Vaital Deul

Getting there

• By air

  For Bhubaneswar, the nearest airport is Biju Patnaik International Airport.

• By train

  For Bhubaneswar, the nearest railway station is Bhubaneswar Railway Station.

• By road

  Bhubaneswar is well connected by National and State Highways, railways and air routes, and its state highways have regular bus and cab services. ISBT Baramunda is the major bus terminus in the city.

Why devotees come here

Vaital Deul is an 8th-century Hindu temple in Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha. It is dedicated to Devi Chamunda, and its three spires on top are a distinct feature. The temple is built in the Khakhara style of Kalinga architecture.

Devi Chamunda, also called Charchika, is the presiding deity. She sits on a corpse, with a jackal and an owl beside her. It is believed that the three spires stand for three powers of Chamunda: Mahasaraswati, Mahalakshmi and Mahakali. The sanctum carries eerie carvings linked to Tantric associations, one of the temple's most striking features.

The temple is described as an 8th-century building in the Khakhara style of Kalinga architecture. Its semi-cylindrical roof is a leading example of that order of temples. The jagamohana is rectangular, with a small subsidiary shrine set into each angle. The outer walls carry panels of Hindu deities, mostly Shiva and his consort Parvati.

Bhubaneswar is known as the Temple City, and its skyline is marked by timeless shrines such as Lingaraj Temple. The city lies in Khordha district of Odisha, and Vaital Deul is one of the temples within it. The sanctum is dark, and its carved walls can be seen only with light.

Tips for your visit

• Artificial light is needed inside, because the interior is dark.
• Early morning sun lights up the interior.

Questions people ask