Showing posts with label Bhubaneshwar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bhubaneshwar. Show all posts

The worshipers !



The worshipers !






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Wandering Destination: Bhubaneshwar


Wandering Destination: Bhubaneshwar


Bhubaneshwar is state capital for Odisha with a history for above 3000 years. It replaced Cuttack as state capital in 1948 soon after independence. Bhubaneshwar gets its distinction because of the facts:

  • Known as 'City of Temples'
  • One of the earliest modern planned city
  • Included in the list of proposed smart cities of of India
  • Cuttack and Bhubaneshwar are often refereed as Twin cities


To do list in Bhubaneshwar

  • Bhubaneshwar is city of temples. Visit temples and understand the Hinduism and appreciate the architecture
  • Visit Buddhist holy places to learn how Buddhism evolved
  • Visit museums to understand the rich tribal culture, life and philosophy 
  • Roam around old town for street and candid photography
  • Grasp the differences between the new and old Bhubaneshwar
  • Try Odissi delights at restaurants like Dalma
  • Watch cultural performances (Odissi dance, Gotipua Dance, Chaau dance etc)


To wander destinations in and around Bhubaneshwar, hired or shared auto would be the best way to commute. Its cheap, reliable, and fast. My rating out of five, distance from nearest square and share auto fare. This list would help you to optimise your plan to cover maximum tourist spots in least amount of time.




Temples:

  • Raja-Rani Temple                 (5, 1.5 Km from Kalpana, 5)
  • Mukteshwar Temple             (5, 1.5 Km from Kalpana, 5)
  • Kedar-Gauri Temple             (3, 1.5 Km from Kalpana, 5)
  • Lingraj Temple                     (3, 2 Km from Kalpana, 5)
  • Dhauli Shant Stupa               (3.5, 6 Km from Kalpana, 300 for special auto, No share)
  • Dhabaleshwar Mandir           (3, 6 Km from Kalpana, near Dhauli)
  • Kapileshwar Mandir              (3, 4 Km from Kalpana, No share auto)
  • Bhaskareshwara Temple       (3.5, 1 Km from Kalpana, 5)
  • Iscon Temple                         (3.5, 0.5 Km from CRP, 5)
  • Siddheshwar Temple             (5, 1.5 Km from Kalpana, 5)



Attraction related to Bhuddhist culture


Museums and planetarium:




What to photograph in Bhubaneshwar

Science and Technology Institutes:

Gardens:

Transportation, Hotels, food etc




Bhubaneshwar is a state capital. All common facilities and infrastructure is superbly built and maintained. Photo shows the Sachivalaya marg- four lane road runs through he city connecting important government offices and other tourist spots to airport.

Railway Station Bhubaneshwar. Clean, well maintained. Proper info is provided. Waiting room facility is good.

AC restaurant at railway Station run by Food on wheels. Descent, clean. Service and food is good. Food is served cold sometime. 



Other tourist places near to Bhubaneshwar:

  • Puri
  • Konark
  • Raghurajpur
  • Simplipal
  • Chillika

Reference and more information:



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Travel in Bhubaneshwar by an auto


Travel in Bhubaneshwar by an auto


Auto-Rickshaw is the best and cheapest mode to travel in Bhubneshwar city. Rickshaw can be hired for a day with a fixed travel plan or one can share it to travel on common routes.

Hired vehicel can take you to destinations through a variety of routes. Driver if familiar with the internal roads, you may get a chance to see the life of common citizens.

Narrow lanes in old town of Bhubaneshwar are interesting. Often the road is blocked by the parked vehicles, people, construction works etc. 
If stuck in such lanes, just get down till the road is cleared. Then, look around for such exhibits and shoot awesome black and whites.





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Kapileshwar Temple in Black and White


Kapileshwar Temple (Bhubaneshwar) in Black and White




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Wandering Destination: Regional museum of Natural history, Bhubaneshwar



Wandering Destination: Regional museum of Natural history, Bhubaneshwar


The Regional Museum of Natural History, Bhubaneshwar with exhibits mostly on plants, animals and geology of the eastern region of India (especially Odisha) and some guest exhibits related to other parts of the world.  

An aesthetically designed building and landscape sets the tone for an informal and joyful learning experience about our natural heritage and the importance of its conservation. 


Entrance to the Gallery of RMNH: The goal of the museum is to impart non-formal environmental education to the public in general and the student community in particular in order to inculcate the awareness about the importance of flora, fauna and subsequent conservation of our natural resources


 The galleries emphasize the conservation of nature and natural resources while depicting ecological interrelationship among plants and animals. It offers an exciting opportunity for hands on and minds on activity to interact with the exhibits under recreated environment to attain the knowledge about the harmony of plants and animals and their interrelationships in nature.



