Rajarani Temple

The basics

You can visit the temple independently or go with a guide. If you choose the latter, you'll learn about its interesting architectural components, including a pyramidical jagamohana (foyer) flanked with half-human, half-serpent entities known as nagas. Relief sculptures depicting deities, erotic acts, and foliage adorn the complex. Most Bhubaneswar tours, including general city tours, temple tours, and walking tours, stop at Rajarani Temple. Many multi-day Odisha tours also visit.

Things to know before you go

• Bring cash to pay the temple's admission fee.
• The Rajarani Temple is inactive, so you won’t be asked to remove your shoes before entering.
• The temple is not wheelchair-friendly, and the ground is uneven. Wearing solid shoes is a good idea.

How to get there

The Rajarani Temple is located in the southern part of Bhubaneswar, about a 10-minute walk from the Mukteswara Temple and 10 minutes by car or auto-rickshaw from the Bhubaneswar Railway Station. While it's easy to hail auto-rickshaws from the street, it's even easier to visit on a tour that includes transportation from your hotel.

When to get there

The Rajarani Temple is open from early morning until well into the evening throughout the year. If you want to avoid crowds—and the heat of the day—visit first thing in the morning. The best time to visit Bhubaneswar is between mid-October and the end of March, when there's slightly cooler weather and not much rain.

Visiting the Lingaraja Temple

About a 5-minute walk from the Rajarani Temple, the Mukteswara Temple is worth a visit if you're interested in architecture and is one of the few famous temples in Bhubaneswar that welcomes foreign visitors. It's dedicated to Lord Shiva, the destroyer in the Hindu trinity, but also has many Buddhist motifs throughout.