Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar has been centre of cultural, religious and political activities in this region since thousands of year. Though it had been declared capital of the state of Odisha in 1948, but historical evidence of being capital of Kalinga (ancient name of Odisha) can be found in the scriptures of Mauryan period (300 BC). Tourism in Bhubaneswar, the ‘Capital City of Temples’, is characterized by temples tour. Bhubaneswar means "master of the world". This name refers to Shiva who is revered in the city. It is a high place of Shaivism. Ancient Bhubaneswar is a metropolis of temples where as the new city – fabulous Bhubaneswar. Bhubaneswar is a quiet city where intense religious activity reigns. Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha, accessible by air and conveniently situated on Kolkata-Chennai railway line, is a city in two distinct parts: the old and the new. Nowhere else in India can be seen such remarkable coexistence of ancient serenity with modern elegance. The capital has two aspects. The 20th-century garden city and the one most travelers will prefer — the picturesque township with its innumerable temples. What is more, the city and its environs within a radius of six miles present a panorama of Odishan art and history from the 3rd century B.C. to the 16th century A.D. Bhubaneswar, with its literally hundreds of temples, truly merits the name “Cathedral City of India”. The Bindu Sagar, or sacred lake in the center of old Bhubaneswar, once boasted 7,000 temples circling its shores. Now some 500 remain in varying stages of preservation, enough for tourists. The Bindu Sagar or Bindu Sarovar, “lake made of drops of waters”, is said that the small quantities of water from all the sacred rivers and lakes of India were collected and poured into this.