Posted 23 December 2022 in Winter wandering

Why Bhubaneshwar is the perfect destinations to enjoy the wintertime chill

Renowned as the Temple City, Bhubaneswar, the largest city in Odisha, is also famous for its educational institutes and business activities. It is believed that there were once as many as 700 temples in the city. The capital of Odisha, Bhubaneshwar, was established before than 6th century BCE and has a rich history of Hindu, Buddhist and Jain religions. Bhubaneshwar is a major tourist destination due to its temples and religious festivals. Along with Konark and Puri, Bhubaneshwar is part of the Golden Triangle, one of India’s most visited tourist destinations.

Festivals and Events

Adivasi Mela

The Adivasi Mela is the reason you should plan your visit to Bhubaneshwar in the winter. The state of Odisha has a vibrant tribal heritage and history. The history and culture of Odisha revolve around tribal heritage. The Government of Odisha organises the annual Adivasi Mela (Tribal Fair) in January to honour their tribals and promote their art, craft and culture.

Adivasi Mela attracts many visitors as it showcases the linguistic, cuisine, music, architecture and heritage of ethnic tribal communities of Odisha. The tribal artefacts showcased at Adivasi Mela are in high demand. Thousands of tourists visit Bhubaneshwar to be part of the Adivasi Meal. The artefacts exhibited here are hand-made by the tribals and are also up for sale. If you are a lover of tribal art, then you can buy exquisite tribal art directly from the tribals.

Ashokastami

Ashokashtami is one of the most important festivals dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakti. It is celebrated in March, and many devotees throng Bhubaneshwar during this time to be part of this festival. Ashokashtami is celebrated for four days, and during this time, the influx of devotees and tourists is highest. According to the Purana, the story behind Ashokaashtami is about Lord Ram’s victory over demon Ravan. Lord Ram prayed to Goddess Shakti & Lord Shiva at the Lingaraj Temple for seven days to defeat demon King Ravan. On the eighth day, Goddess Shakti and Lord Shiva granted the powers and blessings. After taking their blessings, Lord Ram killed Ravan with the help of Brahmastra, which was a deadly weapon that Lord Bramha created. After demolishing Ravan in the battle, Lord Ram took out the Chariot procession of Goddess Shakti and Lord Shiva on Ashtami day. Since that day, Ashokaashtami festival has been celebrated as the victory of good over evil by the devotee of Lord Ram.

Apart from this festival of Durga Puja, Janmashtami, Kali Puja and Raja Sankranti are also some of the festivals celebrated in Bhubaneshwar.

Places to visit in Bhubaneshwar

Bhubaneswar is known as the city of temples, and this makes it a paradise not only for the devotees but also for those who love to visit and enjoy the grandeur of these old temples. We are listing below some tourist attractions in the city which you can visit during your winter vacation.

Lingaraj Temple

Lingaraj Temple is a major tourist attraction where apart from devotees, thousands of tourists visit to experience its beauty and grandeur. The temple was built by King Jajati Keshari and dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is revered for the Linga (phallic form of Lord Shiva), which is 8 inches in height and 8 feet in diameter. Only the followers of the Hindu religion are allowed in the temple.

The temple is also famous for its Odissi style of architecture. The main celebrations happen on the occasion of Maha Shivratri, and it is during this time a maximum number of devotees visit the temple.

Parasurameswara Temple

This ancient temple is known to project the authentic Oriya style of architecture, especially for the temple. This temple is known for one thousand lingas that are located in the northwest corner. The temple complex is decorated with carvings of Goddess Parvati, Lord Shiva and Lord Ganesha. The magnificence of the architecture and the fine carving of the sculptures are beyond comparison and considered one of the finest.

Khandagiri Caves

These manmade caves are a big tourist attraction of Bhubaneshwar. Various tribal communities of that era do fine work and exquisite carving. It is a historically significant place and tells a lot about the high level of skill the tribal artisans of that era possess. Its beautiful carvings will leave you mesmerised.

Kedar Gauri Temple

Kedar Gauri Temple of Bhubaneshwar is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Gauri. An annual possession is organised every year, and this is the best time to visit this temple. Devotees come to this temple and pray for their happy married life. Like other temples in Odisha, the architecture of the Kedar Gauri Temple is beautiful.