The museum attempts to showcase the vibrant biodiversity of Orissa, the NorthEast and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands depicting their richness under one roof thereby making people aware of the natural heritage of the state and beyond. Visually challenged students can feel the exhibits of animals on the premises. The museum provides an extracurricular activity for schools and promotes environmental awareness. 

A skeleton of Baleen Whale has been installed in the museum, which is supposed to be largest for any museum in India.




Gallery also has some exclusive paintings of landscapes, some scaled models among other exhibits. In picture: Beach of Andaman and Nicobar

Butterfly Exhibits:




Gallery hosts two exhibits on the common butterflies found in Odisha. 





Gallery has one exhibit on the moths and butterflies found in Madagascar. 



History of Regional Museums Establishment [1]

Realising that, as a National Institution, the National Museum of Natural History has an obligation to the entire country in respect of creating environment awareness and promoting conservation education, it was decided during the VII Plan to have regional offices in the form of Regional Museum of Natural History (RMNH) in different parts of the country in a phased manner so as to extend the activities of NMNH at regional and state levels. It was undertaken by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.


Accordingly, the first such Regional office was initiated in the 'Southern Region' in 1995 at Mysore (Karnataka State). The second one was developed for the ' Central Region' in Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) in 1997.The third Regional Museum in the 'Eastern Region' of the country was established in Bhubaneswar (Orissa) and operationalised in 2004. The fourth Regional office was established in “Western Region” in Sawai Madhopur in 2008 and it is expected to be operational shortly. A fifth Regional office in “North-Eastern Region” is expected to be established soon in Gangtok (Sikkim).



Location and conveyance:

Planetarium shares the compound fence with Regional Museum of Natural history, and is located on Sachivalaya marg in Acharya Vihar square (Chowk). From AG square share auto takes five rupees only while from CRP square it takes ten rupees.





References:

[1] http://nmnh.nic.in/Bhubaneswar.htm
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regional_Museum_of_Natural_History,_Bhubaneswar


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Raja Rani Temple, Bhubaneshwar



Raja Rani Temple, Bhubaneshwar


RajaRani temple from Bhubaneshwar is perhaps the most beautiful temple to visit. The ancient architecture, peaceful atmosphere and absence of worshipers (since there is no god idol inside the temple) are some of the reasons for a must have visit.
Currently the temple is looked after by ASI and has categorized it as 'ticketed protected monuments of Odisha'. A five rupee ticket allows you to explore the temple for one whole day. Interestingly, the ticket is applicable for entry at one more ticketed place from Bhubaneshwar: Udayagiri and Khandgiri caves. It is possible to cover two historical places in one day, morning and evening  dedicated to temple and during day time the two buddhist caves - Udaygiri and Khandgiri. Photography charges are included in the ticket.
The first impression from the name of temple suggests, the idol might be a pair. In fact there is no idol inside the temple and thus no puja is offered in the temple.The temple was constructed of dull red and yellow sandstone locally called "Rajarani".

The temple is believed to have been known originally as Indreswara. It is locally known as a "love temple" because of the erotic carvings of women and couples in the temple.


Historical Details about the temple. Display boards by ASI.
Various historians place the original construction date between the 11th and 12th centuries, and have placed it roughly belonging to the same period as the Jagannath Temple at Puri. The architecture of other temples in central India is believed to have originated with this temple, the notable ones being the Khajuraho temples and Totesvara Mahadeo temple in Kadawa.

Rajarani Temple is built in the pnahcratha style on a raised platform with two structures: a central shrine called the vimana (sanctum) with a bada (curvilinear spire) over its roof rising to a height of 18 m (59 ft), and a viewing hall called jagamohana with a pyramidal roof. 

The highlight of the temple is the fine sculptures of dikpalas or guardians of the eight directions carved around the shrine. Starting from East we encounter successively-
  • Indra (lord of the East) holding a thunderbolt and an elephant goad, with the elephant below; the potbellied and 
  • Agni (southeast), god of fire, with the Ram; 
  • Yama (South) holding a staff and a noose, with his vehicle the buffalo; 
  • Nirriti (southwest), the god of misery, holds a severed head and a sword above a prostrate figure; 
  • Varuna (West) holding a noose in his left hand, his vehicle is makara or the crocodile; 
  • Vayu (northwest) holding a banner and his vehicle is deer; 
  • Kubera (North) placed above seven jars of gems, he has a horse and
  • Isana (northeast) shown with an erect phallus by the side of an emaciated figure. 



