Central Odisha
Bhubaneswar
The Temple City and state capital — the densest surviving concentration of Kalinga temple architecture in India, plus the region's main air and rail gateway.
Bhubaneswar is where most Odisha trips begin and end, since it holds the state's principal airport and railway junction. It is also a destination in its own right: over a hundred temples survive across the old town, spanning roughly the 7th to 13th centuries, headlined by the still-active Lingaraj Temple.
Just outside the modern city, Udayagiri and Khandagiri's rock-cut Jain caves and the Ashokan edicts at Dhauli push the history back another thousand years. The city works well for a one- or two-day stopover at either end of a longer Odisha itinerary.
Why visit
- Lingaraj, Mukteshwar, Rajarani and Brahmeswar temples within a compact old town
- Udayagiri and Khandagiri rock-cut Jain caves
- Dhauli's Ashokan edicts and Shanti Stupa, marking the Kalinga War site
- Odisha State Museum and Ekamra Haat crafts market
- Practical base with the state's main airport and rail junction
Things to do
- Old Town temple walk covering Lingaraj, Mukteshwar and Rajarani
- Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves
- Dhauli Shanti Stupa and edicts
- Odisha State Museum
- Ekamra Haat for handloom and appliqué shopping
- Nandankanan Zoological Park, 20 km out
By air
Biju Patnaik International Airport sits inside the city with direct flights from most major Indian metros.
By rail
Bhubaneswar station is a major junction on the Howrah–Chennai main line.
By road
NH-16 and NH-57 connect Bhubaneswar to Kolkata, Chennai and the western Odisha towns.
From Puri
About 60 km, roughly 1.5 hours by road.
Gallery
Bhubaneswar in pictures
Points of interest
Attractions in and around Bhubaneswar
Plan your journey
Tour packages covering Bhubaneswar
2 Days / 1 Nightheritage · culture
Bhubaneswar Heritage Tour
Bhubaneswar
- Lingaraj Temple exterior and Old Town walk
- Mukteshwar and Rajarani temples
- Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves
value itineraryView itinerary
4 Days / 3 Nightsheritage · culture · family
Odisha Golden Triangle Tour
Bhubaneswar — Puri — Konark
- Guided Old Town temple walk in Bhubaneswar
- Udayagiri and Khandagiri rock-cut caves
- Dhauli Ashokan edicts and peace pagoda
comfort itineraryView itinerary
5 Days / 4 Nightsheritage · culture · pilgrimage
Bhubaneswar Puri Konark Tour
Bhubaneswar — Konark — Puri
- Old Town temple walk with Lingaraj, Mukteshwar and Rajarani
- Udayagiri-Khandagiri caves and Dhauli edicts
- Cuttack heritage half-day at Barabati Fort
comfort itineraryView itinerary
3 Days / 2 Nightspilgrimage · heritage
Puri Jagannath Temple Tour
Bhubaneswar — Puri
- Shree Jagannath Temple darshan (Hindu guests)
- Mahaprasad at the temple kitchen precinct
- Puri Beach and Swargadwar
value itineraryView itinerary
6 Days / 5 Nightsfamily · heritage · beach
Odisha Family Holiday
Bhubaneswar — Konark — Puri — Chilika
- Nandankanan Zoological Park
- Old Town temple walk (family-paced)
- Konark Sun Temple
comfort itineraryView itinerary
7 Days / 6 Nightspilgrimage · heritage · culture
Odisha Temple Circuit
Bhubaneswar — Puri — Konark — Berhampur
- Lingaraj, Mukteshwar, Rajarani and Brahmeswar temples
- Udayagiri-Khandagiri caves and Dhauli edicts
- Konark Sun Temple in depth
comfort itineraryView itinerary
Cabs & transport
Cabs and transport for Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar Airport Transfer
Sedan, SUV or Tempo Traveller with chauffeur
- Capacity
- 3 – 12 passengers depending on vehicle chosen
- Luggage
- 2 – 15 bags depending on vehicle chosen
Subject to availability. Vehicle category is confirmed in writing at the time of booking.
Bhubaneswar Local Sightseeing Cab
Sedan or SUV with chauffeur
- Capacity
- 3 – 6 passengers
- Luggage
- 1 – 2 bags for a day out
Subject to availability. Vehicle category is confirmed in writing at the time of booking.
Bhubaneswar to Puri Cab
Sedan or SUV with chauffeur
- Capacity
- 3 – 6 passengers
- Luggage
- 2 – 4 large bags
Subject to availability. Vehicle category is confirmed in writing at the time of booking.
Read before you go
Travel guides for Bhubaneswar
Destinations · 8 min read
Bhubaneswar Travel Guide: The Temple City
Bhubaneswar, Odisha's capital, holds one of India's densest concentrations of surviving temples, headlined by the 11th-century Lingaraj Temple.
Getting Around · 6 min read
Bhubaneswar Airport Guide: Arrival, Transfers and Onward Travel
Biju Patnaik International Airport (BBI) sits about 6 km from central Bhubaneswar and roughly 60 km — about 1.5 hours by road — from Puri.
Culture · 8 min read
Odisha Temple Guide: Etiquette, Circuits and Key Sites
Odisha's temple circuit centres on the Jagannath Temple in Puri, the Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar and the Sun Temple at Konark, and visitors should know that non-Hindus are not permitted inside the two active temples.
FAQs
Bhubaneswar travel questions
Continue exploring
Destinations near Bhubaneswar
Central Odisha
Dhauli
The site of the Kalinga War and Emperor Ashoka's rock edicts, marked today by a white Japanese-built Shanti Stupa.
ExploreCentral Odisha
Khandagiri
The smaller, less-visited twin of the Udayagiri caves, with rock-cut Jain monastic cells and a hilltop Jain temple still in use.
ExploreCentral Odisha
Udayagiri
Odisha's most significant rock-cut cave complex, carved as monastic quarters for Jain monks under King Kharavela around the 2nd century BCE.
Explore
Central Odisha
Nandankanan
A zoological park and botanical garden on the edge of Bhubaneswar, notable for its white tiger breeding programme and lake-boating.
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