Bhubaneswar is the capital of ODISHA (orissa). It is also famous and popularly known as the "mandir malini BHUBSNESWAR". The Temple city of INDIA, and for lord lingaraj. Bhubaneswar is famous for hindu pilgrimage centre. you can find hundreds of temples all around the old town, people says that there were more than 2000 temples and bhubaneswar was the place of workshop on architectural and sculpture marvel, where temple buildings activities of odiissan style were blossomed over a period of more than one thousand years.
Historically Bhubaneswar has been known by different names such as Toshali, Kalinga Nagari, Nagar Kalinga, Ekamra Kanan, Ekamra Khetra and Mandira Malini Nagari. The largest city of Odisha, Bhubaneswar today is a center of economic and religious importance in the region. The modern city of Bhubaneswar was designed by the German architect Otto Konigsberger in 1946. It is one of the cleanest and planned city of Modern India, after Chandigarh. The city is surrounded by dense cover of forests, Chandaka and the Nandankanan. This along with an wealth of in the city greenery and an efficient civic body (the BMC) makes it one of the cleanest and greenest cities of India today.
Lingaraj Temple :-
Lingaraj Temple is a temple of the Hindu god Shiva and is one of the oldest temples of the Temple City Bhubaneswar. The The term 'Lingaraj' suggests the king of Lingas, where linga is the phallic form of Lord Shiva. In the 11th century, Lingaraj Temple was built by the King Jajati Keshari, who belonged to Soma Vansh. It is thought that when the King shifted his capital from Jaipur to Bhubaneshwar, he started the construction of Lingaraj Temple. 
Mukteswar Temple was built in the 10th century and is well known for its stone architecture. One of the most delightful expressions of the Kalinga school of architecture is the luminous beauty of the Mukteswar temple, often called as the 'Gem of Orissan architecture’. It is a glorious synthesis of the old and new styles. This temple has some of the most complex carvings stories from the Panchatantra. The domed gateway is particularly fine. It shows an excellent combination of Hindu, Buddhist and Jain features.Rajarani temple:-
Eleventh century Rajarani temple is one of the most renowned temples in Bhubaneswar. 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 highly fixed china. 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.Nandankanan National Park:-
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. The sanctuary has been so named because of its exquisite beauty and alluring serenity. It serves as the natural habitat of a number of animals, ranging from the rare white tigers, reptiles and snakes to distinctive kinds of birds. Even for kids, this place is very enjoyable. They can take a joy ride in the toy train that runs here. For the elders, there are boating facilities at the lake. The whole atmosphere of the Nandankanan National Park is so serene that it completely rejuvenates the mind as well as the soul.Dhauli Hill:-
Dhauli Hill one of the most visited Buddhist pilgrim destinations in India. 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 surrender war and adopted Buddhism. Serving as a proof of this rejection are the edicts of the Emperor, which have been preserved here. It is in these edicts that he had asked his administrators to rule with equality and sympathy. One of the major attractions of the Dhauli Hills is a Shanti Stupa (Peace Pagoda). Situated on the opposite hill, this stupa was built by the Indians, in collaboration with the Japanese. It is circular structure, which is decorated with a mushroom like ground on top.
Orissa State Museum:-
The origin of Orissa State Museum can be traced back to the year 1932. Its foundation was laid when Professor N. C. Banerjee and Professor Ghanshyam Dash of Ravenshaw College. Two famous historians, initiated the task of collecting archaeological treasures from different places. At that time, the museum was started within the college premises only. It was later in 1938 that, the Government of Orissa formally declared it as the Orissa State Museum. The moment you will enter the Orissa state museum, its very first sight will take you into the world of past, reminding you of the history and cultural traditions of the state. Orissa state museum of Bhubaneswar has an amazing collection of copper plates, coins, stone inscriptions and sculptures. You’ll be astonished to see rare manuscripts written on the palm leaves. The museum also houses age-old bronze tools and traditional & folk musical instruments.Udaygiri & Khandagiri Caves:-
2nd century BC 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. The main attraction of these caves consists of its stupendous carvings. Of all the caves in Udaygiri, the largest one is the Rani Gumpha or the Queen’s Cave. The cave of the queen is adorned with elaborate carvings. There is also an Elephant Cave or the Hathi Gumpha, where you can find the amazing statues of elephants installed on the gate. In the Khandagiri city, one can find a large number of caves and most of them have been occupied for meditative purposes.
Located at a distance of nearly 65 km from Bhubaneswar, Konark city is famous throughout the world for its magnificent Sun Temple, which is dedicated to Surya, the Sun God. It is one of the three cities that form the Golden Triangle of tourism in Orissa. Konark is a city that is well known for its architectural wonders. Besides the numerous temples and maths, its other major attraction is the Konark Beach, one of the most enchanting beaches of India. The city of Konark is a energetic place, surrounded by lush green forests. The life here is full of colors, which is aptly reflected in the exquisite handcrafted items seen in its local markets. The city is gaining more and more popularity as far as the domestic as well as international travel is concerned.
2nd century BC 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. The main attraction of these caves consists of its stupendous carvings. Of all the caves in Udaygiri, the largest one is the Rani Gumpha or the Queen’s Cave. The cave of the queen is adorned with elaborate carvings. There is also an Elephant Cave or the Hathi Gumpha, where you can find the amazing statues of elephants installed on the gate. In the Khandagiri city, one can find a large number of caves and most of them have been occupied for meditative purposes.Konark:-
Located at a distance of nearly 65 km from Bhubaneswar, Konark city is famous throughout the world for its magnificent Sun Temple, which is dedicated to Surya, the Sun God. It is one of the three cities that form the Golden Triangle of tourism in Orissa. Konark is a city that is well known for its architectural wonders. Besides the numerous temples and maths, its other major attraction is the Konark Beach, one of the most enchanting beaches of India. The city of Konark is a energetic place, surrounded by lush green forests. The life here is full of colors, which is aptly reflected in the exquisite handcrafted items seen in its local markets. The city is gaining more and more popularity as far as the domestic as well as international travel is concerned.The beauty of white sands bordering the beach is captivating. Shopping in Konark is always fun. There is a excess of items that you can buy here, like the embellished sculptures depicting various Hindu Gods and Goddesses. During festivals, the city becomes alive with fun filled activities. The Dance Festival of Konark is very popular and people come here from different parts of the country to attend it. You can travel to the city anytime during the year. However, the best time to visit Konark is between October and March.
