Bhubaneshwar Things to Do

We made this journey of 2 hours to Konark from Bhubaneshwar. This was before the era of digital Cameras, however I shall attach some pics for the readers benefit. One stops breathing the first time they see this temple. I really thought Belur, Halebid and Hampi were the best, but the Sun Temple is equally remarkable in its architectural intricacies. It makes sense to ask for a guide as they show you so much more than what you are able to comprehend on your own.
Konark is derived from Kona-corner and arka-sun; built in 1278 it is one of the grandest temples in India. The entire temple is conceived as a chariot of the sun god with 24 wheels, each about 10 feet in diameter.7 horses drag the temple and 2 lions guard the temple. The area is some 1000 acres and is sure to leave ann impression upon the visitors! It was built such that the first rays of the sun passed thru three doors to fall on the deity inside exactly!
It is described that in the part there was a load stone on the top of the Sun temple and due to its magnetic effects it was drawing vessels passing through the Konark sea resulting in heavy damage, so the temple was partially brought down by subsequent monarchs!
All in all, Konark is an architectural wonder and a must see for any body visiting India.

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It is said that there were about 7,000 temples in Bhubaneswar which earned it the coveted title of the 'Temple City of India' although only a few hundred of these remain today. The temples are all located 2-3km south of the modern city centre and are fairly spread out so it's a good idea to hire an auto-rickshaw in order to tour around them. They date from the 7th to the 13th centuries, a period which saw the waning of Buddhism and a revival of Hinduism under the successive dynasties that ruled Orissa. The main temples include the large Lingaraj Temple which is a complex that contains the main temple as well as some 150 smaller temples and shrines but is, unfortunately out of bounds to non-Hindu's. Most of the other temples worth visiting are located to the east of the Lingaraj Temple. These include the Parasurameswar Temple, (the oldest), the Mukteswar Temple with a wonderful arched torana (gateway), the Raja Rani Mandir which is very ornate and the Brahmeswar Mandir. More photo's can be found in one of my travelogues.

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Though managed by the Archaeological Survey of India, this thousand-year-old temple is an active place of Hindu worship. I saw several people make offerings and lie nearly prone in prayer. Admission is Rs 100, though there's no charge for still cameras.

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Non-Hindus are not allowed onto the grounds of this complex, which includes a 180-foot high main temple -- dedicated to Tribhubaneswar, 'God of the Three Worlds' -- and dozens of smaller temples and shrines. My photos were taken from a platform, adjacent to the grounds, that offers a view of most of the structures. It's free, though a donation is expected: I gave the 'custodian' Rs 50 (about US$ 1.30).

Parts of the complex date back to the 8th century c.e., though the main temple is a work of the 11th century.

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The Nandankanan Zoo, just outside Bhubaneswar, has the world's largest "collection" of white tigers, a mutation almost always the result of close relatives breeding, now mostly in captivity.

They're not albinos, as their black (or chocolate brown) stripes indicate. Among the other effects of the recessive gene that gives them white rather than orange fur are: 1) They're always cross-eyed. 2) They're larger than their "normal" (i.e., orange) tigers.

The zoo is better laid out than others I've seen in developing countries.

Unfortunately, "rich" tourists are treated specially. A six-year-old elephant was rousted from whatever it was doing to pose with me, rub my head with its trunk, and allow me to run my hand over that appendage. Cost: Rs 50 (about US$ 1.32).

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The history of the Orissa State Museum dates back to 1932 when two historians in Cuttack started a collection of archaeological treasures from various places which they housed within the premises of Ravenshaw College in Cuttack. The state capital was then shifted to Bhubaneswar in 1948 and the current building was built to house the growing collection in 1960.

The 55,000 or so exhibits here are divided into sections that include archaeology, mining and geology, natural history, art and craft, contemporary art and anthropology. The collection includes musical instruments, coins, bronze age tools, armoury, Orissan tribal artefacts, costumes, manuscripts, inscriptions and stone carvings and is well worth a visit. More photo's can be found in one of my travelogues.

Open: Tues-Sun 10am-5pm. Closed Mondays. Admission: Rs50 for foreigners.

This cave (cave 1) is a two-storey cave and is also known as "Queen's Palace Cave". It is the largest and most interesting of the caves as it has been carved with Jain symbols and battle scenes. Other carvings include woman dancing and playing music, kings and queens in courtly splendour, elephants, monkeys and foliage.

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Located about 8km west of the city centre, these Jain caves date back to the 1st century BC. They are located in the twin hills of Udayagiri (Sunrise Hill) and Khandagiri (Broken Hill) which were made for monks to retreat to. As you approach them from the main highway, Udayagiri is on the right and contains the best caves. These include some 18 caves such as the Chhota Hathi Gumpha Cave or "Small Elephant Cave", Ganesh Gumpha Cave and Bagh Gumpha which is shaped like the open mouth of a tiger. On the other side of the small road lie 15 caves in Khandagiri which are less impressive than the ones on Udayagiri. At the top of this hill lies an 18th century Jain temple and the views over the flat plains with Bhubaneswar in the distance are best viewed at sunset. I took an auto-rickshaw from Bhubaneswar railway station (where I had just reserved a train) to here and back to my hotel near the station for Rs150 which wasn't bad considering I spent more than an hour here. More photos can be found in one of my travelogues.

Open: Sunrise-sunset. Admission: Rs100 for foreigners.