Bhubaneswar - The ancient capital of the Kalinga empire, and now the capital of Orissa, Bhubaneswar's history goes back over 2000 years. "Bhubaneshwar" means the "abode of God" or "master of the universe" and it was also, once known as the 'Cathedral of the East', on account of the large number of shrines. At one time, the Bindu Sagar tank was bordered by over 7000 temples. Of these, 500 still survive, all built in the extravagant Oriya style.

Lingaraja Temple
This temple is a prime example of Indian architecture, in its most mature and fully developed state. The great Lingaraja soars above the city, and dominates the landscape.

Parasurameswara Temple
built in 650 AD, is one of the few oldest surviving temples in Bhubaneswar.

Rajarani Temple
Built in the 11th century, the Rajarani temple is famous for its ornate deul, or compass, decorated with some of the most impressive Oriya temple architecture.