Sakshigopal Temple

Getting there

• By road

  The temple lies on the Bhubaneswar-Puri highway in Sakhigopal, Odisha.

Why devotees come here

Sakshigopal Temple is a medieval Hindu temple dedicated to Gopinath, in Sakhigopal on the Bhubaneswar-Puri highway in Odisha. It is built in Kalinga architecture. Its annual Anla Navami festival is the day devotees see Radha's feet, which stay covered the rest of the year.

Sakshigopal Temple is a medieval Hindu temple dedicated to Gopinath. The temple's formal name is Satyabadi Gopinatha Mandir. The village legend says a poor young man, later named Sakshigopala, fell in love with the daughter of the village headman, who opposed their marriage. On the walk home the young man looked back, and Gopala turned into a stone statue rooted to the spot. The young man was later named Sakshigopala, according to the legend.

The temple is built in the Kalinga style of architecture. The Sakshi Gopala deity was moved to the town of Sakhi Gopal, near Puri. A statue of Radha from northern India was installed here after a girl claimed to be Radha's incarnation.

Anla Navami is the annual festival of the temple. Devotees see the feet of Radha on that one day, which otherwise remain covered all year. A news report said about two lakh devotees came from different parts of the state for the celebrations.

Festivals

• Once a year. The exact date is not in our sourcesAnla Navami

  Devotees see the feet of Radha on this one day, which stay covered the rest of the year. A news report said about two lakh devotees came from different parts of the state.

Tips for your visit

• The formal name, Satyabadi Gopinatha Mandir, is the one to use when you search online or ask for directions.
• If seeing Radha's feet is your reason to come, the visit must fall on Anla Navami, the only day they are shown.

Questions people ask