Parasurameswara Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Biju Patnaik International Airport is about 3 km south of Bhubaneswar's city centre.

• By train

  Bhubaneswar railway station is one of the main stations on the Indian railway network.

• By road

  The temple is inside Bhubaneswar city and is easily reached by road.

Why devotees come here

Parasurameswara Temple is one of the oldest existing temples in Odisha, dedicated to Shiva. It stands in Bhubaneswar, the state capital in Khordha district. It is considered the best preserved specimen of an early Odia Hindu temple.

According to Hindu legend, the name comes from the penance of Parashurama and the grace Shiva gave in return. The Shailodbhava dynasty, who had Shiva as their family deity, built it. The temple belongs to the Shailodbhava period, between the 7th and 8th centuries CE.

The temple is believed to have been built around 650 CE in the Nagara style. It is one of the earliest examples of that style, which stresses the vertical. Earlier temples had only the vimana, the sanctum. This one was the first to add a jagamohana, a hall for worshippers.

Today the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) maintains the temple. Its walls carry intricate stone carvings, including a carved image of the six-armed Mahishamardini, a form of Durga. Odisha Tourism calls it a timeless masterpiece of Kalinga architecture. It has all the main features of pre-10th century Kalinga temples.

Festivals

• June to JulyParashurashtami

  The temple's major festival, celebrated every year.

Tips for your visit

• Take time to look closely at the sculptural details on the walls.
• Other temples in Bhubaneswar include Lingaraja, Muktesvara, Rajarani and Ananta Vasudeva.

Questions people ask