The Department of Tourism of the Government of Odisha organises a Rajarani music festival at the temple every year from January. The temple focuses on classical music, and all three styles of classical music – Hindustani,Carnatic and Odissi – are given equal importance. Musicians from different parts of the country perform during the three-day festival. The festival was started in 2003 with the help of the Bhubaneswar Music Circle (BMC)

Temple is a favorite among photographers. Morning time is excellent to shoot the amber-colored beauty due to the light direction and angle. Temple is surrounded by bungalows. Thus choosing n angle to avoid them from appearing in the frame is tricky. Ultra-wide angle lens perhaps be better than kit lens at minimum focal length.
Early in the morning the temple premises is used by the locals to have morning walk or light exercise. Visitors come bit late, somewhere around and after 10 AM. 

Timing and Entry Fees:


  • The monument remains open from sunrise to sunset. 
  • Entry fee for each Indian citizen is Rs. 5.00, 
  • Foreign visitor has to pay Rs. 100.00/ $ 2.00 
  • Children below the age of 15 years are not charged any entry fee.


Location:




References:



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Siddheshwara Temple, Bhubaneshwar


Siddheshwara Temple, Bhubaneshwar


The 10th century Sidheshwar Temple, situated northwest of Mukteswar temple, houses an attractive standing figure of Lord Ganesh. 

The sanctum of the temple, built in pancha ratha style is surrounded with five-divisional walls which is further sub-divided into two parts. These walls are decorated with Khakhara and Pidha styles ornamental motifs and consist of seven mouldings. The temple tower or shikhara is grouped by a row of miniature turrets, which is surmounted by four rampant lions on the central ratha.

The temple is located in the premises of Mukteswara temple.

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Mukteshwar Temple, Bhubaneshwar


Evening view of symmetric placements of main temple among the other shrines in the campus



Mukteshwar Temple, Bhubaneshwar





Bhubaneshwar is a city of temples and one of the best temple is undoubtedly Mukteshwar temple. Although there are iconic temples like Lingaraj and RajaRani, Mukteshwar has several characteristics which make it stand out. Mukteshwar - meaning lord of freedom - is a millennium old Hindu temple dedicated to lord Shiva.


Mukteshwar for its architecture built in pithdeula style is rightly called as " Gem of Odisha Architecture". The structure can be divided into fur major parts: Torana (porch acting as gateway to compound), Vimana and Mukhasala.  Although the temple is small compared to others in Bhubaneshwar, along with other small temples the cluster covers well maintained premise of over half an acre. Architecture introduced many new forms not known to the previously built temples of Odisha and thus called as "Harbinger of new culture".



Mukteshwar Temple complex as seen from the entrance. A small well, locally known as Marichi Kund, lies immediately beyond the sinister of the enclosure, the water of which is believed to cure infertility of women.



The temple walls and the octagonal compound both carries carvings of female dancers, Hindu deities (Saraswati, Ganesha) , animals (monkeys, peacocks) and geometric patterns (lines, squares).

The Department of Tourism of the state government organises a three-day yearly dance function called Mukteswar Dance Festival in the temple premises. This festival celebrates the features of Odissi, the classical dance form of Odisha.

Evening time, when sun sets opposite to the entrance, is the best time to visit. After a long day travel visiting plenty of other places in Bhubaneshwar, Mukteshwar is delightful to watch. Sitting in the lawns one can relish the golden rays illuminating the charming brownish sand stones of the temple. The architecture of temple and peaceful evening must be experienced.



Short history about the temple displayed at the entrance
Mukteshwara Temple
Torana, entrance of the temple
Geometric patterns on windows of main temple: diamond shaped latticed windows  around which one can see images of monkeys engrossed in several jovial and humorous scenes that are imbibed from the Panchatantra tales.
Pillars with intricate and skillfully rich carvings
Closeup of beheaded female dancers on the pillars



Ceilings of the temple
Right side view of the complex

Lawns in front of the main temple (right side), Siddheswara temple (Left side)

Other small temples in the premises

Important things:


  • Temple is open from morning till evening (5 AM till 8 PM)
  • Best time to visit during day is evening time
  • Temple looks beautiful in all seasons and can be visited throughout the year
  • No entry fee or camera fee
  • Drinking water facility is available


How to reach:

Temple is located at walking distance from Raja-Rani Temple. Kedar-Gauri and Mukteshwar temple shares the compound wall. Complex also holds an unfinished temple - Siddheswara  temple.






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