mukteswar-temple

Mukteswara Temple – An Ancient Temple of Odisha

Mukteswara temple is a 10th Century Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, Mukteswara, is molded with figures of hermits in several poses of meditation. The best part of the temple is the grand torana and the decorative gateway. It is ravishing to observe the unique carves such as a meeting of peaked Sadhus, a troop of zippy monkeys, as well as illustrations from the Panchatantra on the outer face of the windows. There is a small well called Marichi Kund that lies just outside the gateway and people believe that the water of this well can cure female infertility.

Architecture of Mukteswara Temple

This architecture of Mukteswara Temple is one of the basic reasons that, it is also known as the Gem of Odisha Architecture. The temple is enclosed within an octagonal compound wall with elaborate carvings on it. The temple is famous for its Torana. The curved gateway has thick pillars that have strings of beads & other ornament carved on statues of smiling women.

The temple has two structures namely the Vimana and a Mukhasala. On the doorstep one can see sculpts of the local saint, Lakulisa. The doorway to the inner shrine houses the image of Ketu with three cloaked snakes, commonly regarded as the ninth planet in the Hindu mythology. There is a tank in the eastern side of the temple and also a well in the south-western corner.

Other Attractions to Visit

Orissa State Museum: This Museum in Bhubaneshwar shows India most artistic traditions with influences form Buddhism, Jainism, and Brahminical styles.

Parsurameswar Temple: This is the best-preserved, and therefore also the most delicate, of Bhubaneswar’s early temples.

Rajarani Temple: The Rajarani temple is one of the most renowned and famous temple in Bhubaneswar. It was built in between 10th and 11th century.

Bindu Sagar: An important landmark of the Old Town, the Bindu Sagar is to be found just north of the Lingaraj Temple.

Tribal Museum: Aim of this museum is to help the tribes and their tribal cultures.

How to Reach

By Air: Nearby airport is Bhubaneswar airport.

By Rail: Bhubaneswar is the nearest railway station.

By Road: Bhubaneswar is well connected to all places. So one can reach easily at Mukteswara Temple.

Best Time to Visit Mukteswara Temple

Best time to visit Mukteswara Temple is from the month of October to March.