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Mukteshwar Temple, Bhubaneswar
Shiva · Bhubaneswar, Odisha
॥ ॐ नमः शिवाय ॥
The Mukteshwar Temple at Bhubaneswar is among the most refined of the Kalinga shrines, a 10th-century Shiva temple often called the gem of Odisha architecture. Small and exquisitely carved, it is famous above all for its torana — an arched stone gateway of rare beauty, found at no other temple of the city — marking a high point in the long evolution of the Odisha temple form.
The gem of Kalinga art
Built around the 10th century, the Mukteshwar marks the moment when the Odisha temple style came of age, its tower and porch carved with a delicacy of figure and ornament that earned it the name of the gem of Kalinga architecture. The sanctum holds a Shiva lingam, and the walls bear graceful sculptures of maidens, ascetics and mythic scenes.
The arched torana
Before the temple stands its most celebrated feature: a torana, an arched stone gateway carved with reclining maidens and scrollwork, a form found nowhere else among the temples of Bhubaneswar. The arch frames the entrance like a jewelled doorway, and is regarded as one of the finest pieces of carving in eastern India.
In the temple-city
Bhubaneswar, the old capital of Kalinga, holds hundreds of temples around the sacred Bindusagar tank, and the Mukteshwar is among its loveliest. Maha Shivaratri is the great festival, and the temple, with its old stepped well held to grant the wishes of childless couples, remains a living shrine as well as a masterpiece of Indian art.
How to reach the temple
- By road: the temple is in the old temple quarter of Bhubaneswar, near the Lingaraja temple and Bindusagar.
- By train: Bhubaneswar railway station is about 5 km away.
- By air: Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar, is about 5 km away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Mukteshwar called the gem of Odisha architecture?
Built around the 10th century, it marks the maturing of the Kalinga temple style, with carving of rare delicacy, and is regarded as one of the finest small temples of Odisha.
What is the famous torana?
The torana is an arched stone gateway before the temple, carved with reclining maidens and scrollwork — a feature found at no other temple of Bhubaneswar and among the finest carvings of eastern India.
Who is the deity?
The sanctum holds a Shiva lingam; the lord is worshipped as Mukteshwar.
How old is the temple?
It dates to about the 10th century, in the great age of Kalinga temple-building at Bhubaneswar.
What is the main festival?
Maha Shivaratri is the great festival at the temple.
How do I reach the temple?
It is in the old temple quarter of Bhubaneswar near the Lingaraja temple; the railway station and airport are each about 5 km away.
॥ हर हर महादेव ॥ • Bhaktiras.net Temple Guide
| Deity | Shiva (Mukteshwar) |
| Significance | “Gem of Odisha architecture” |
| Special | Uniquely carved arched torana gateway |
| Period | 10th century (Kalinga style) |
| Setting | Old temple quarter of Bhubaneswar |
| Main Festival | Maha Shivaratri |