Rahagir
The 11th-century Lingaraj Temple

Destinations / Odisha

Bhubaneswar

Odisha's capital, known as the Temple City, with old Kalinga-style temples and Jain rock-cut caves.

FamousHeritagePilgrimageCityWildlife

Bhubaneswar once had over a thousand temples and about 350 still stand, many in the Kalinga style. Jain caves, the Dhauli peace pagoda and a large zoo sit within easy reach. It suits heritage lovers, pilgrims and families, and it is also the usual base for Puri and Konark.

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The 11th-century Lingaraj Temple
The 11th-century Lingaraj Temple
Mukteswara Temple
Mukteswara Temple
Parsurameswar Temple in the Old Town
Parsurameswar Temple in the Old Town
Shrine in the Lingaraj Temple complex
Shrine in the Lingaraj Temple complex

Photos from Wikimedia Commons. Select a photo for its author and licence.

Best time to go

WhenWhat to expect
October to MarchWinter is the best time; cool, dry days suit temple walks, with December and January the most pleasant.
April to JuneHot season; temperatures often go above 40 C, so plan sightseeing for early morning and late afternoon.
July to SeptemberMonsoon brings heavy rain and some flooding, which can disrupt outdoor plans.

Sights and activities

1

Lingaraj Temple

An 11th-century Shiva temple in the Kalinga style whose 55-metre tower rises over the old town. Non-Hindus may not enter but can look in from a viewing platform outside.

Distance
In the Old Town
Entry
Free (photography not allowed inside)
Timings
About 6 am to 9 pm (sources differ on closing time)
Time needed
1 hour

MapWrong fee or timing?

2

Mukteswara Temple

A small 10th-century temple known for fine carving and an arched stone gateway, seen as an early example of Odia temple design.

Distance
In the Old Town, near Lingaraj
Entry
Free
Timings
About 6:30 or 7 am to 7:30 pm, daily
Time needed
1 hour

MapWrong fee or timing?

3

Rajarani Temple

An 11th-century temple of reddish-gold sandstone with no presiding deity, famous for its detailed carvings.

Distance
In the Old Town area
Entry
Ticketed; about 50 rupees for Indians (sources disagree)
Timings
6:30 am to 7:30 pm, daily
Time needed
1 hour

MapWrong fee or timing?

4

Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves

Jain rock-cut caves from around the 1st century BCE on two hills, with 18 caves at Udayagiri and 15 at Khandagiri and views over the city.

Distance
On the western edge of the city
Entry
About 15 rupees for Indians, 200 for foreigners
Timings
About 9 am to 6 pm
Time needed
1-2 hours

MapWrong fee or timing?

5

Odisha State Museum

Holds sculptures, coins, weapons, palm-leaf manuscripts and traditional paintings from across the state.

Distance
In the city centre
Entry
10 rupees for Indians
Timings
10 am to 5 pm, closed Mondays
Time needed
2-3 hours

MapWrong fee or timing?

6

Dhauli Shanti Stupa

A white peace pagoda on a hill above the Daya River, at the site linked to the Kalinga War and Emperor Ashoka's turn to Buddhism.

Distance
About 8 km south of the city
Entry
Free
Timings
About 6 am to 8 pm
Time needed
1 hour

MapWrong fee or timing?

7

Nandankanan Zoological Park

A large zoo and botanical garden in the Chandaka forest area, known for breeding white tigers, with safari rides and a lake for boating.

Distance
About 20 km from the city
Entry
50 rupees adult, 10 rupees child (3-12), 100 rupees foreigners; safari 80 non-AC or 130 AC
Timings
8 am to 5 pm (Oct-Mar), 7:30 am to 5:30 pm (Apr-Sep); closed Mondays
Time needed
3-4 hours

MapWrong fee or timing?

Getting there

By bus
Baramunda Bus Station, about 5 to 8 km from the centre, is the main stand for OSRTC and private buses; NH 16 links the city with Kolkata and Chennai.
By train
Bhubaneswar Railway Station (East Coast Railway) is central and has express trains to Kolkata, Chennai, New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.
By air
Biju Patnaik International Airport (BBI) is about 3 to 6 km from the city centre, with domestic flights and some international routes.
Where to base yourself
Stay near the Old Town and Lingaraj area for temples, or near the railway station for easy transport links.

