Bhubaneswar is the ‘The City of Temples’ and it clearly meets this description to its fullest. It is the capital of the city Odisha. Being the seat of Tribhubaneswar or ‘Lord Lingaraj’, Bhubaneswar is an important Hindu pilgrimage centre. Hundreds of temples dot the landscape of the Old Town, 
which once boasted of more than 2000 temples. Bhubaneswar is the place where temple building activities of Orissan style flowered from its very inception to its fullest culmination extending over a period of over one thousand years.
Over the years, Bhubaneswar has been known by different names, the most notable ones being Toshali, KalingaNagari, and EkamraKanan.Owing to the burgeoning population and space constraints, the Government decided to shift the state capital from Cuttack. And Bhubaneswar was born. The city was designed by German architect Otto Königsberger. Today, it is one of the cleanest cities in the country. It is an important tourist and religious centre. Along with Puri and Konark, Bhubaneswar forms the ‘SwarnaTribhuja’ or the Golden Triangle of tourist destinations in East India.
Bhubaneswar is famous for the Classical dance form Odissi, handicrafts, sand artistry, sculpturing as well as theatre and music. Also, the sweets dished out over here are mouth wateringly delicious.
Places of interest:
Khandagiri & Udayagiri Hills – Located 8kms away from Bhubaneswar, these twin hills are the site of an ancient Jain monastery. There are cave like chambers carved in the hill. Each cave contains artistic carvings dating back to the 2nd century.
Lingaraja Temple – This tenth century temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is one of the finest examples of Hindu temples in India. The 55 meter high Lingaraja temple is covered with carvings and is a sight to behold.
Dhauli – Situated 8kms away from Bhubaneswar, this is where the gruesome Kalinga war too place. It was here that remorseful King Ashoka renounced violence and embraced Buddhism.
The new Bhubaneswar with its modern buildings and extensive infrastructure perfectly complements its historic surroundings. With facilities to cater to every type of visitor, Bhubaneswar makes an ideal tourist destination.
(Image Courtesy: Google Image)
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