| Page Views: 528 Last Visit to State of Orissa: 2000 | Exocit Orissa by offbeatentrekker - last update: May 24, 2006 |
| Famous Lingaraja Temple of Bhubaneswar |
Hoary Past ORISSA is a state of the Indian Union located along the eastern coast of the peninsula.
Its territory formed a part of the Ancient Kingdom of Kalinga of Mahabharat fame. Ashok, the Mauryan king of Maghad, invaded Kalinga in 261 BC and this event has gone down history as the Kalinga War, causing a greater change in the heart of Ashok, than in his empire. This was the last war fought by him after which he became a great champion of Buddhism and upheld the values of peace and non-violance. By the final reckoning, therfore, it was the conqueror who was conquered in the famous Kalinga War.
The ancient state rose to prominence as a kingdom under Kharavela, a great conqueror and patron of Janisim, in the second half of the 1st century BC. Other great rulers were the kings of the Kesari Dynasty and the Eastern Ganga Dynasty who were also great builders.
The Kalinga School of Architecture flourished from the 7th to 13th century AD. The most important monuments of this period can be seen in and around Bhubaneswar and Puri. The Lingaraja Temple (Bhubaneswar), The Jagannath Temple (Puri) and The Sun Temple (Konark) are some of the finest temples of this period. Few temples can compete with the beauty of the sculptures of Orissian temples.
Today, Orissa offers not only natures in all its glory with its beaches, rivers, waterfalls, hills, forests, wildlife and tribal life, but also a great tradition of architecture, monuments and sculptural art. Some of these monuments date back to the 3rd century BC and are well preserved and are intact to this day.
Infact, the entire length and breadth of the state is dotted with 4,000 monuments and archaeological sites. They include early Jaina caves and temples; Buddhist monastries (Viharas), domed structures (Chaityas), and pillars (Stupas); Hindu temples; Mosques; Churches; Ancient and Medieval forts, Palaces and Colonial Architecture. |
"Temple City of India - Bhubaneswar" Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa, is also popularly known as the "Temple City of India". 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.
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.
While at Bhubaneswar, visitors have a number of spots to visit such as:
Ananta Vasudeva (c. 13th century A.D.),
Bharateswar Temple (c. 6th century A.D.),
Brahmeswar Temple(c. 11th century A.D.),
Laxmaneswar Temple(c. 6th century A.D.),
Lingaraj Temple(c. 11th century A.D.),
Mukteswar (c. 10th century A.D.),
Parsurameswar Temple(c. 7th century A.D.),
Rajarani Temple(c. 11th century A.D.),
Satrughaneswar Temple(c. 6th century A.D.),
Swarnajaleswar Temples(c. 7th century A.D.),
Vaital Temple (c. 8th century A.D.),
Khandagiri & Udaygiri caves (c 1st century B.C.) |
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 Comments for offbeatentrekker about State of Orissa | | | | |
adelaidean Wed May 3, 2006 08:12 UTC
great start to these pages...:-) |
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State of Orissa Hotels
- Puri Hotels
- Toshali Sands
Konark Marine Drive, Puri
- Mayfair Beach Resort
Chakratirtha Road, Puri
- Hans Coco Palms Hotel
Swargdwar, Puri - 752 001,Orissa, Puri, IN, Puri
- Sterling Days Inn Puri Hotel
Plot No.255/2&255/3 Sipasarubali Village ,P.B.No.3, Puri
- Toshali Sands Resort
Konark Marine Drive, Puri
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