Nilamadhava Temple Kantilo

Getting there

• By air

  Biju Patnaik International Airport (BBI) at Bhubaneswar is the nearest airport.

• By train

  The nearest railway stations are Nayagarh Town and Bhubaneswar Railway Station (BBS).

• By road

  Kantilo is 82 km from Bhubaneswar and 33 km from Nayagarh town. Roads reach the village, and regular bus services run there.

Why devotees come here

Nilamadhava Temple stands at Kantilo, a village in Nayagarh district, Odisha, on the bank of the Mahanadi river. It is an old and well-known Vishnu temple, and one of the most popular tourist places in the district.

According to the Puranas, the deity was first worshipped as an Indranila gem image, and the wooden image came later. The story goes that worship began in a small cave in the Brahmadri hills on the bank of the Mahanadi, where the Sabara chief Biswabasu worshipped Kitung.

Nilamadhava holds a central place in the cult of Jagannath. The temple structure is modelled on the Jagannath temple of Puri, and it stands near the confluence of the Mahanadi, Kuanria and Kusumi rivers. Kantilo lies in the Khandapada block of Nayagarh district. The district was created on 1 April 1993, when the old Puri district was split into three.

Magha Saptami, also called Ratha Saptami, is the best-known festival here. Siddheswar is also present at the temple, and the deity is decorated with gold ornaments on Pausa Purnima.

Festivals

• Magha monthMagha Saptami (Ratha Saptami)

  The best-known festival here, and one of the important festivals celebrated at Kantilo.

• Ekadashi of the month of MaghaMagha Ekadashi fair

  A fair is held on this day.

• Pausa PurnimaPausa Purnima

  A day when the deity is decorated with gold ornaments.

Tips for your visit

• If you come by train, get down at Bhubaneswar, since frequent buses run from there to Kantilo.
• Plan your visit for Pausa Purnima if you want to see the deity decorated with gold ornaments.

Questions people ask