Getting around

  • Auto-rickshaws cost about 50 to 150 rupees per city ride; most do not use meters, so agree the fare first.
  • App cabs such as Ola and Uber operate in the city.
  • Mo Bus runs air-conditioned, GPS-tracked city buses with electronic ticketing; they are the cheapest way around but can be crowded at peak hours.
  • A taxi from the airport into the city should cost no more than about 200 rupees; it is not prepaid.
  • Hired cars with drivers and taxis are easy to find for day trips to Puri and Konark.

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Where to stay

Budget levelTypePrice per night
BudgetBudget hotels and guesthouses₹800 to ₹1,800
Mid-rangeThree-star and boutique hotels₹2,000 to ₹5,000
LuxuryFour and five-star hotels₹6,000 to ₹15,000

Food

An Odia thali costs about 150 to 300 rupees, street snacks about 20 to 50 rupees, and modern restaurants about 500 to 1500 rupees per person. OTDC runs Nimantran, a restaurant for Odia food.

Try these

  • Dalma (lentils cooked with vegetables)
  • Santula (lightly spiced mixed vegetables)
  • Chhena jhili (fried cottage-cheese sweet)
  • Pitha (rice cakes)
  • Manda pitha (steamed stuffed rice dumplings)
  • Prawn curry

Vegetarian food is easy to find. Some places such as Hare Krishna serve pure vegetarian food without onion or garlic, which suits Jain diners.

Daily costs

Budget levelStay per roomFood per personLocal transport
Budget₹1,100₹450₹200 per person
Mid-range₹3,200₹1,000₹1,500 per vehicle
Luxury₹9,000₹2,200₹2,500 per vehicle

Per day. Travel to and from your city is added in the planner above.

Permits and documents

No permits are needed. Carry photo ID for hotels; foreigners need a passport copy and a photo to buy a SIM card.

Safety

By day
Generally comfortable for sightseeing; watch belongings in crowded temple areas and agree auto fares in advance.
At night
Use app cabs or hotel-arranged transport after dark rather than hailing unknown vehicles.
Solo women
Dress modestly at temples and use app cabs at night.
Roads
City roads are paved; summer heat and monsoon flooding are the main travel concerns.
Emergency numbers
112 (all emergencies)

Practical

Mobile network
Airtel, Jio and Vodafone have good coverage.
ATMs and cash
ATMs are common in the city; carry cash for small shops, markets and autos, as cards are mainly taken at bigger hotels and restaurants.
Fuel
Fuel stations are available throughout the capital city.
Medical
Hospitals are easy to find across the city. In an emergency dial 112, or 108 for an ambulance in most states. Ask your hotel for the nearest large hospital.

Coverage maps: Jio · Airtel · Vi · BSNL. Report a problem

Accessibility

Seniors
Old Town temples are close together and mostly flat; the caves at Udayagiri and Khandagiri involve climbing steps on hills.
Children
Nandankanan zoo and Ekamra Kanan gardens suit children; avoid the hot midday hours in summer.
Wheelchair users
Temple steps, footwear rules and hill caves can make access hard.

Unless a sight is described as accessible, assume it is not step-free.

Culture and responsible travel

  • Non-Hindus may not enter Lingaraj Temple; respect the rule and use the viewing platform.
  • Dress modestly, remove footwear at temples and ask before taking photographs; some temples may ask men to wear a dhoti.
  • Bargaining is normal in markets but not in fixed-price shops such as government handloom stores.
  • Buy Odisha handlooms such as Ikat and Sambalpuri textiles and Pattachitra paintings at Utkalika and Boyanika government stores.
  • A free Ekamra heritage walk runs through the Old Town on Sunday mornings.

What to pack

  • Photo ID (Aadhaar, passport or driving licence); hotels and permits ask for it
  • Clothes in earthy colours, a cap and binoculars for safaris
  • Clothes that cover shoulders and knees, and socks for hot stone floors where shoes come off. Some temples do not allow phones or bags, so carry little
  • Some cash in small notes for autos, stalls and tips
  • Your regular medicines, plus basics for stomach upsets, headaches and cuts

Multi-stop trips that include Bhubaneswar

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Distance by road.

All of Odisha

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