Kichakeswari Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar is the nearest airport.

• By train

  Badampahar station in Kendujhar is the nearest railway station.

• By road

  Khiching is reached by road from Kendujhar or Baripada.

Why devotees come here

Kichakeswari Temple stands in Khiching, Mayurbhanj district, Odisha. It is dedicated to Maa Kichakeswari, the presiding deity of the Bhanja dynasty. The whole temple is built of dark chlorite stone.

Khiching was the ancient capital of the Bhanja rulers and is an important pilgrimage village. It lies about 50 km east of Keonjhargarh town and 24 km west of Karanjia. Maa Kichakeswari was the family deity of the Bhanja dynasty and the state deity of Mayurbhanj, the princely state they ruled.

The temple is built entirely of dark chlorite slabs, unique of its kind in India. The sanctum houses the revered idol of Maa Kichakeswari. The complex has finely carved sculptures of deities, mythological scenes and ornamental motifs, and the temple stands 100 ft (30 m) high. It covers a total area of 1,764 square feet.

Khiching is located in the Panchpir subdivision. The temple is listed under Khiching, Karanjia, Kendujhar and Mayurbhanj district. The temple was originally built between the 7th and 12th centuries. Maharaja Pratap Chandra Bhanjdeo, king of Mayurbhanj, reconstructed the temple in 1934. A Khiching archaeological museum is nearby.

Festivals

• Seven daysSibaratri

  The major festival in Khiching, celebrated over seven days.

Tips for your visit

• Look for the carved sculptures of deities and mythological scenes across the whole temple complex.
• A Khiching archaeological museum stands nearby, so visitors can see both on one trip.

Questions people ask