Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar (in Sanskrit and Oriya, "The Lord of the Universe") is a city located on the eastern coast of India. Once the capital of ancient Kalinga, the city has a long history and is today a bustling centre for commerce and religious activity. Bhubaneswar became the modern capital of the state of Orissa in 1948, a year after India gained its independence from Britain. The city is inhabited by over a million people and maintains a high rate of population growth.
History and Character
Modern Bhubaneswar was originally meant to be a well planned city with wide roads and many gardens and parks. A part of the city has stayed faithful to the plan. But it has grown rapidly over the last few decades with the population almost doubling every decade. This has made the planning process unweildly. The city now has a population of more than a million. But it is a part of the greater urban conglomoration that includes Cuttack, Khurda, Choudwar and Jagatpur and the population of this urban conglomoration, most probably, is more than two and half million.
Having merged its intriguing past so uniquely with its modern aspirations, it forms an integral link in the Golden Triangle that [AK]incorporates the holy city of Puri and Konark, for the tourists that flock to pay their homage to the religious, cultural and natural wonders that abound here. To the east are the famous Sun temple of Konark and the Jagannath temple of Puri. The Lingaraj temple of old Bhubaneswar, built in the 11th century, is another temple noted for its ancient history. The Khandagiri and Dhauligiri, situated on the outskirts of the city, carry monuments of inhabitions of buddhist monks in the time of King Ashoka. Another such monument is the Shantistupa, which was built as a symbol of peace at the site where the great Kalinga War took place between Emperor Ashoka and Kalinga (the old empire of Orissa).
The striking features of the city are the numerous temples and shrines that seem to be all around you. Bhubaneswar's skyline is dominated by some of the most spectacular engineering and artistic feats of its ancient heritage. The imposing spire of the Lingaraj Temple, the quiet beauty of the Vishwa Shanti Stupa and the pink translucence of the Mahavira Jain Temple in nearby Khandagiri, inspire feelings of wonder at their sheer beauty and their cross-- cultural permutations. These three alone offer an excellent insight into the ancient cultural strength of Orissa and are well-worth exploring at greater length. At least four of Bhubaneswar's temples must he on the tourist's agenda, to get a feel of the dynamic artistry and development of their indigenous perfection.
The temples have after all stood testimony to the area's history, which spans 25 centuries. The Lingaraj, the Parsurameswar, the Mukteswar and the Rajarani temples are unique in themselves, not only in their architectural beauty but also in the wonderful sculptures which enhance their presence. An interesting variation figures in the Vital and Brahmeswar temples. Though the Lingaraj is closed to non-Hindus, it can be viewed from the viewing platform constructed alongside.
Bhubaneswar is the place where temple building activities of Orissan style flowered from its very inception to its fullest culmination extending over a period of over one thousand years.
The State Museum of Bhubaneswar offers an excellent selection of archaeological artifacts, weapons and local arts and crafts and insights into Orissa's natural and tribal history. The museum has world's largest collection of palm -leaf paintings. The Tribal Research Institute Museum with its authentic tribal dwellings, created by the tribal craftsmen is a great place to get a bird's eye view of the State's tribal heritage. The Regional Plant Resource Centre (RPRC) has about 500 acres (2 km²) of plantations, tissue culture and experimental laboratory and a huge lake where migratory birds make their home. The two unique features of RPRC are its status for housing the largest rose garden in the country with an area of 20 acres (81,000 m²) and having the largest collection of cacti (550) in Asia. Bhubaneswar is a shopper's delight. Saris woven by the master weavers in silk and cotton are available in the private shops and government emporia. You can also pick up all kinds of artifacts and jewellery produced in different parts of the State. The Handloom Weavers Co-operative is worth a visit.
Geography
Bhubaneswar is situated between 21Deg. 15' North Latitude 85 Deg 15' Longitude and at an altitude of 45 meters above sea level, the average temperatures range between 15°C in winter to a maximum of 40°C to 45°C in summer. The south-east monsoons reaches in June. The average annual rainfall is 150 cms, most of which records between June and October.
Geographically, Bhubaneswar is situated in the eastern coastal plains of the Orissa and south-west of river Mahanadi whose tributaries like Kuakhai, Bhargavi and Daya wash the fingers of this city.
Transportation and City Access
Bhubaneswar has excellent air and rail linkages with most major cities in the country.
Air
Bhubaneswar is connected to the cities of Calcutta, Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Vishakhapatnam, Hyderabad, and Raipur through regular flights. Biju Patnaik Airport in Bhubaneswar is the only major airport in the state.
Rail
Bhubaneswar is directly connected by rail with Kolkata, Puri, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Tirupati, and Trivandrum.
Road
The city is linked with Berhampur, Chilka, Cuttack, Konark, Paradip, Puri, Rourkela, Sambalpur and other places. Interstate bus services operate daily between Kolkata and Puri via Bhubaneswar and Tatanagar (Jamshedpur).
Notable Sites
Khandagiri & Udayagiri (Jain Heritage)
The twin hills of Khandagiri & Udayagiri, 8 km from Bhubaneswar, served as the site of an ancient Jain monastery which was carved into cave like chambers in the face of the hill. Dating back to the 2nd century BC, some of the caves have beautiful carvings. The Rani Gumpha ( Queen's Cave), one of the largest and double-storied, is ornately embellished with beautiful carvings. In the Hati Gumpha (Elephant Cave), King Kharavela has carved out the chronicles of his reign.
