Day 1: Full Day Bhubaneshwar Tour of Temples and Caves

Your tour begins with a hotel pickup, and you'll visit some of the city's most ancient temples, constructed between the 7th and 12th centuries AD. Start with the Parasurameswar Temple, a fine specimen of the Oriyan style of architecture, adorned with beautiful carvings of Hindu gods and goddesses. Next, explore the Mukteswar Temple Complex, dating back to the 10th century AD, renowned for its exquisite carvings and considered a gem of ancient Odishan temple architecture.

Proceed to the elegant Rajarani Temple, built in the 10th century AD from reddish and yellow sandstone, featuring intricate and sometimes erotic sculptures. Visit the Brahmeswar Temple Complex, known for its remarkable towers, and the Lingaraj Temple Complex, one of the oldest and largest Hindu temples in the city. (Non-Hindus are not allowed inside the Lingaraj Temple but can view it from an erected platform.)

Conclude the tour with a visit to the Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves, built in the 1st century BC. These caves are among the earliest groups of Jain rock-cut shelters and hold great historical, architectural, artistic, and religious significance. Initially dwelling retreats for Jain ascetics, the caves exude the wisdom of ancient times. King Kharavela and his queen spent the latter part of their lives in Hathi Gumpha and Rani Gumpha, with their activities inscribed in the Pali language in Hathi Gumpha.