacred shrine of the Temple City Bhubaneswar is the Lingaraj Temple. The temple is devoted to Lord Harihara, which essentially means it is dedicated to Hari (Lord Vishnu) and Hara (Lord Shiva). Built in the 11th century, this place of worship houses a Swayambhu (self-manifested) Shivalinga, which is believed to be 8 feet in diameter and 8 inches tall. An architectural wonder, the Lingaraj Temple is the top tourist attraction of the city; however, it can only be visited by Hindus. A platform has been built outside the complex for non-Hindus to get a glimpse of this magnificent ancient structure. Thousands of devotees flock the temple across the year, but this number increases significantly on festivals like Mahashivratri and Ashokastami that are celebrated with much fanfare in its premises. Built in Kalinga architectural style, the temple boasts of finely carved sculptures on the walls of the temple. Spread over a huge area, the temple complex also features 150 smaller shrines. The height of the tower of the main sanctum is quite high and can be seen from a distance. History: According to historical accounts, the Lingaraj Temple was built in the 11th century by Jajati Keshari, who was a Somvanshi king. However, there is a belief that the Swayambhu Shivalinga in the temple was worshiped even in the 7th century. As per mythological studies, the temple finds its name in Brahma Purana, which is an ancient Hindu scripture dedicated to Lord Brahma. An interesting aspect of the shrine is that it signifies the coming together of two major sects of Hinduism - Shaivism and Vaishnavism. Every year, festivals like Mahashivaratri, Ashokashtami and Chandan Yatra are celebrated in the temple with loads of enthusiasm. Among these, Mahashivaratri is the most important one; it is celebrated in the Phalgun month of the Hindu calendar. On this day, thousands of devotees visit the temple to make offerings to Lord Shiva. Many devotees also keep fast through the day and break it at night, after a Mahadipa (big illuminated earthen lamp) is raised atop the temple. Chandan Yatra is a 21-day festival that begins on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya. During this festival, the idols of the deities are taken to the Bindu Sarovar and a procession is performed in the water in beautifully decorated narrow boats called Chapa. The idols are then sanctified with Chandan (sandalwood paste) and water. The annual Car Festival or Rath Yatra of Lord Lingaraj is called as Ashokashtami. It is celebrated with much fervor on the eight day of Chaitra month (March/April) as per the Hindu calendar. During the festival, the idol of Lord Lingaraj is taken to the Rameswar Temple (also called as Mausi Maa Temple) in a decorated chariot. The idol of the deity is brought back to the Lingaraj Temple after four days, following a ritual bath at the Bindu Sarovar. Devotees gather in large numbers to attend this festival and pay their homage. Bhubaneswar was referred to as Ekamra Van in ancient times. This garden has a variety of plants, which are associated with different Hindu gods and goddesses and are known for their medicinal properties. Some of the other religious places to visit after exploring the Lingaraj Temple are the famous Mukteswara Temple, Rajarani Temple, Ananta Vasudeva Temple, Brahmeswara Temple and Parasurameswara Temple. Each of these temples is sacred to Hinduism and are popular for their mesmerizing architecture. Besides temples, tourists can also head to other interesting places of the city like the Odisha State Museum, Odisha Craft Museum, Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves and Dhauligiri Shanti Stupa. Timing: There is no entry fee to visit the temple. It remains open on all days, from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm. Important: Entry into the temple is restricted for non-Hindus. full videos is available on my YouTube channel (@JayHanuman6496)

1000 years old temple built by Jajati Kesari of Somvanshi Dynasty.... very intricate architectural work & stone carvings are done on every temple wall inside the premise.... no mobile phone is allowed inside the temple.

The temple must be one of the best one I've visited so far. The intricate carvings and layered vimana just amazed me. It is one of the finest pieces of Kalinga architecture. Must visit if in bhubaneswar. Many pundits ask you to give a tour of the mandir. They do an excellent job at it but in the end make you commit yourself to a annadanam and that is of fixed prices starting 2500. They are quite good at convincing you and there is nothing wrong in donating but the amount is very hefty. You can take a pandit for the temple tour. They also get you through the que but beware of the trap.