Lingaraj Temple

ଲିଙ୍ଗରାଜ ମନ୍ଦିର

Shiva · Lingaraj

Swayambhu linga, worshipped as Harihara

Bhubaneswar, Khordha district, Odisha · Shaiva tradition

Directions

At the gate

Getting there
Train: Bhubaneswar railway stationAir: Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar

Not yet confirmed: darshan hours, dress code, phone rules, entry for visitors of other faiths, walking distance. Ask at the temple office or enquiry counter — and if you know, tell us. hello@aalayakatha.com

Full visiting details

Sthala purana

The story of this place

No legend of this temple has been sourced yet. We would rather leave this empty than retell a story we cannot trace to a text, an inscription or the temple itself.

In one minute

Why Lingaraj Temple matters

Each line says who it comes from and how settled it is. What the labels mean

  1. Shiva is worshipped here as Harihara, a form combining Shiva and Vishnu.

  2. The temple was built in the eleventh century and is a mature example of the Odishan (Kalinga) temple form, with deula, jagamohana, natamandira and bhogamandapa in a line.

  3. The Bindusagar tank to the north of the temple is held sacred and is used in the temple's festivals.

Shilpa

When you visit, look for…

Kalinga

Conventionally placed in the Kalinga (Odishan) tradition, though no ASI, academic or official description confirming this has been found yet.

  • Spire

    The rekha deula

    The curvilinear tower over the sanctum.

  • Great hall

    Jagamohana, natamandira, bhogamandapa

    The halls set in a line before the sanctum: the jagamohana (assembly hall), the natamandira (dance hall) and the bhogamandapa (offering hall).

  • Temple tank

    Bindusagar

    The large tank north of the temple.

  • Sacred water

    Bindusagar

Yatra

Plan your visit

Darshan times

We could not confirm the opening times from the temple’s own notice, so we are not printing any. Please check with the temple office or the devasthanam before you travel.

Before you go

  • Entry: Entry is for Hindus only (not yet verified)
  • No dress code or entry rules have been confirmed for this temple yet. Traditional, modest clothing is always the safe choice; ask at the entrance.

Walking, steps and access

We have not yet confirmed how much walking or climbing is involved, or whether there is wheelchair access. If you are travelling with elders, ask at the temple office or the devasthanam enquiry counter before you set out.

Getting there

  • By air: Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar
  • By train: Bhubaneswar railway station
  • By road: Bhubaneswar

Routes are general guidance and not yet checked against an official source.

PIN 751002 (not yet checked with India Post)

The order of darshan

No published source gives the order in which to visit the shrines here, so we have not invented one. Follow the queue and the temple staff.

Festivals

  • Maha Shivaratri

    Feb–Mar · Phalguna, Krishna paksha, Chaturdashi

    The principal annual festival of the temple, drawing large crowds of devotees.

  • Ashokashtami chariot festivalRukuna Ratha Yatra

    Mar–Apr · Chaitra, Shukla paksha, Ashtami

    The festival image of Lingaraj is taken in procession by chariot.

Itihasa

Through time

Two registers, kept apart on purpose: what the Puranas tell, and what the historical record shows. They answer different questions and we do not force them to agree.

In the Puranas and tradition

No events in this register have been sourced.

In the historical record

  1. c. 1000–1099

    Temple built

    The temple is generally dated to the eleventh century, with its builder attributed to a Somavamshi king; scholars disagree over which. This has not yet been confirmed from a primary or academic source.

  2. Vaishnava elements under the Eastern Gangas

    Vaishnava elements in the temple's worship and imagery are attributed to the period of Eastern Ganga rule. This has not yet been confirmed from a written source.

Around here

Worth the detour

Sources

Where this page comes from

    Cite this page

    Aalaya Katha Foundation, “Lingaraj Temple”, Aalaya Katha, version last reviewed 2026-10-09. https://www.aalayakatha.com/temple/lingaraj-bhubaneswar (accessed ).

    Last reviewed 2026-10-09. How we label sources and confidence