Bhubaneswar – ‘The Temple City’
Bhubaneswar is the capital and largest city of Odisha. Along with being an old town, the city was often described as “The Temple City”. With a diverse range of historical resources, it has a significant sacred cultural landscape that has evolved over time. The modern city of Bhubaneswar was officially established in 1949 when it replaced Cuttack as the capital of Odisha. It has a total land area of 422 sq. km.
Things to do in Bhubaneswar
Some of the top things to do in Bhubaneswar include a visit to the 54m high Lingaraj Temple, the Museum of Tribal Arts & Artefacts, the 10th-century Mukteshwar Temple, the 1100 AD old Rajarani Temple and the Parsurameswar Mandir dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Tourist attractions in Bhubaneswar
There are several options but some of the best historical places to visit include the Udayagiri and Khandagiri rock-cut caves, the Ashoka rock edict at Dhauli and the Ratnagiri Buddhist excavation.
Places to shop in Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar is an excellent shopping destination with materials ranging from textiles, paintings, shell handicraft, applique work to semi-precious stones. One can visit the main markets at Bapuji Nagar Market, Ashok Nagar Market or Shahid Nagar Market. Utkalika is a state-run government emporium in the Marketing Building and is great for handicrafts. Anwesha Tribal Arts & Crafts at IRC Village, Nayapalli is good for a range of dokra craft and tribal paintings.
Best time to visit Bhubaneswar
The best time to visit the city is between October and February when the weather is pleasant. Monsoon time is also beautiful as one can witness the scenic beauty of the place. Winters can get a bit chilly but average temperatures are around 12°C.
Modes of transport
Buses by DTC and Odisha State Road Transportation Corporation, auto-rickshaws and cabs on rent are the primary modes of transport.
Weather in Bhubaneswar
The warmest month is May with an average high of 32°C. The coldest month is December with an average low of 15.6°C. Bhubaneswar experiences the most rainfall in August with an average of 19 days of rainfall.
Airport in Bhubaneswar
Biju Patnaik Airport (BBI) is approximately three km from the city centre. It allows round the clock arrival and departure and is also equipped with free Wi-Fi.