Kotitirthesvara Temple - Bhubaneswar

Site Name: Kotitirthesvara Temple 
Site Type: Hindu ancient temples
Location:   Near Parasuramesvar Temple, Bhubaneswar city, Odisha state, India
Highlights: 11th century CE temples built by Somavamshi Kings
Nearest Railway Station: Bhubaneswar
Nearest Airport: Bhubaneswar
How to reach: Well connected by road, rail and air
Hotel: There are many options across the city
Restaurants: Varieties of options

Bhubaneswar is not only about the gigantic Lingaraja temple or the architectural marvels such as Raja Rani temple or Parasurameshwar temple. The city has a lot more to offer for any enthusiastic and art loving traveler or devotee. The city, which is the capital city of Odisha (formerly Orissa) state of India, is called as 'the City of Temples'. It once had around 3000 temples and even today hundreds of temples are located in every nook and corner of this heritage rich city. The city is called as Ekamara Kshetra as it has so many Shiva temples. Let us explore a little known Shiva temple called Kotitirthesvara temple in this article.


Location:

Kotitirthesvara temple is located on the left side of Kotitirthesvar lane leading from Parasuramesvar temple to Bindu Sagar lake.

Architecture and Temple Layout:

Kotitirthesvara temple is a living temple enshrining Shiva Linga idol. The west facing temple was built by the Somavamshi Kings in the 11th century CE. It should be noted that the ASI board in this temple wrongly mentions the period of the temple to 16th to 17th century.

The sanctum sanctorum has rekha type vimana. Originally the temple would have had Jagmohana which is missing today. The temple is pancha ratha on plan.

The temple exterior walls and vimana are plain except for few sculptures of udyotasimha. The entrance has the small relief images of Dwarapalas found along with the river Goddesses Ganga and Yamuna along with their mounts. The top portion of the entrance has the panel of Navagrahas flanked by two Ganas. Below that the relief image of Lakshmi is found.

The temple is located on the banks of the tank Kotitirtha. It is considered as one of five sacred tanks of Bhubaneswar (Pancha tirtha). The other four sacred tanks are Bindu Sagar, Devi Padhara, Papanasini and Ganga Yamuna Kunda.

Happy travelling.


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