Mukteshwar Temple

Rated amongst the most visited temples in Bhubaneshwar, Mukteshwar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Kalinga-style architecture is beautiful like all the temples in Bhubaneshwar and a treat for the eyes. This is a must-visit temple when you are in the city.

How to reach Bhubaneshwar?

Bhubaneswar, a place of great religious importance, is well-connected with the country. The city is part of the golden triangle along with Puri and Konark, making it a big tourist and pilgrim destination. Reaching here is easy owing to its connectivity through road, rail and air.

By air: Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneshwar is one of the busiest airports in eastern India and is connected with all major Indian cities. The airport is at a distance of 5 km from the city centre. Travellers can use regular flights operated by IndiGo to reach Bhubaneshwar. IndiGo operates flights to Bhubaneswar from all major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad to Bhubaneswar at convenient timings. Biju Patnaik Airport is connected with various international airports as well.
By road: Baramunda Bus Stand is located 8 km from the city. It is connected with all major highways, and regular buses operated by Orissa State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) ply from here to the neighbouring cities and states. The state highways are very well maintained, and even if you decide to reach Bhubaneshwar by own vehicle, you will not face any problems.
By rail: Reaching Bhubaneswar by rail is very convenient as the main railway station is located in the city itself. Regular trains service is available from here to all the country's major cities. Travellers can easily reach Bhubaneshwar from New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, etc.

Boarding and Lodging

Being the hub of religious and business activities, the city offers many options for travellers to stay. From the budget-oriented to the sheer luxury, it has all the options available for the visitors who can choose according to their preferences and budget.

Travellers who like to spend time in luxury and opulence can choose to stay in some of the best luxury hotels like Trident Bhubaneswar Hotel, Mayfair Lagoon Hotel, Lemon Tree Premier Bhubaneswar, Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels, Vivanta Bhubaneswar DN Squar and Swosti Premium.

Those on a budget and who want to stay in a safe and clean hotel can choose from the Empire Hotel, Hotel Sidharth, Hotel Richi Regency, Treebo Trend Hotel OASIS and Hotel Seetal.

Cuisine of Bhubaneshwar

Apart from its temples, caves and business activities, Bhubaneshwar is also known for its cuisines. The people of Odisha are fond of good food, which is evident from their cuisines. There is a lot to try for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Some of the dishes that you must try are dahi bara, aloo dum, pakhala bhata, urad dal bara, gup chup, khichdi and dalma. Those who love to try non-vegetarian must have murg saagwala and crab kalia. If you love to try sweets, then you must have rasabali and chhena podo.

Weather in Bhubaneshwar

Owing to its tropical weather, it remains hot and humid in Bhubaneshwar. The average temperature range between 22°C and 33°C, but during summer, it can touch 45°C.

Summers: The summer season in Bhubaneshwar is from March to June. The temperature starts rising rapidly in March, and the maximum temperature can touch 40°C sometimes. In April, May and June, the maximum temperatures can touch 45°C, with May being the hottest. Hence, you should avoid travelling to Bhubaneshwar during this time.
Monsoons: The respite from this scorching summer heat comes when monsoon season hits Bhubaneshwar in June and lashes the city with medium to heavy downpours. The month of August receives the maximum rainfall during monsoons. The city’s beauty is at its best in monsoons, but this is another season when it should be avoided to visit Bhubaneshwar. Though there is not much sun in the monsoon season, it is hot and humid, with average relative humidity reaching 85% in August. Monsoon recedes in September.
Winters: You can plan to visit Bhubaneshwar anytime from October onwards, but the suitable month to visit Bhubaneshwar will be December, when the winters set in and the average temperature hovers around 15°C. The month of January is as excellent as December, with shallow temperatures. February remains pleasant, but the temperature starts to rise. Overall, the best time to visit Bhubaneshwar is from October to February.

The bottom line

If you want to experience the cultural heritage and history of Odisha, then a visit to Bhubaneshwar is a must. The magnificent temples, tribal artefacts and the cuisines of the state of Odisha are a must-try. Bhubaneshwar has a lot to offer to travellers who want to experience the essence of Odisha.