Raja Rani Temple In Bhubaneshwar

Raja Rani Temple Bhubaneswar

Raja Rani Temple often called as Khajuraho of east is also known as a ‘love temple’ with erotic carvings of women, nymphs and couples that decorate the niches and pillars. It is noted for the fascinating portrayal of women in a variety of amorous poses and moods.

Founded In: Eleventh century
Dedicated to: Lord Brahma

Rajarani temple is one of the most renowned temples in Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Orissa. It is made from the wonderful red and gold sandstone, which is locally known as Rajarani and this is what gives the temple its name of ‘Raja Rani’. The major attractions of the temple consist of the elaborately carved figurines. Rajarani temple of Bhubaneshwar is dedicated to Lord Brahma. The origin of this temple can be dated back to the eleventh century.

Art at Raja Rani Temple

This temple is located in old Bhubaneshwar. This gracefully proportionate 11th country temple stands against the backdrop of green paddy (rice) fields, looking very alluring. This temple is famous for its elaborately ornate sanctuary. Here one can see a pair of satries or dikpals (temple guardians). In addition to these one can see beautiful nymphs, embracing coupler, lions, elephants decorating the pillars and walls. Yama in various forms and postures can be seen-it is both fascinating and intermidating for e.g.: Yama holding several heads and a sword over the lying figure of a dead man.
The Orissa king who created this temple died before the finishing touches to the temple were given. A deity was placed leaving the 1 sanctum sanctorum eternally godless, yet it is filled with vacant peace as no pujas are performed here and one can roam around freely.

The square sanctum is typically of the later temples built at Puri and Bhubaneswar white the gateway (torana) guarded by two pillars draped in snakes is plain to the extent that it appears to be incomplete as against the ornate deul of the Rajarani Temple that also marks the advent of colossal spires. You too can study the evolution of Kalinga School of architecture or simply marvel at the sculptures vertically elongated as compared to the prior horizontal depictions.

The sculptures adorning the walls of the deul are alive and energetic. Especially attractive are the sculptures of women in dance poses that hint at the practice of Odissi dance, coquettish women, women carrying children, looking at their reflection in the mirror or playing becomingly with birds and nature.

You too can see the ‘Guardians of the Eight Directions’ projecting from the base of the temple in the eight directions, starting from the gateway in a clockwise direction around the porch and the deul to end back at the torana. The eight guardians that you’ll see on your tour to the Rajarani Temple with Tourism of Orissa tour packages are Indra (god of rain), Agni (god of fire), Yama (god of death), Nirriti (god of suffering), Varuna (god of ocean), Vayu (god of wind), Kubera (god of wealth) and Ishana (Shiva).

How to Travel

Air:
There are regular Indian Airlines flights to Hyderabad, Nagpur, Calcutta, Delhi, Varanasi, Bombay and Madras. The airport is very close to town. If you have an early morning flight, it is a good idea to have your hotel arrange a taxi the night before and pay a little more to avoid the morning inconvenience of finding a taxi at that time. The Indian Airline office is on Raj Path, by the bus stand.

Rail:
Bhubaneswar is on the main Calcutta to Madras line so all the main trains stop here. The Howrah-Bangalore mail and Guwahati-Bangalore go to Bangalore. The Coromandel Express is a good train going to Madras. There are direct trains to Delhi, Agra, Remuna, and Varanasi. The Rajdhani Express departs from Delhi one day a week on Friday to Bhubaneswar. The Puri-New Delhi Express is a good train to Delhi.

Road:
The best way to get from Bhubaneswar to Puri is on one of the Canter minibuses that leave from the old bus station in the center of town, the new bus stand, and from the petrol station opposite the Ashok Hotel. They take a little more than an hour to get to Puri. There are also larger buses that go Puri, but they are slower than the minibuses. It is best to get an Express bus to Puri, which make only one stop en route. There is a direct bus to Konark too. If one misses out the direct bus, one can take a Puri buses to Pipli and from there get another bus to Konark.

Most of the long-distance buses depart from the new bus stand (Baramunda Bus Stand), which is about 5-km from downtown on the main road to Calcutta. There are buses to Calcutta, Cuttack (10 hr), and other places in Orissa . Buses to Puri also leave from this station.