Orissa is the perfect essence of the incredible India which is situated on the eastern coast and is best termed as the soul of India. It’s a mystical land which brings the harmonious blend of hoary past & the modern present with awe-inspiring monuments, thousands of master craftsmen and artists, innumerable wildlife sanctuaries, stunning natural landscapes and many more.
If you are a big spiritual believer, the state of Odisha has got something very special for with its wonderful ranges of well-known temples. In fact, no Orissa tour package is complete without adding these famous temples into their to-do list:
The Jagannath Temple, Puri:
This temple attracts tourism from across the globe. The architectural beauty constructed in the 12th Century AD is a real delight to witness. This temple is in fact, the largest shrine in the state constructed on almost eleven acres of land. There’re many astonishing facts about this temple that can be explored while on a trip to Puri. The annual festival of Rath Yatra is perhaps the biggest attraction of Puri.
The Lingaraj Tempe, Bhubaneswar:
Founded in the 11th century, the Lingaraj Temple is devoted to Lord Lingaraja (Lord Shiva). A huge statue of the Lord made of granite can be seen at the temple. The 8ft high idol is bathed regularly with bhang, milk, and water every day. There exist 150 smaller shrines inside the premises of the Lingaraj Temple. There’re 4 parts of this temple, namely the main temple, the ‘Yajna Shala’, the ‘Bhoga Mandap’ and the ‘Natya Shala’.
Sun Temple, Konark:
Constructed in the thirteenth century and is renowned for its stunning architecture, the Sun Temple is Konark is devoted to Lord Sun or Surya. This shrine has a distinctive architecture compared to other shrines and are constructed in the shape of Lord Surya’s chariot. There’re so many erotic sculptures built on the walls of this shrine which make it a unique among other temples in Odisha. This temple is a World UNESCO heritage site that is worth adding in all Orissa tourism packages.
Maa Tara Tarini Temple, Brahmapur:
It’s one of the oldest pilgrimage centers in Odisha and is also one of the 4 major Shakti Peethas in India. Located on the Kumari hills at the reservoir of the River Rushikulya close to Brahmapur city, Maa Tara Tarini Temple is a must visit for all the Maa devotes out there. This place is pretty important for the Hindus as it’s said that all wishes will be fulfilled by Maa Tara Tarini if they pray whole heartedly.