10 Road Trips to The Best Pilgrimage Sites in Odisha
Odisha, or Kalinga as it was known in ancient times, is filled with the footprints of the history that has taken place here. That is why you can find the various tourist attractions scattered here in plenty. All you need is a few well-planned road trips to explore this wonderful land with some amazing sights to see and things to do. Probably the most awe-inspiring of these is the magnanimous temples and pilgrim sites, some of which have been here for centuries. Here we have listed some of the most prominent pilgrimages of Odisha which you can visit through roads.
10 Best Religious Places in Odisha with Pictures
- Sri Jagannath Puri Temple, Puri
- Lingaraj Temple, Bhubaneswar
- Parasurameswara Temple, Bhubaneswar
- Bhaskareswara Temple, Bhubaneswar
- Ananta Vasudev Temple, Bhubaneswar
- Vaital Deul Temple, Bhubaneswar
- Kedar Gauri Temple, Bhubaneswar
- Brahmeshwara Temple, Bhubaneswar
- Sun Temple, Konark
- Dhauli Shanti Stupa
- Leaning Temple of Huma, Sambalpur
1. Sri Jagannath Puri Temple, Puri
Puri is one of the most famous religious places in Odisha. The main attraction in this city is Sri Jagannath Puri Temple. It is one of the char dhams and visited by devotees and tourists all through the year. It is also one of the oldest temples in Odisha that dates back to the 10th century. The temple is dedicated to Jagannath, a form of Lord Vishnu. You must visit the temple during the Rath Yatra festival.
Best time to travel: October to February
2. Lingaraj Temple, Bhubaneswar
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lingaraj Temple is the largest temple in Bhubaneswar. The main attraction of the temple is the Shiva Linga, which is believed to have appeared naturally. The temple was constructed by King Jajati Keshari in the 7th century. The sanctum in the temple is decorated with flowers and lights on the occasion of Maha Shivratri and is a sight to behold.
Best time to travel: November to March
3. Parasurameswara Temple, Bhubaneswar
Parasurameswara Temple was built in 650 A.D. in a typical Oriya style architecture. You can visit this pilgrimage in Odisha to see one thousand lingas in the north-west corner of the temple premises. You can also find attractive carvings of Hindu gods and goddesses like Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, and Goddess Parvati.
Best time to travel: November to March
4. Bhaskareswara Temple, Bhubaneswar
Bhaskareswara Temple is located in the city of Bhubaneswar and dates back to the 7th century. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and you can find the 9ft tall Shivalinga here. Apart from the Shivalinga, the architecture of the temple, which looks like a Buddhist Stupa is highly admired by tourists.
Best time to travel: November to March
5. Ananta Vasudev Temple, Bhubaneswar
It is one of the oldest pilgrimages in Odisha that was constructed in the 13th century by Queen Chandrika. The main idol worshipped here is Lord Krishna. The temple has a lot of resemblance to the Lingaraj temple, while the carvings and Vaishnavite sculptures must be witnessed.
Best time to travel: November to March
6. Vaital Deul Temple, Bhubaneswar
If you have ever heard of Khakara style architecture and want to see it, you must visit Vaital Deul Temple in Bhubaneswar. The temple was built in the 8th century and the presiding deity is Goddess Chamunda. The distinctive feature of this temple is the set of three spires atop the structure, which is called Tini Mundea Deula by the locals.
Best time to travel: October to March
7. Kedar Gauri Temple, Bhubaneswar
Kedar Gauri Temple is one of the eight Asthasambhu Temples in the country. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Gauri, who is also called Kedar and Gauri. You must visit the Pilgrimage on the auspicious occasion of the annual procession that is held to celebrate the marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
Best time to travel: October to February
8. Brahmeshwara Temple, Bhubaneswar
Here you will be able to see another Oriya style of architecture. Brahmeshwara Temple was constructed in the 11th century, and the Shivalingam is worshipped here. Four shrines surround the temple. Many tourists visit this temple and admire the carvings.
Best time to travel: October to February
9. Sun Temple, Konark
One of the most fascinating pilgrimage sites in Odisha is the Sun Temple in Konark. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the temple is built in the form of a giant chariot. Dedicated to the Sun God, the temple was built even before the 15th century.
Best time to travel: September to March
10. Dhauli Shanti Stupa
The Shanti Stupa in Dhauli is one of the spiritual places in Odisha that is visited by tourists from all corners of the world. This stupa was constructed in 1970 by Kalinga Nippon Buddha Stupa in partnership with the Japan Buddha Sangha. While you enter this Buddhist Peace Pagoda, you will be able to see two Ashokan pillars with two lions standing atop.
Best time to travel: November to March
11. Leaning Temple of Huma, Sambalpur
While you are planning your road trips to pilgrimage sites in Odisha, you must include the Leaning Temple of Huma on your list. The temple was constructed in the 17th century and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This is the only leaning temple in the world so far. The main occasion celebrated here in Mahashivratri, in which a grand fair is also held.
Best time to travel: September to March
Many of these places also have great tourist attractions and nearby places to visit, which you may cover within the same trip. To enjoy your trip without worries, you may consider going to taking a Self-Drive car on Rent by Revv. With this, you can not only save some money but also optimize your time while you are there.
