Parasurameswara Temple Odisha

Engrossed in the worship of Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakti is another famous temple of Odisha, Parasurameswara. It was around 650 AD that this temple counted among the Parashurameshvara group of temples was gifted to the city of Bhubaneswar. Even though Parasurameswara Temple is the abode of Lord Shiva, this temple worships both Shakti and Shiva. Moreover, if travellers consider the architectural style of this temple, it embodies the charm of Nagara style which was followed widely during 650 AD. Some of the major features in the architecture that make this temple one of the popular tourist attractions are the vimana, a bada, the curvilinear spire over the roof and the sanctum. For those who want to plan a visit to Parasurameswara Temple can come around the time of June and July as the temple celebrates Parashurashtami which is its main festival.

History and Architecture of the Temple

Situated close to the Mukteswara Temple, Parasurameswara holds its own importance as one of oldest temples in the city. As per the study of many historians, it is believed that the temple belonged to the mid-7th-century. Their prediction is based on the design and style along with the fact that there is a presence of 8 planets on the door of the inner sanctum as compared to the depiction of 9 planets in the later temples. Moreover, it is believed that this temple was built by Madhavaraja II of the Shailodbhava Dynasty and remains the oldest temple in Bhubaneswar. The Shailodbhavas used to worship Lord Shiva and also had equal faith in Shaktism, all of which can be seen by the images embossed on the walls of the temple. Parasurameswara is among those Kalinga Temples which were adorned with both the vimana(sanctum) and jagamohana(hall for worshippers).

Opening/Closing Time

5:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit this temple and to explore every bit of the city as a whole is between the months of October and March. The weather remains in the favour of travellers during this season.

Nearby Tourist Attractions

• Mukteshwar Temple
• Lingaraj Temple