Bhaskaresvara Temple

Built by the Ganga dynasty rulers around the 12th Century AD, this temple is quite different from the other temples of Bhubaneswar in terms of its architecture. The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Shiva worshiped as Bhaskareswar. It was built to resemble a Ratha (Chariot) of Lord Jagannath.

The other unique feature is the nine-foot-tall Lingam. It’s believed that the soldiers before going to war used to seek Lord Shiva’s blessings and the double-story structure of the temple facilitated easy access to the same. Scholars believe that the nine-foot-tall Shiva Lingam is the remains of an Ashokan pillar. The remnants of the pillars and railings and artifacts found at the site prove the prophecy.

The unusual and unique architecture of the temple was probably due to the contingency at the site. The temple is built on a Pancha Ratha ( five projecting piers) style and the “deula” (sanctum sanctorum) follows the “pidha”(steeped pyramid) pattern locally called “Pidha deula” (steeped pyramidal sanctum). Contingencies apart from the aesthetic use of Buddhist elements and innovative structural plan make Bhaskareswara Temple a unique monument in Kalingan Architecture.