Lingaraja Temple and Other Temples
The 10th- or 11th-century Lingaraja temple of Bhubaneswar has been described as "the truest fusion of dream and reality." A rare masterpiece, the Lingaraja temple has been rated one of the finest examples of purely Hindu temple in India by Ferguson, the noted art critic and historian. Every inch of the surface of the 55-m-high Lingaraja temple is covered with elaborate carvings. Sculpture and architecture fused elegantly to create a perfect harmony. Devout pilgrims, who wish to go to the Jagannath temple at Puri, must first offer worship at the Lingaraja temple.
Built in 650 AD, Parashurameshwara Temple is one of the best examples of the Orissa style of temple architecture. This temple followed very rigid parameters set by the ritualistic books. The temple has some exquisite carvings and sculpture.
Vaital Deul (800 AD) has a double-storied wagon roof, which in turn is an influence of the Buddhist cave architecture. The interior of the temple has the image of Chamunda (an incarnation of Goddess Kali).
Mukteshwar Temple (7th-8th century AD) is one of the most ornated temples in the Bhubaneswar. The intricate carvings of the deities testify the influence of Hindu, Buddha, and Jain style of architecture. The carvings on the roof are specially striking.
The Rajarani Temple (1100 AD), which derives its name from the stone known as the Rajarani, was built earlier in comparison to the impressive Lingaraja. Set amongst picturesque paddy fields, the relatively small Rajarani temple is noted for its fascinating female figures portrayed in a stunning variety of amorous poses and moods.
Brahmeswara Temple (1050 AD) is situated around a kilometer east of the main road. The temple stands in a courtyard flanked by four smaller temples.
Sisupalgarh
Just two km from the famed Lingaraj Temple of Bhubaneswar lie the ruins of Sisupalgarh. Dating back to the 3rd or 4th century BC, these ruins show that even at that early date there was a well fortified city here, and establish the fact that the Orissan civilization has very ancient roots.
Atri
The Atri hot sulphur spring is believed to have medicinal properties and has become a popular outing spot for vacationers. The drive from Bhuhaneswar (42 km) alone is worth the trip. The countryside is gorgeous. Atri is also famous for its temple dedicated to Lord Hatakeswar.
Dhauli
Just 8 km away from Bhubaneswar looking down on the plains that bore witness to the gruesome war waged on Kalinga by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka, stand the rock edicts of Dhauli. It was here that King Ashoka, full of remorse after the Kalinga War in 261 BC, renounced his bloodthirsty campaign and turned to Buddhism. The edicts are a living testimony to the King's change of heart. He urges his administrators to rule the land with justice and compassion. The edicts are so remarkable that they have been excellently preserved, despite the fact that they date back to the 3rd century BC. A sculpted elephant, the universal symbol of Lord Buddha, tops the rock edicts. The Shanti Stupa or the peace pagoda, built through the Indo-Japanese collaboration, is located on the opposite hill.
Hirapur
The Yogini shrine at Hirapur (dated 7th century BC) is important for its architectural variation from the main Orissan architectural genre. The temple is open to the sky (hypaethral). There are only four temples of this kind in India and two of them are in Orissa (the other one is at Ranipur-Jharial). Yogini Goddesses were worshipped in the hope of acquiring supernatural powers. It is 20 km from Bhubaneswar.
64 Joginis Temple (Chausath Jogini Mandir)
Nandankanan (Garden of the Gods)
A short distance from the capital city, Bhubaneswar, the Nandankanan zoo lies in the splendid environs of the Chandaka forest, along the ripling water of the Kanjia Lake. It also contains a botanical garden and part of it has been declared a santuary.
It is famous for its white tiger population. Nandankanan or the garden of Gods, has become a hot family favorite, with visitors getting an excellent opportunity to enjoy watching these regal animals in their natural glory and in a natural environment.
Endangered species such as the Asiatic lion, three Indian crocodilians, Sangal liontailed macaque, Nilgiri langur, Indian pangolin, mouse deer and countless birds, reptiles and fish have been breeding successfully at Nandankanan some of the other attractions of Nandankanan are the 34 aquaria which are home to a large veriety of fresh water fishes. The Reptile Park's cave like entrance is guarded by a lifesize tyrannosaurus. Inside, numerous species of crocodiles, lizards,turtles and snakes share the park with natural ease. 67 kinds of mammals, 18 varieties of reptiles, 81 species of birds coexist in the deep forest. The zoo enjoys an excellent reputation, internationally, for successfully breeding black panthers, gharial crocodiles and white tigers in capitivity.
Fairs & Festivals
On the day of Ashokashtami in the month of March, the image of Lingaraja (Lord Shiva) and other deities are taken in a procession from Lingaraja Temple to the Rameshwara Temple. Hundreds of devotees participate in pulling the chariot that carries the deities. The deities remain in the Rameshwara Temple for four days.
At the end of January comes Adivasi Mela, a fair that displays the art, artifacts, tradition, culture, and music of the tribal folks of Orissa.
Other festivals of importance are Durga Puja, Janmashtami, Raja Sankranti and Kali Puja.
The Orissa government has tried to develop the city as an IT hub. The city has offices of Enterprise System Solutions,TCS,Satyam, Infosys, Systems Technology International and STPI.
Education
The more notable among the numerous educational institutes
- Utkal University
- Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology
- College of Engineering and Technology
- Xavier Institute of Management
- BJB College
- Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology(KIIT)
- College of Basic Sciences and Humanities
- Institute of Physics
- Reagional Research Laboratory
- Maharshi College
- Ramadevi Women's college
- Stewart school
- DAV Public School
External link
- Oriya Children's Magazine - Most popular Oriya Magazine for Children published from Bhubaneswar edited by Sarala Patri.[1]
- The Sacred Feminine - A detailed documentation of the 64 Joginis Temple, with pictures, names and transcription of each Idol.
- [http://www.orissadiary.com For major town in Orissa