Day 3 - Tuesday, 13 Dec 2022
This was the message Sakshi had sent the previous night.
Hi Everyone,
We will check out with luggage from this hotel and after day tour of Temple City – Bhubaneswar, shall proceed to Puri – The abode of Lord Jagannath !
Here is plan for tomorrow (13 Dec) with 50+ Voyagers Travel and Adventure Club.
7:30 - 8:45 AM – Enjoy your breakfast.
08:00 AM- Leave luggage outside your respective rooms
8:45 AM – Assemble at lobby with luggage.Board bus and leave for Bhubaneshwar city tour.
9:15 AM -12:30 PM – Will reach Lingaraj temple and cover Rajarani, Mukteshwar, Parsurameshwar temples.
Approx 1:00 - 2:00 PM – Lunch at Hotel (VITS)
2:00 – 4:30: Travel to Puri and Visit Dhauli on way.
Approx 5:00 PM : Check in to the hotel. Evening at your leisure. Enjoy your time on the beach
8:00 PM onwards : Dinner at Hotel.
9:30 PM : Good Night and Sweet Dreams.
Meals Included: - Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
* Time and schedule of above plan is just for reference. Sightseeing order and exact timing may change due to road and weather condition and rush.
* Please carry original ID Card. Wear good shoe and take water bottle ,umbrella/hat if you need.
Note: Mobile/Leather Items not allowed inside Lingaraj Temple. Please dress appropriately for temple entry. Be aware of Monkeys
Going by the message Sakshi had sent in the group, it promised to be a day with plenty of action & travel.
We had our breakfast, packed our bags and boarded the bus to cover Lingaraj temple, Rajarani temple, Mukteshwar and Parsurameshwar temples. Nimai our guide, joined us in the bus & would be with us till we complete the tour of the temples. Later we would proceed to Puri & Nimai would return to his home in Bhubaneshwar.
Lingaraj Temple : is believed to be the oldest and largest temple of Bhubaneshwar and was built by the ruler Yayati Kesari in the 7th century who shifted his capital from Jaipur to Bhubaneshwar. The central tower of the temple is 180 ft (55 m) tall. The temple is built in a typical Kalingan style that has four components namely, vimana (structure containing the sanctum), assembly hall, festival hall and dining hall, each increasing in the height to its predecessor. The temple complex has 50 other shrines and is enclosed by a large compound wall. The central deity of the temple, Lingaraja, is worshipped as Shiva.
Bhubaneswar is believed to be derived from "Tribhuvaneshwara" - Lord Shiva's name - the master of three worlds, namely, heaven, earth, and netherworld.
Rajarani Temple : This 11th century is constructed of red and yellow sandstone locally called Rajarani and hence the name. There are no images inside the sanctum, and hence it is not associated with a specific sect of Hinduism but broadly classified as Saivite. The temple is built on a raised platform with two structures. The height of the main temple is around 60 feet (18 metres).
One of the temples, with our guide Nimai in the foreground
Our guide Nimai seemed to be a encyclopaedia. He seem to be having all the information readily available, reeling out history and statistics. His way of narrating was very interesting.
The Department of Tourism of the Government of Odisha organises a Rajarani music festival at the temple every year from 18 to 20 January. The temple focuses on classical music, and all three styles of classical music – Hindustani, Carnatic and Odissi – are given equal importance. Musicians from different parts of the country perform during the three-day festival
One point which Nimai kept repeating (which he pointed out in this temple and what we observed in the other temples later in the day and in Puri the next day) was the presence of Navagraha and naga nagini in the entrance of all the temples.
Mukteshwara Temple : Mukteswara is a 10th-century Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. The temple dates back to 950–975. Mukteshvara means "Lord of Freedom" (from the cycle of births and deaths). There are a number of sculptures of skeletal ascetics in teaching or meditation poses.
Parsurameswara Temple : This temple, also dedicated to Lord Shiva, is considered the best preserved specimen of an early Odia Hindu temple dated to the Shailodbhava period between the 7th and 8th centuries CE. The temple is one of the oldest existing temples in the state. It is believed to have been built around 650 CE in Nagara style and has all the main features of the pre-10th century Kalinga Architecture style temples.
After covering these temples, it was time to bid adieu to Nimai and proceed towards Puri.
Enroute we covered Dhauligiri. Dhauli is known for a peace pagoda - shanti stupa. As one ascends the stairs & goes behind the pagoda one can see the actual area where the great Kalinga war was fought.
As always, post dinner Sakshi sent a message in the group to apprise the members about the schedule for the next day.
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