Bhubaneswar is the capital of Orissa. It is situated on the eastern coast of India, at an altitude of 45 meters above sea level. The new capital of Orissa (Cuttack preceded it) has many temples in the distinctive Orissan style. The largest and most impressive is, the Lingaraj. Nearby, surrounded by mango trees, is Siddharanya (the grove of perfect beings), which contains a number of temples. The smallest the Mukteswara, is also the best. It has some superb sculpture outside, and is most unusual among these Orissan temples for its ornate interior. This is just by the road to Puri.
The ancient capital of the Kalinga empire, and now the capital of Orissa, Bhubaneshwar's history goes back over 2000 years."Bhubaneshwar" means the "abode of God" or "master of the universe" and it was also, once known as the 'Cathedral of the East', on account of the large number of shrines. At one time, the Bindu Sagar tank was bordered by over 7000 temples. Of these, 500 still survive, all built in the extravagant Orissan style.
