The Lingaraj Temple is an ancient temple situated in the city of
Bhubaneswar and is the largest one situated in the city. Dedicated
to Lord Shiva as the name suggests, the temple was built in the
7th century by the King Jajati Keshari. It is highly revered
because of the fact that the Linga here, which is the phallic form
of Lord Shiva, is believed to have appeared naturally. It rises to
a massive height of 8 inches above the floor level and is about 8
feet in diameter as well. Lingaraj Temple is located in the old
part of Bhubaneswar Town and can be easily reached using local
transport.
The edifice of the temple is a great example of the Odissi style
of architecture and has intricately designed stone vaults covering
the main sanctum of the temple. A small temple dedicated to
Goddess Bhagawati is located in the northwest corner of the
courtyard as well. However, entry is restricted to the followers
of the Hindu faith only. The Lingaraj Temple is especially famous
for its Mahashivratri celebrations when the whole sanctum is
dressed up in flowers, lanterns, and lights.
The temple has
as many as 6000 visitors on a daily basis with Shivratri being a
major day of celebrations when this number surges to as many as
200000 visitors.
Constructed across the Mahanadi River in Sambalpur, Odisha the Hirakud Dam is hailed as the longest human-made dams in India. Astonishingly, it is over 56km long and is the top pick among the locals as well as tourists to enjoy a refreshing day out. This marvellous piece of architecture construction was built in the year 1956, and owing to its location is a fantastic spot to watch nature come alive in all its glory. One of the major attractions here is a drive-through road that you can take you 21km over the dam, admiring its ingeniousness and expertise. Another striking feature of the dam is, of course, the wide expanse of the view that it offers from the Gandhi and Nehru Minarets that are located towards the Northern Facade of the dam. It is also a fantastic site for birdwatching as it is surrounded by abundant water and trees on all sides.
Constructed in 650 A.D. this temple is a unique specimen of Oriyan
style of architecture. The most special feature of this temple is
the presence of one thousand lingas in the north-west corner of
the complex.
Besides this, it is adorned with beautiful carvings of Lord
Ganesha, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The artistic splendor
with which the detailing of the sculptures and carvings are done
reflects the glory of the era gone by.