At a glance Bhubaneswar is the capital of Orissa. It is situated on the eastern coast of India, at an altitude of 45 meters above sea level. About the city The gentle twirl of the Odissi dancers in bright coloured costumes, the temple bells and sound of arti's going off every now and then Welcome to serene and tantalizing Bhubaneswar, the temple metropolis of India! Here more than anywhere else in India temple sculptures speak subtly and upfront of eroticism. These bold works of art from the past make one stand in awe at the culture of our ancestors and the tales of our Gods. Experience the old world charm as it exists in a modern town with all its bustle and noise. Come explore. Religious Places Bhubaneswar, during its pre independence days, had more than 7000 temples, of which about 500 are still functioning. We take you through a trip of the major temples in the city. Lingaraj Mandir Dedicated to Lord Shiva, in the Hindu triology, this 54m high temple is part of a complex of more than 150 small shrines, some of which are more than 1400 years old. The main gate is guarded by two mustachioed yellow lions! And sets the rituals here apart from the rest of India is that the idol of Lord Shiva, in the main temple is bathed daily according to rituals in water, milk and bhang, a local brew which is slightly narcotic! The temple was closely associated with arts and dance forms, and it had a natyagriha for the dancers, which are decked up with intricate carvings. The flip side is that the temple is closed to those who are non Hindu's. But do not be deterred by that. There is a viewing platform built almost around the temple, and you can see the sights from slightly afar! Parasurameswar Mandir Dating back to AD 650, the temple is one of the oldest temples in Bhubaneswar. It is engulfed by about 20 other smaller temples. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Vaital Mandir Tantric to the core, with symbols of human sacrifice and steeped in some unique temple sculptures, talking loudly of eroticism, this 8th century temple is a double storied wagon roof structure influenced by Buddhist cave architecture. It is dedicated to Goddess Chamundi (Kali) who, beneath her robes wears a necklace of skulls! One of the most interesting aspect here is a motif with sun god, Surya, which some believe became the blue print for the famous Sun temple in Konark. Rajarani Mandir Set in an open paddy field, this temple is no longer a temple in the strict sense of the word. Worship here, is long since stopped, but you can enter and see the sculptures. Beyond the well kept garden, you are in for a surprise. The walls are aesthetically done up with subtle carvings of women and couples, many hinging on eroticism. May be this is why many people call it a love temple! They charge an entrance fee for non Hindus. The other major temples are the Mukteswara Mandir, dating back to the 10th century. It has been considered by researchers as a transition point between the early and later phases of the Kalinga school of temple architecture. The Siddheswar Mandir in the same compound is famous for the elephant faced god Ganesha's idol. The Kedaragauri Mandir too forms part of this complex. The temples are a perfect blend of Hindu, Jain and Buddhist styles of architecture. All these temples too sport subtle images of eroticism. The ISKON temple and the Ram Mandir, though comparatively new, have many visitors. Festivals Ashokashtami The annual festival at Lingaraja Mandir, when the deity is taken for a ceremonial dip at the Bindu Sagar Lake. The procession is taken in huge Ratha or chariot, the wheels of which are kept on display outside the Mandir. Sivarathri (February) Bhubaneswar is home to Shivite school of Hinduism. And for the temples in this city Sivarathri is very special. Lit lamps deck the entire city and a long vigil is kept. Dussehra (October) is special here. It is a festival for the youth in the state and is also celebrated as Kumarotsav. Entertainment When you are done walking around, you can step into any of the theatres peppered across the town and catch up with what is happening in the Indian tinsel world. For serious art fans Rabindra Mandeep and Soochana Bhavan on Sachivajaya Marg is a must check out. These are venues where dance and music is performed almost daily. Usually, the local newspapers list the recitals in the events columns. Nightlife With the temple bells peeling off long before the break of dawn, Bhubaneswar tucks in rather early. The bars attached to the major hotels do remain open till midnight. Mayfair and Swosti Plaza hotels offers some interesting options. Kidding around Regional Science Centre Loved watching the Lost World series Do you fantasize about those beastly creatures which prowled the land Then step right back in time here at the Science Centre. It is educational. The principles of Physics are demonstrated here through simple experiments. Worth more than sitting in the class room! Time: 10.30am to 5.30pm Pathani Samanta Planetarium Carving for 'out of the world' shows Want to see the stars up close Well, there is no other place in Orissa which does that so fine, other than this planetarium. You can go on gazing at the stars for hours at a stretch. If you want to watch a celestial show in English, try to 4pm show on Sunday. For Adventure Freaks The rocks cut temples in and around Bhubaneswar are best explored on foot. So lace up your shoes and go exploring the Udayagiri, Khandagiri, Swagpuri and Hathi Guphas. How to reach Road: Both deluxe and regular buses ply to Berhampur (174 km), Chiika (110 km), Cuttack (24 km), Konark (60 km), Puri (60 km), Paradip, Rourkela, Sambalpur and other places. Interstate bus services operate daily between Kolkata and Puri via Bhubaneswar and Tatanagar (Jamshedpur). Bus Stand: 5 km from the city centre. Rail: The railway station at the centre of the city is well connected to Kolkata, Puri, Chennai, Delhi, Bombay, Bangalore, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Tirupati and Trivandrum. Air: The Biju Patnaik Airport 3kms away from the city, connects Bhubaneswar to Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad and Raipur Getting Around: Most of the taxies are un-metered, so are the auto rickshawas, it is advisable to haggle with the drivers. Tourist taxis and deluxe buses are available on rent from: Transport Manager Orissa Tourism Development Corporation Panthniwas, Lewis Road Bhubaneshwar Tel : 255512 Distances 24 km from Cuttack 60 km from Konark 60 km from Puri 110 km from Chilika Lake 174 km from Berhampur Best Seasons You can plan a trip to Bhubaneswar all year round. But it's ideal to visit this town between October to April. Places in and around Lakes Legends say that Goddess Parvati became thirsty, and the Lord, told all the water bodies to donate a drop of water. Biding to the Lord's desire, each water body across India gifted a drop making up the Bindhusagar, a small lake around which most of the temples sprang up in Bhubaneswar. A dip in this tank is said to wash away your sins. If you are here around the Dussehra festival, you might see a group of people gathering around to discuss general topics and otherwise - these are called Khati's. Be a part of it and be enlightened, enlighten the others! Walk around the rock cut temples at Udayagiri and Khandagiri. Enjoy the cool breeze which speaks of bygone splendour as you sit on the stone paved side of the Bindusagar. Conjure up images of dancers dancing in the halls of the natyagriha at Lingaraja temple. Take a walk among the ruins at Sisupalagarh. Watch the dancers twirl and turn at an Odissi performance. Bhubaneswar is a link in India's weaving belt, so while you are here, do not forget to pick up the exquisite and traditional handloom sarees ikat sari ', ' orissa bomkai sari ', ' bandha ' and ' pasapalli'.