The term Bhubaneshwar traces its origin to an ancient Sanskrit term 'Tribhuvaneswara' that literally means 'Lord Shiva'. The capital of Orissa, Bhubaneshwar is famous for its temple architecture and Buddhist caves.
A Hindu pilgrimage destination, Bhubaneshwar is an important Orissa commercial hub that also forms an important stop for those on East India Golden Triangle Tours.
Bhubaneshwar boasts of having more than 500 temples within its boundaries and history records indicate that at one point of time in history there were about 7000 temples around the Bindu Sagar Lake that have been destroyed over the centuries.
History
The region that forms Bhubaneshwar was a part of Kalinga - a great ancient Indian empire. It was during the conquest of Kalinga that Mughal Emperor Akbar embraced Buddhism.
Bhubaneshwar has a 2000-year old history.
Bhubaneshwar became an important center in the 1st century B.C. For most of its history Bhubaneshwar was under the political domination of Afghan and Maratha rulers till the British colonial rulers came into the picture.
today Bhubaneshwar is the capital of Orissa - an important East Indian state.
Tourist Attractions
Tours to Bhubaneshwar are incomplete without tours to the Lingaraja Temple, 10th century Mukteswara Temple, the 7th century Parasurameswara Temple, Nandan Kanan and the ancient Raja Rani Temple.
The Lingaraja Temple is a magnificent illustration of ancient Orissa temple architecture. The fascinating temple domes dominate the Bhubaneshwar skyline.
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